Quick etiquette query

[Cadet]

I'm going to threadjack just a bit on Mizzou's post, but I've noticed a growing trend with hotels. In the last 18 months I've had the opportunity to stay at all kinds - nice downtown Hyatts to Days Inn - across the country. And I've never seen housekeeping as bad.

I'm not incredibly picky, I'm not a germophobe, but hotel room cleanliness is important. I don't want to see someone's Goldfish cracker crumbs next to the bed or, the worst, see someone else's hair in the shower.

And it seems to have gotten worse lately. Almost every hotel I've stayed in has had some kind of problem worth mentioning to the front desk.

That's all. Resume Sonic discussion.

 

[buckweaver]

I once worked at a so-called "high-end" hotel ... that I would never, ever want to stay at.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm going to threadjack just a bit on Mizzou's post, but I've noticed a growing trend with hotels. In the last 18 months I've had the opportunity to stay at all kinds - nice downtown Hyatts to Days Inn - across the country. And I've never seen housekeeping as bad.

I'm not incredibly picky, I'm not a germophobe, but hotel room cleanliness is important. I don't want to see someone's Goldfish cracker crumbs next to the bed or, the worst, see someone else's hair in the shower.

And it seems to have gotten worse lately. Almost every hotel I've stayed in has had some kind of problem worth mentioning to the front desk.

That's all. Resume Sonic discussion.

Last year, I checked into the Ritz Carlton in Washington D.C. and when I checked into this same hotel where Michael Jordan lived for a year when he was with the Wizards, I walked into my room and there was a monster-sized **** in the toilet... The room was normally $295 a night (I paid a team rate of considerably less...) and the maid staff can't flush?

That was a fun one to explain at the front desk...

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I usually try to stay where the team stays and I generally don't like it if they go higher end than Westin, Marriott or Hyatt...

I was in New Orleans a few years back and staying at what supposedly is the nicest hotel in the city and if I wanted to get ice, I had to call the front desk and have it sent up... If I wanted to buy a coke, same thing... That just ****ing annoyed me...

 

[OnTheRiver]

I usually try to stay where the team stays and I generally don't like it if they go higher end than Westin, Marriott or Hyatt...

I was in New Orleans a few years back and staying at what supposedly is the nicest hotel in the city and if I wanted to get ice, I had to call the front desk and have it sent up... If I wanted to buy a coke, same thing... That just ****ing annoyed me...

You should've taken a **** in the toilet and then just left it. That'd have showed 'em.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Well, at most places, they'd flush it...

 

[HoopsMcCann]

i read something once that said you should tip your hairstylist (hey, he's gay, i can call him that) unless it's the owner, and the owner you don't tip

is that true?

what about a tattoo?

i just got another one and the owner did mine. i paid by credit card and there was no line for a tip, so i didn't. and i kinda felt bad, but, well, you know.... it's ****in' awesome work, and i guess me showing up in a month and letting him take a photo for his porfolio is enough, but still... i mean, it's ****in' awesome. i feel like i didn't pay enough...

 

[buckweaver]

I got A ****IN' HAIRCUT tonight, and I tipped. I always tip there, and they always treat me right there. Don't know who the owner is, so I tip everybody. She got a big one this time because it was a free cut (buy 7, get 8th free, or somethin'), so she got like a 50% tip from the regular price.

I actually did tip for my tattoo, but I have no idea if I was supposed to. Had to pay beforehand (is that the norm?) ... so I figured I better not **** off the artist and give him a lil' extra so he'd make sure it was great. And it was.

 

[HoopsMcCann]

i've usually tipped for tattoos... but this last one is my best and i didn't... i'm not sure why not. it almost felt like it would be an insult to him

and i've paid for all of mine afterward. beforehand makes more sense, but, well, not so much

 

[HejiraHenry]

I feel badly that I ate at Sonic as long as I did -- and it wasn't that long, really -- without leaving a tip.

I usually give 'em a buck. No big deal.

