Common Tipping Mistakes
There’s perhaps no aspect of etiquette more confusing than tipping. It’s a gesture that shows our appreciation for great service and some workers depend on tips. But in some instances, tipping is completely unnecessary. To avoid some common mistakes, here are a few tipping do’s and don’ts. Read more here.
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TIPPING BELLMEN* WHILE CHECKING INTO A HOTELBy all means, tip for service rendered but don’t allow yourself to be forced into accepting a service for which a tip would normally be expected.
Some people want the bellman to help with bags, some don’t. Most bellmen are happy to take care of your needs, are pleasant, polite and helpful but some, not so much.
Some situations are set up to increase tips. This happens commonly with bellmen in major hotels, especially in Las Vegas. These bellmen dislike people who carry their own bags and call them “walkers”.
Check-in
If you want the bellman to carry your bags, the same bellman who removes your bags from your car should take them to the desk and onto your room – one tip.
Check-in Scam
A bellman takes your bags from your car to the hotel’s door, expecting to be tipped. Another bellman takes the bags from the door to the desk, expecting to be tipped, while a third bellman takes your bags to your room and expects to be tipped. Essentially the same service but now three tips.
Dealing With Aggressive Bellman
Frequently, a bellman will grab your bag as soon as you put it down whether you want his service or not; some will even try to take it out of your hand. Most people who would normally carry their own bags won't do anything to stop this, even though the problem is easy to remedy.
Once a bellman grabs your bag, a polite, “Thank you, but I'll carry my own bag,” should be enough for him to put it down. For the more aggressive types, try saying “Back off!” somewhat louder. This should attract the attention of a hotel manager who doesn't want his bellmen harassing the guests.
A lot of people feel if you can't afford or don't care to tip everyone in sight for doing what you want to do yourself, you shouldn't be there. I disagree. It’s your bag and your money. If you want to carry it yourself for whatever reason, do so.
Forcing tipping on you is analogous painting your house without being asked and expecting you to pay for it.
*Any gender mentioned, e.g., bellmen, applies to all genders demanded by political correctness.
The meals came 10-15 minutes apart and three of them were not what we had ordered. One of the steaks was seared on the outside and raw, not rare, raw, on the inside and the waiter argued with me about sending it back. The salads never showed up, only two out of the four appetizers we'd ordered came and that was after we had all started on our entrees. Once all the correct food showed up, it wasn't very good. The drinks showed up about 5 minutes before we were done eating, were warm, no ice, watery and looked like they’d been sitting around for an hour – undrinkable.
There was no bussing service between courses. After a while we were out of room on the table without stacking the dirty dishes in a fairly high pile.
As this was the worst dinning experience I’d had in 50 years, I asked to see the manager at least three times but he never showed up.
A different waiter showed up with the check that had the entire order, including two appetizers that never showed up and the salads. I told him to take those, along with the drinks off the bill, explaining why. He rudely made a big, loud production out of scratching things out re-adding the bill. When I got the bill I found his math lacking, re-added the bill with an error of $80 in favor of the restaurant. After I re-added the check, I paid the correct amount in cash, about $400.00 and left no tip.
As we were passing through the reception area on the way out, the waiter ran up to me and shouted, “You forgot to leave a tip!” I explained I hadn’t forgotten and why there was no tip. The food terrible, service was terrible, drinks were terrible and the waiters were surly and rude – no tip. The manager was standing there, heard all of this, shrugged and walked away. We left and the waiter followed us into the parking lot and said, “I’ll remember you,” as if I’d ever go back there.
Had things gone better the tip would have been $80-$100.
For the people who are going to say I should have left a tip because these people only get paid minimum wage and depend on tips to support their families, I say this. The last think I’m concerned with when I go out to eat is the socio-economic status of waiters. I understand that most of the other employees, bartenders, chefs, busboys, etc., share in the tips but the entire group was lacking and ruined our dining experience. For those who say I should have left a tip anyway, I’ll be happy to make signs for them to hang around their necks that say, in big, bold letters, “Treat me like crap and I’ll reward you.”