“If I’m going to places that I frequent, I’m tipping for the relationship, because two months from now, when forget my wallet at home, they know me and remember me and know I’m good for it,” she says.
Similarly, Jacqueline Whitmore, an etiquette expert who founded Protocol School of Palm Beach, notes that the presence of a tip jar doesn’t necessitate a tip but that in general, “tipping is good karma.”
Tipping Hacks
If you’re someone who travels frequently or rarely carries cash, tipping can be a huge headache. The experts we talked with shared additional tricks for being a good tipper and getting the best service possible.
Coggins, author of Men and Style:
- “If you’re at a diner and your meal is cheap, but the staff work hard, don’t tip less than $5.”
- Don’t ever leave no tip at a restaurant. “I think it’s better to talk to management; say you were disappointed with what happened. Usually, the manager will try to rectify that.” Remember that the person serving your food rarely has any influence over how it tastes.
- When tipping hotel staff at the end of a stay, put the tip in an envelope. “It takes a little bit of the transactional element away. It’s a little more of a gift.”
- Get cash when you first land. “While at the airport, I’ll break a twenty by having an espresso.”
Smith from Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting:
- “People think that if you’re eating at a nicer restaurant you have to tip at a higher percentage, but that’s the point of a percentage.”
- Tipping for service apps such as TaskRabbit or Rover is typically not required, but a positive review—either on the app or in-person—can go a long way. “If someone is doing a good job, recommend them, share their name, tell your friends,” she says.
- If you don’t have enough money to tip in the moment, you can get cash and come back. “People think that if they don’t tip in the moment, the moment is lost, and that’s not true.”
- “For a $200 bottle of wine [at a restaurant], you don’t need to tip on that whole $200, but you should tip 20% for food and about 15% of the bar tab.”
- In a hotel, leave the tip in an obvious place. “I usually pull the blanket up on the bed and fold it over so there’s a triangle near the pillow and put the tip right there. If I leave it on the dresser, they might not know that it’s left for them.”
Parker from Manor of Manners:
- If you’re uncertain whether someone is allowed to accept tips, just ask. “I think it’s more offensive when people have to reject it, and you feel very uncomfortable.”
- For valet parking, tip when you drop your car off and again when you pick it up, in the range of $5 to $10 each time. “You definitely want to tip upfront because you want your car to be taken care of.
- Don’t forget to tip a tour guide. “I usually leave $5 per person—but if it’s just me, and it’s the whole day, I’ll leave $15.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.