Tipping in the Service Industry
Posted on November 5, 2007
I was having trouble coming up with ideas for an exact article this week end, until I was processing the credit card receipts from my wife’s business last night. As I was going through the receipts and I noticed a large difference between the number of tips and the amounts of the tips. Here are a few examples:
Service Amount Tip Amount Percentage
- $45.00 $0 0%
- $24.00 $6.00 25%
- $60.00 $5.00 8.3%
- $95.00 $0 0%
- $18.00 $4.00 22%
- $65.00 $0 0%
- $75.00 $12.00 16%
- $25.00 $1.00 4%
- $95.00 $0 0%
These are all individual services with no duplicates. This is in no way a scientific sample, I just went through and choose several examples to show a reasonable array of the various tips.
Tipping Standard, Yes or No?
There are many reason people do and do not tip. My wife and I personally feel that we are very good tippers, probably in part because my wife works in the service industry as a salon owner and hair stylist. This is not the only reason, but we know the impact tips have on a person and how much it means to be appreciated. I do not think that tips should be mandatory or a given, but I do think that we should reward those serving us. Below is a guideline from the tipping.org for several service industries:
- Waiter / Waitress, 15% to 20% of bill
- Bartender, 10% to 15% of bar bill
- Tow Truck / Automotive – jump start or tire change, $3–$5
- Tow Truck / Automotive – locked out of car, $5–$10
- Tow Truck / Automotive – tow, $5 and up
- Massage Therapist, 10%
- Delivery – Pizza / food, $1 for short trips, $5 and up for large deliveries
- Delivery – furniture / appliances, $5–$10 per person minimum
- Hair Salon – one stylist, 15% of service
- Hair Salon – multiple stylist, 10% to person setting your hair, 10% divided among others
- Hair Salon – shampoo, $1 to $2
Here are a few other opinions:
A couple great articles on the service industry.
Tipping feels goooood!
I personally like to tip well because it makes me feel good. I am not rich and do not through my money away, but it truly makes me feel good to give to others. Giving is a passion of mine, whether it is giving advice, free help, good tips, items to charity, services, offerings, or just anything small or large. Giving does not have to be monumental to have a monumental impact on someone. Try giving someone a genuine “Thank You” and a smile and just watch their reaction. Giving is that simple and easy!
Bottom line on tipping:
Tip because you want to, not because you have to. Tip to make yourself and others feel good. Tip because you can and are willing to. Tip because giving can transform your life for the better.
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One Response to “Tipping in the Service Industry”
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Brad:
Thanks for sharing my story about “Adversity at the Barber Shop.” Can you guess how much of a tip I left that day?