By Katey Khaos
To tip big or not to tip big ~ that is the question. And since everyone has an opinion and there are so many variables, it’s good to know that there are actually some easy-to-remember rules:
Before we dive into who gets what for a tip, let’s start off with the basic rules of tipping.
Do tip pre-tax.
Do tip at buffets.
Do tip when using a discount or voucher like Groupon.
Don’t tip the owner.
Don’t tip extra when gratuity is already added on the bill.
Don’t leave a bad tip if you plan on visiting the establishment again.
Got all that? Good. Now, here are 5 common tip scenarios you’ll likely encounter while in college:
Waiter / Waitress: 10-20% tip, but no less than 10% for poor service.
Bartender: 15-20% tip. Minimum of 50 cents per soft drink and $1 per alcoholic drink.
Food Delivery: 10-20% tip. At least $1 for bills up to $10. 15-20% for a difficult delivery (bad weather, hard-to-find location, etc).
Taxi Driver: 15-20% tip. $1 minimum. If the driver is loading your bags; $2 for the first one, $1 for the second.
Barber / Stylist: 15-20% tip.
For a full list of tip how-tos, visit www.hospitalitymanagementschools.org/tipping.