By Justin Baker
Tipping is everywhere. As college students we take full advantage of restaurant takeout and sit down, coffee shops, nail salons, hair salons, barber shops, bars, and each carries a slightly different expectation and notion of acceptable of tipping. So, here’s a note on when to tip, why, and how much.
When to tip
Tipping involves an understanding between server and customer, and the understanding goes a bit deeper than the surface of money for services received. In most scenarios, the customer ought to have an idea of how much the server is paid, which can range from a few dollars an hour ($2.15 or so) right up to minimum wage.
Baristas and take out restaurant workers often make minimum wage, but for chain restaurant workers it depends on the time of a day. In the afternoon, a person hired to solely do takeout orders may be fulfilling your order, but in the evening, a busy server is taking time to fulfill your order and hence ought to be compensated a bit more than the other worker. One makes seven dollars an hour, the other makes two.
Unlike at bars, where tipping is always expected, baristas don’t make a tip on every transaction. So although it isn’t expected, it’s still a good idea to tip each time you get a cup of coffee. (Of course, if you’re there all day; don’t feel obligated each time that day.) The few tips that do come in manage to raise their minimum wage by a dollar or two more per hour.
At bars and restaurants, always tip. Unless you are overlooked, constantly and consistently ignored (especially in a non busy setting), food cold/drink wrong, no accommodation is made, etc., you should at least tip something.
Nail salons, barber shops, and hair salons: tip. But at the same time, don’t begrudge your stylist a tip just because you weren’t vocal enough or didn’t communicate clearly what you needed and ended up with a look with which you are unsatisfied. Find a stylist who understands your need and speaks your language, and don’t be afraid to set appointments and only see that stylist. Develop that relationship as a customer and tip.
Why to tip
Servers and stylists aren’t dumb. Stylists style because they love it, and servers either love what they do or love the money that they need to get through school. So, no matter how drunk or sober you are, treat them like people and tip them for their work.
Tipping, especially often and well, shows the establishment and workers that you have a vested interest in them. In turn, your server/stylist will began to remember things about you, and your needs will be better met. If you tip well enough, your server may remember exactly who you are and your order, should you wish to repeat it. At the very least, tipping initiates a connection between server and customer that ultimately benefits (or not, in the case of poor tipping) the customer, the tipper.
How much, then, to tip?
Across the board, from hair salon to restaurant and bar, 15% is the average, but average isn’t good. First, the acceptable:
For coffee shops, 15% is acceptable for a single drink order and an even $1 is considered good.
For nail salons, either 15% or a flat $4 is acceptable. For barber shops, a couple of dollars or 15%. At hair salons, a flat $20 or 15% is acceptable.
For bars and restaurants, 15% is acceptable, but 17-20% is expected for good service. And keep in mind, for restaurants and sit-down bars, the longer you stay, the more you ought to tip; an hour is expected, but for more than that you should compensate accordingly. At bars, $.50-1.00 per beer and $1-$2.00 per shot/drink/glass of wine is good practice, but 20% is closer to average.
Here’s a tip: don’t be average. Tip above and beyond, and see how good your service can get. There is no limit on how much you can tip or how good your service can be.
Questions, comments, ideas: maroon.culture@gmail.com