Tipping - Broader Areas

[Toni]

So I'm heading out to New England and I noticed on a couple receipts for things we've signed up for (local city walking tour, whale watching tour - small boat 10 to 18 people), they indicated tipping is encouraged. I was caught by surprise. I wasn't expecting to tip for these. The prices for the services aren't cheap, and I was under the assumption these people get paid for their job. The whale watching really caught me by surprise. I mean, what is an appropriate tip for "Thanks for not sinking"? We tipping pilots next?

If this is how it is, then fine, but I have no idea what to tip for these services!

I’ve done a whale watching tour out of Boston, years back ( just when JFK Jr went down in his plane) and I don’t recall tipping.

This is a smaller zodiac type boat. Whale watching is like figure skating, it is best from the surface level. So tipping for that would make more sense than a large boat.

I also leave a tip in hotel rooms and for the cleaners of vacation homes.

I leave vacation homes in better shape than I arrive.

Sometimes places that mention tipping also suggest a percentage.

I wish they did. But I'm seeing 10 to 20% for the whale watching and tour thing. The tour will be a harder tip because it is point to point, which kind of messes things up for parking.

Yeah, I do my best to leave any vacation rental in excellent condition. But I still tip. I have no idea how much of the cleaning fee ends up in the hands of the actual cleaner and how much goes to the booking company or the host.

Only one time did I arrive at a stay to find the place not cleaned. I let the owner know so that they could follow up on what went wrong and they waved that fee off of my stay. For other reasons, I am not going to stay in that place, which is a shame. With a modest investment, it would be a great place to stay. With a more significant investment, it would be stellar.

 

[ZiprHead]

So I'm heading out to New England and I noticed on a couple receipts for things we've signed up for (local city walking tour, whale watching tour - small boat 10 to 18 people), they indicated tipping is encouraged. I was caught by surprise. I wasn't expecting to tip for these. The prices for the services aren't cheap, and I was under the assumption these people get paid for their job. The whale watching really caught me by surprise. I mean, what is an appropriate tip for "Thanks for not sinking"? We tipping pilots next?

If this is how it is, then fine, but I have no idea what to tip for these services!

I’ve done a whale watching tour out of Boston, years back ( just when JFK Jr went down in his plane) and I don’t recall tipping.

This is a smaller zodiac type boat. Whale watching is like figure skating, it is best from the surface level. So tipping for that would make more sense than a large boat.

I also leave a tip in hotel rooms and for the cleaners of vacation homes.

I leave vacation homes in better shape than I arrive.

Sometimes places that mention tipping also suggest a percentage.

I wish they did. But I'm seeing 10 to 20% for the whale watching and tour thing. The tour will be a harder tip because it is point to point, which kind of messes things up for parking.

Yeah, I do my best to leave any vacation rental in excellent condition. But I still tip. I have no idea how much of the cleaning fee ends up in the hands of the actual cleaner and how much goes to the booking company or the host.

Only one time did I arrive at a stay to find the place not cleaned. I let the owner know so that they could follow up on what went wrong and they waved that fee off of my stay. For other reasons, I am not going to stay in that place, which is a shame. With a modest investment, it would be a great place to stay. With a more significant investment, it would be stellar.

My wife and her friends rent a vacation cabin once or twice a year. They always clean up afterwards.

Just a couple weeks ago, my wife was thinking, why are we working so hard to clean up the cabin before we leave when they are charging us a mandatory cleaning fee?

 

[Toni]

So I'm heading out to New England and I noticed on a couple receipts for things we've signed up for (local city walking tour, whale watching tour - small boat 10 to 18 people), they indicated tipping is encouraged. I was caught by surprise. I wasn't expecting to tip for these. The prices for the services aren't cheap, and I was under the assumption these people get paid for their job. The whale watching really caught me by surprise. I mean, what is an appropriate tip for "Thanks for not sinking"? We tipping pilots next?

If this is how it is, then fine, but I have no idea what to tip for these services!

I’ve done a whale watching tour out of Boston, years back ( just when JFK Jr went down in his plane) and I don’t recall tipping.

This is a smaller zodiac type boat. Whale watching is like figure skating, it is best from the surface level. So tipping for that would make more sense than a large boat.

I also leave a tip in hotel rooms and for the cleaners of vacation homes.

I leave vacation homes in better shape than I arrive.

Sometimes places that mention tipping also suggest a percentage.

I wish they did. But I'm seeing 10 to 20% for the whale watching and tour thing. The tour will be a harder tip because it is point to point, which kind of messes things up for parking.

Yeah, I do my best to leave any vacation rental in excellent condition. But I still tip. I have no idea how much of the cleaning fee ends up in the hands of the actual cleaner and how much goes to the booking company or the host.

Only one time did I arrive at a stay to find the place not cleaned. I let the owner know so that they could follow up on what went wrong and they waved that fee off of my stay. For other reasons, I am not going to stay in that place, which is a shame. With a modest investment, it would be a great place to stay. With a more significant investment, it would be stellar.

My wife and her friends rent a vacation cabin once or twice a year. They always clean up afterwards.

Just a couple weeks ago, my wife was thinking, why are we working so hard to clean up the cabin before we leave when they are charging us a mandatory cleaning fee?

