Living In USA

Some people from other countries — and also some in the United States — are opposed to tipping, considering it undemocratic and demeaning. Furthermore, it is illogical — waiters, porters, and hairdressers are tipped, while airline attendants, store clerks, and insurance agents are not. Many feel that people should receive an adequate salary rather than tips.

However you feel about this, the fact is that in the United States many people do depend to a large extent on tips for their livelihood. In some fields of work, wages are simply not adequate. The theory is that by compensating people through tips rather than on a straight salary, you encourage good service. Although that is debatable, the system prevails.

You do not have to tip. If you are dissatisfied with service, you can show it by reducing or withholding a tip. But generally speaking, tipping is expected in the United States. It is a way of saying thank you to people who provide services for you. One exception to this is in a restaurant when your party is a large one. Very often a flat 15 percent gratuity is added to your bill. Check carefully in order to avoid tipping twice.

People You Tip in the United States
Waiters, taxi drivers, porters, doormen, hat-and-coat-check attendants, and delivery people should all be tipped. You also tip for personal services from barbers, shoe shiners, hair stylists (or beauticians), and so on. Parking lot attendants should be tipped only if they have parked your car or brought it for you.

Unfortunately, many employers of these workers underpay, considering tips to be part of the wages. If you do not tip, therefore, you are depriving the worker of needed income.

People You do Not Tip
Customs officials or other government employees, such as police officers or firefighters. This is considered bribery.

Postal employees and other commercial delivery people. Although mail deliverers are not tipped, people often give them a gift around the winter holidays of five to ten dollars. The same goes for package delivery service drivers (such as United Parcel Service and Federal Express if you receive regular packages from them), as well as newspaper deliverers.

Airline flight attendants or ticket agents.

Room clerks or people at hotel desks (unlike the European concierge system).

Bus drivers. If, however, they also serve as guides on guided tours, then give them a few dollars and thank them as you leave.

Store clerks.

Gas station attendants.

Elevator operators, receptionists, or telephone operators.

Employees in private clubs.

Theater or movie ushers.

Normal Tips
Tipping customs and amounts vary considerably from one part of the United States to another, as well as from small towns to large cities. When you are settled in your area, you should ask about this locally.

To put newcomers at ease during their initial few days, the following guidelines are offered.

Porters. A dollar or two per bag is customary. Some people tip more if the bags are heavy and difficult to handle.

Taxi drivers. The driver will expect 15 to 20 percent. If there are several of you, or if you have a lot of luggage, give at least 20 percent. In some cities there is an extra charge for each passenger. Such variations are posted in the cab.

Waiters. Give at least 15 to 20 percent to the waiter. A service charge is generally not included in the bill. Give the waiter more if you are particularly satisfied with the service, have asked for extras, had a large group, or requested help in understanding the menu or in serving young children; in other words, if you have received more than normal service. If you are part of a group of six or more, a 15 percent gratuity is generally added to your bill. As in other countries, tips are naturally higher in finer restaurants. In such a place your tip for the waiter should not be less than 20 percent. If you order wine, the wine steward may expect a tip as well as the waiter. In a low-priced diner or cafe, the tip is about 10 percent, or at least a dollar per person or a quarter under your plate for just a cup of coffee or tea. If you order room service in a hotel, 15 to 20 percent of the bill is proper.

Doormen. For normal daily services, you do not tip except when they call a taxi for you. Then give them a couple of dollars. If they help with a great deal of luggage at any time, give them three to five dollars, depending on the amount of trouble taken. Most people give the doormen of their apartment houses occasional tips — ranging from one to five dollars — for any extra services they may perform, for special occasions, or for a good many small services done over a considerable length of time (that have gone untipped). This is not required, but it helps to keep service friendly and helpful.

Personal services. It is hard to give a rule of thumb as to how much to tip barbers, hairdressers, delivery people, parking lot attendants, the maid who looks after your hotel room, and other people who serve you. Rates vary, depending on the part of the country, how much service they have given, and other factors. The best advice is to ask locally, though if you ask four or five people in your office, at a party, or in your neighborhood about tipping, you will undoubtedly receive varied answers. If you cannot find anyone to ask easily, you can say directly to the person involved, "I would like to give you something extra for your service but I am a stranger here. What is the normal tip?" Almost surely you will get a big smile and an honest answer.

The holidays. The winter holidays are special — and expensive. Here are some suggestions. If you live in an apartment house where there are doormen, give each one of them a gift of ten dollars or more during the holidays. The amount will vary, depending on how long you have been living there, the size of your family, and how many other tips you have given throughout the year. Also, the superintendent of your apartment house should receive a gift of twenty dollars or more. If there are other service people such as trash collectors, porters, or telephone operators, you may also want to give them five dollars or so. Holiday tips are also sometimes given to the tradespeople one sees regularly — the laundry attendant, newspaper deliverer, parking lot attendant, hairdresser, or barber. These tips are flexible, depending on how often they have served you and on your financial situation. But if you feel friendly toward them, three to five dollars in a holiday card would be much appreciated by any of these people who have worked for you throughout the year.