We’ve all experienced tipflation: an expectation that we tip more, and more often, than ever before. When you walk up to an iPad to pay for a purchase you know what’s coming next. You’re literally standing in line to pay for something you picked up from a shelf yourself, and you’re about to be asked to tip for it. How does this make sense?
And then you’re presented with choices, maybe 20%, 22% and 25%. When did tipping expectations go so high?
- In the 1950s you might tip 10% in a restaurant
- By the 1970s it had gone to 15%. But this was usually on the pre-tax amount. Or maybe you’d “double the tax” in the 80s.
- Now 20% – 25% on the bill total, including tax?
While we may express frustration in general with tipping, there are few individual situations where we’re willing to admit – in the moment – that it’s gone too far. You’re standing in front of someone who is going to know you opted out of tipping, so there’s pressure to go along.
Back in January at the Austin airport, where I picked up a bottle of water, the machine was programmed not even to accept a $0 tip at the register.
Maybe nothing represents the contradiction of tipping out of control and an unwillingness to speak out against it than the practice of tipping housekeepers which doesn’t even make housekeepers in general better off, it reduces the wages that hotels have to pay to attract staff. The CEO of one hotel ownership group is explicit on this, wanting to get guests to tip more to avoid having to raise wages.
In 2019 Hilton’s CEO admitted he doesn’t tip housekeeping and he got roasted for it. We’re so ingrained in the U.S. that tipping is expected of us that one hotel booking website even solicits tips when you’ve made a reservation and no human was even involved.
Sam Bankman-Fried admitted it after getting caught to engaging in “this dumb game we woke westerners play where we say all the right shibboleths and so everyone likes us.” He gave away a lot of money, influenced a lot of politicians, and gained favorable coverage by ‘saying the right things.’ And we all have to pay lip service to struggling workers, especially those who clean up after us. Those thoughts may even be genuine.
And yet 79% of hotel guests say you should tip while only 30% actually do so. This is framed as a problem that people are confused about the etiquette so you need to give them a list of whom to tip, how much, and when.
Plan on tipping $3 to $5 per day, or, if you have a bigger crew, $1 per person. But don’t tally it up and leave a big tip at the end..To indicate that the bills you’re leaving out are, in fact, a tip, put the money on a side table or on the bed along with a note indicating who it’s for… Luggage attendants: Tip $1 to $2 per bag carried up to your room. If you only have a bag or two, tip a minimum of $5 to make it worth the trip..Valet parkers: Give $2 to $5 when they pull up with your car.
The problem isn’t that people ‘don’t know what they’re supposed to do’ and it isn’t that hotels just need to make it easier to tip with QR codes so that they can lower wages. It’s that the tipping has gotten out of control.
People say that they should tip because you’re supposed to express concern for those whom you’re tipping. It’s the shibboleth. But deep down, when nobody is looking – you’re leaving the room at the end of a stay and not coming back – you feel like you paid a room rate, it’s supposed to include a clean room, and it’s the hotel’s responsibility to pay their employees. And you aren’t even getting full housekeeping during your stay anymore, anyway! Why have tipping expectations gone up?
Hotels cut back on housekeeping services but are pushing that you should pay more even as you get less. And that doesn’t sit well.
“ total “Do your daily work include cleaning toilets? No, then shut up and leave a tip.”
I’ll do neither, thanks.”
Thats what I figured, Massa Tom.
“ I believe in fair pay and want to do the right things, but it’s ridiculous to think that I should know the actual wage or fair market value of the job for every worker I ever come in contact with.”
1. No, you don’t. 1(a). You’re looking for reasons not to tip. 2. Really? You think that the housekeeping staff at (insert pathetic hotel your loserdom is staying at) is well paid? 2(a) Jesus, keep some small bills handy and tip the people who are cleaning up your bathroom, you ungrateful jerk. 3. No, you git, it’s not a big philosophical issue that lets you punish poor people.
ROTFLMAO You’d think @Gary had posted about mask wearing again. But then, his articles about tipping always generate a predictable response — which is probably why he writes them 🙂
I don’t hate tipping housekeepers and airport vendors because I just don’t do it. Unless, in very rare and exceptional circumstances I have been granted extraordinary service or a courtesy.
Those who have actually traveled overseas are right too — this is just another American scam designed to separate suckers from their money.
“ this is just another American scam designed to separate suckers from their money.”
Wow, yeah, those below minimum wage folks you’re not tipping were sure scamming something big time.
@total
Those minimum wage employees can choose to work somewhere else, it’s their choice
Just like your mom decided to work behind the truck stop off the interstate in iowa…
“ Those minimum wage employees can choose to work somewhere else, it’s their choice”
Yeah, that’s exactly how the world works, you embarrassingly entitled jerk.
“ Just like your mom decided to work behind the truck stop off the interstate in iowa…”
Aw, dude, you’ve got to do better than that! Your momma!? Really, that’s your best one? No wonder you don’t tip. Stupid is…
I do NOT hate tipping housekeeping staff. I will definitely look for the individual who I know has been taking care of my room and tip them directly rather than just leaving money in the room.
And I always contact the floor supervisor to let them know when I am exceptionally pleased with the job housekeeping has done.
They work so hard, put up with so much and are not appreciated at all. I’m glad to be able to leave them a generous tip.
I do not tip at self serve or counter service places, nor do I typically tip for housekeeping. I generously tip the server at sit down restaurants.
I will tip the housekeeper if they went out of their way to do more than the basic service (e.g. if my family is really messy and made it hard for the housekeeper to do their job).
I was in a conference Con-Expo last month in Vegas and stayed at the Venation. Every day I was charged $45.00 for a resort fee for nothing that I used.
Then my room rate varied from $300 a night to $1100 a night. The room didn’t change, only the rate did. Do they pay the housekeeper more on the day the rate went to $1100? So when does tipping stop.
Why can the hotel not pay more? I would tip, but my work will not let me expense tips to house keepers.
For me to subsidize some else’s pay with my own, isn’t going to happen.
Does anyone know if Hotel Housekeeper is a ‘tipped minimum wage’ job?
Housekeepers get more than minimum wage
Then there’s no reason to tip a housekeeper.
Unless I am offered some higher level of service, I don’t tip. Ever. (Restaurant servers excluded) It’s not my responsibility to pad the payroll of any business. I pay the price posted and they can figure it out from there. I have zero problems looking right at someone and clicking “no tip” if that’s what it takes. I’m not a fan of the increasing manipulation.
I tip wait staff, people doing something special for me that requires a special effort (like a bellman who is moving my heavy luggage) or someone who I’d like more attention from (a vendor that goes out of their way fir me, always gets me in an appt ASAP, a bartender that knows my drink etc). Not paying extra for room cleaning, picking up to go meals or and if the BS that people expect now. Tips literally mean “ to insure proper service” not to pay your salary. We’ve allowed it in the food industry, everywhere else it is strictly choice and I choose not to unless I feel someone has gone above and beyond.