That’s true but still. I don’t go around mopping floors or cleaning the toilets at rentals. If requested, we strip beds and gather up towels and run the dishwasher. Frankly cleaning up after vacationers ( your wife and friends excepted) would not, imo, be a fun job.

 

[southernhybrid]

I tipped the painter who repaired our ceiling in the den a couple of years ago, about 200 dollars and suggested that he and his workers have a meal out together. I think there were four of them in total and the bill was 800 bucks. We always tip wait staff at least 20% because most make only a few dollars an hour, although some make more than that. I learned this from talking with a waiter that had two jobs. One only paid him the minimum wage for waiters, but he said the tips were so good at that place and the place was so busy, that he made more money there compared to the place that paid him about 8 bucks an hour. Plus we always tip in cash to make it easy for the workers. We tip at car washes, pet groomers and most anyplace that has a tip jar. it is hard to know when tipping is appropriate.

I have a friend who used to work as a waitress and she told me how cheap a lot of people were when it came to tipping. She once served a table of about 6 or 7 people and they only left her 7 dollars for a meal that was over 100. These days, most restaurants add at least 18% to the bill for tips if there are 6 or more people. I'm sure that helps make up for the cheap tippers. We don't vacation or do any of the things that some of you mentioned, so I've never really thought much about tipping in some of those places. I would hope that housecleaners make at least as much as Walmart workers do. Are we supposed to tip cashiers at Walmart and grocery stores too? Grocery stores never offer to take your groceries to the car these days, like they once did. We did tip for that.

I would tip the girl who washed my hair when I used to get it cut, but not the hairdresser. One told me that tipping her was an insult. I told her I considered her a professional and it's not usually normal to tip professionals. Mr. Sohy tips the hairdresser, but she charges far less to cut men's hair compared to women's so I guess that makes sense.

 

[Toni]

My understanding is that you don’t tip a hairdresser who is the owner of the establishment.

I’ve been to a couple of restaurants that say on their menus that they add a % gratuity ( 15-18%) to the bill that is hated among all staff. If you want to tip additionally, you may but it is not expected.

We tip in cash and indeed usually pay in cash, especially if eating at a smaller local restaurant to help them out. Margins are very small in the food industry and cards always charge the merchant fees. Paying cash helps keep $$ in the hands of the local business. Living in a small town with half an hour or more driving time to the closest larger town has made us more aware and more appreciative of local businesses vs chains. We’re not perfect but we try when we can and hope it really helps.

 

[ideologyhunter]

My personal wrinkle: I tip in restaurants and at Sport Clips with gold dollars and Kennedy halves. I've always loved big coins, and these are easily obtainable. I just order more at my bank when I run out. It makes tipping fun, I hope both for me and for the server. I've heard back from a few servers, especially the ones who have kids, and they'll tell me that their kids go nuts when they get home & show them the coins.

 

[Swammerdami]

I wonder if tipping is (stupidly) encouraged even more now than it used to be. After all, Trump and the Republicans -- in a heart-rending display of generosity to working people -- have made tipping tax-deductible.

How does that work EXACTLY? SocSec and other payroll taxes are still paid on the tips. Are the tips claimed as deductions in Schedule A? If so, the new policy will have no effect on the many tax payers who do not itemize deductions. (And even after exemptions and deductions it takes $94,300 before tax rate exceeds 12% for joint filers.)

 

[Ruth Harris]

How does that work EXACTLY? SocSec and other payroll taxes are still paid on the tips. Are the tips claimed as deductions in Schedule A? If so, the new policy will have no effect on the many tax payers who do not itemize deductions.

According to the IRS Newswire I get, this is an "above the line" deduction (like personal IRA contributions) and itemizing is not required.

This is the information included in this newsletter:

Employers and other payors must file information returns with the IRS (or SSA) and furnish statements to taxpayers showing certain cash tips received and the occupation of the tip recipient.

By October 2, 2025, the IRS must publish a list of occupations that “customarily and regularly” received tips on or before December 31, 2024.

So the IRS will be determining what occupations are eligible to deduct their tips. And employers/contractors will have to track and report these tips on either a W-2 form or 1099 form. Self employed individuals are also eligible to deduct tips from their income but there is no information yet on how this will be reported.

This is just one of the things in this bill that will be a nightmare for accounting software vendors with such a short timeline. I am so glad I am not involved in that any more.

Ruth

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I wonder if tipping is (stupidly) encouraged even more now than it used to be. After all, Trump and the Republicans -- in a heart-rending display of generosity to working people -- have made tipping tax-deductible.

How does that work EXACTLY? SocSec and other payroll taxes are still paid on the tips. Are the tips claimed as deductions in Schedule A? If so, the new policy will have no effect on the many tax payers who do not itemize deductions. (And even after exemptions and deductions it takes $94,300 before tax rate exceeds 12% for joint filers.)

Above the line.

But most tip income is earned by people who pay little income tax. And, as you say, no effect on social security.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I wonder if tipping is (stupidly) encouraged even more now than it used to be.

Tipping has expanded, in part because it is easier to have a machine through it at you than the employee themselves. I think the tipping "crisis" started around the pandemic.

For me, I was less complaining about it and more a bit anxious about not knowing certain things are tipped. I'm glad I found out.