 

[ADifferentOkie]

NEVER tip at Sonic. I had a buddy who worked there when we were in high school (about 10 years ago) and the carhops were getting paid $7.50 back then. He was laughing about getting tips, which brought him up to like $10 an hour.
Again, that's 10 years ago, so I'd imagine they are getting paid more now. They deserve whatever they are getting, but they aren't getting any extra from me, considering they get paid more than I did for a long damn time.

 

[TrooperBari]

My general rule of thumb is if you don't come out from behind the counter, you don't get a tip.

That raises a question, though. There's a Domino's Pizza across the street from my apartment. Do I still need to give them a tip, even if I do the legwork every time and pick up the pizza?

 

[Boobie Miles]

How about people who pump your gas? I've never done this but I was reading a book about Whitey Bulger (I think it was "Brutal") and it said he always tipped gas station attendants. His line was (and I'm paraphrasing greatly because I don't nearly remember it word for word) was about how people tip assholes for bringing you your food in a restaurant but no one tips attendants who are out in the freezing cold or the blistering heat pumping your gas.

Not that I'm taking my etiquette cues from Whitey but if I fill it up for $17, I usually just give a $20. Others tip gas station attendants?

 

[buckweaver]

I've never had full service at a gas station in my life. Honestly, I don't care if I ever do.

 

[Pilot]

I wouldn't tip a guy if I picked the pizza up from him ... all they did was do their job, probably without moving more than 4 feet.

I hate the "delivery charge" pizza places all include now. It's usually not enough to be the full tip, but it's a part of it, and it adds up. The "delivery charge" should be covered by the tip. I'm giving the kid money because he brought me my pizza ... I don't understand why I need to give his boss some money too.

I'm not a big tipper anywhere, though. Not far out of college, I figure I can tip when I have more money than the people serving me do. For now, I tip about 15% for good service, 20% for great service and 10% or less for terrible service.

As far as all the other people you're supposed to tip ... if I don't give them enough money extra, then they should charge more for the product. Tell me how much it costs, and I'll pay it, but don't look down upon me when I don't fork over money I don't have very much of in the first place.

And I never tip at Sonic and I do feel bad sometimes. But I once heard that they poop in the chili, so that's just tough ****, I guess.

 

[buckweaver]

IIRC, from when I delivered pizzas, the surcharge (usually $0.75) basically serves as mileage for the deliverers ... it's a way for the companies to get around paying mileage, but it doesn't have anything to do with tips.

Don't stiff your tip just because of a "delivery charge." The deliverer doesn't get that money directly (it does help them earn a little more, because they get a percentage back based on how much they sold that night, and the delivery charge adds to that total.) But most of their income comes solely from tips.

I know you're just out of college and all, Pilot, but I hope you do start tipping more when you start earning more. Nothing worse than people who take out their grievances on food establishments by stiffing the (mostly) kids who earn tips. It's not their fault.

 

[OTD]

I wouldn't tip a guy if I picked the pizza up from him ... all they did was do their job, probably without moving more than 4 feet.

I hate the "delivery charge" pizza places all include now. It's usually not enough to be the full tip, but it's a part of it, and it adds up. The "delivery charge" should be covered by the tip. I'm giving the kid money because he brought me my pizza ... I don't understand why I need to give his boss some money too.

I'm not a big tipper anywhere, though. Not far out of college, I figure I can tip when I have more money than the people serving me do. For now, I tip about 15% for good service, 20% for great service and 10% or less for terrible service.

As far as all the other people you're supposed to tip ... if I don't give them enough money extra, then they should charge more for the product. Tell me how much it costs, and I'll pay it, but don't look down upon me when I don't fork over money I don't have very much of in the first place.

And I never tip at Sonic and I do feel bad sometimes. But I once heard that they poop in the chili, so that's just tough ****, I guess.

If you go to the same pizza place each time and don't tip the delivery boy, I hope you like cold pizza that has been propped on its side for the ride over. Or worse, a pepperoni and loogie pizza.