An incredible hairstylist deserves to be recognized for their art; finding an appropriate tip amount may be difficult but here are some guidelines:
An effective starting point would be using sales tax as your basis, then making adjustments as necessary.
Restaurants
Service charges in restaurants typically serve to cover staff wages or maintenance expenses, typically taking the form of a fixed percentage of total bill charges. They differ from tips or gratuities left voluntarily by customers to show appreciation. Unfortunately, consumers often become confused between these two forms of fees.
Service charges can be an divisive decision for restaurants. They may influence how customers tip servers, and how they spend their money at the establishment. Depending on its type, this fee could either be calculated as a percentage of bill total or as a flat fee.
Many consumers may see adding a service charge as unfair; however, some restaurateurs may view it as a means of helping their employees during the Covid pandemic. In Dallas for instance, small-plates restaurant Rye and sister cocktail bar Apothecary recently implemented a 3% surcharge to their bills that funds employee health insurance, maternity leave pay, bereavement pay, professional development training programs as well as professional development costs for employees.
Decisions concerning adding service charges can be difficult, and can have significant ramifications for customer experiences. To make an informed decision about implementing one successfully, it’s essential that staff and customer satisfaction remain high, along with education about what differentiates service charges from mandatory tips.
Taxis
Tipping is an integral component of many service industries and it serves as an important way of showing our appreciation. In general, tipping is expected between 15%-20% of your pre-tax total but this should depend on both experience and individual discretion.
Taxi drivers in the US generally receive a minimum tip of $2-$5 for short journeys, though you may wish to leave more if they went beyond their duties, such as helping with luggage or taking an alternate route due to traffic issues.
If paying by credit card, a pop-up will typically appear asking if you would like to add a gratuity. While this option can be convenient, some people prefer giving cash tips in order to forge closer relationships with drivers.
Canada traditionally requires its taxi drivers to be tipped 15%-20% of the fare, which is less than in most other countries but still more than most others. Europe generally expects less tipping; France recommends tipping 10%. When staying at hotels, porters or doormen should receive $1-$2 as tip, while bellhops should receive between $0.75-1$ per bag they carry.
Uber/Lyft
If you’re considering rideshare services, it is essential that you realize drivers deserve tips. They pay for fuel as well as insurance, maintenance and taxes as well as incurring the initial costs associated with picking you up known as dead miles. On average a driver can easily make $30 in one ride but this doesn’t cover other expenses that they might have incurred during that journey.
As a general guideline, riders should tip a minimum of 20% for any service received. Of course, this rule doesn’t have to be strictly observed; feel free to adjust the amount accordingly: less if service wasn’t very satisfactory while more should be given if it exceeded expectations.
Uber and Lyft drivers can be easily tipped via cash or the app, making tipping convenient for people on the move. Aside from financial tips, tipping drivers also shows your appreciation for their efforts; consider giving extra tips if they carry luggage or groceries for you, provide water bottles with aux cords or allow your pet in.
Jeff Hoenig, 63-year-old Uber driver from South Carolina, stated that only approximately half of his customers tipped him last year. For most rides he recommends leaving $3 as an acceptable tip; $5 or more may be acceptable for airport transfers, early or late night rides or rides lasting over an hour long.
Hotels
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) recommends tipping hotel bartenders and waitstaff between 15%-20% gratuity for bartending/waitstaff services, room service with service charge included (tip the person delivering food as you would at a restaurant), shuttle drivers/door staff/courtesy shuttle drivers $1-$2 per passenger per ride; bell staff and housekeeping $1 to $2; concierges should receive $1 to $10 tipper as an example tip amount.
Tipping is customary in Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico but less so in Europe and South America. Some establishments include a 10% service charge when adding up bills in these regions; thus making the tip unnecessary in many instances; however a dollar or two for bagging luggage will always be appreciated! Ideally it is best to follow local custom.
