The Complete Guide to Tipping in the USA

Everything you need to know about how to tip in the USA. Tipping in the USA is a really confusing world... how much should you tip... when should you tip... where should you tip... how should you tip. Do you really HAVE to tip? What about at self checkout... do you really have to tip a computer? I'll answer those questions and more!
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[@YellowProductions]

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[@artie4017]

Just say no. Tip only sit down service and at a max of 15% for excellent service. No take out, no fast casual, no fast food, no counter service. 20% only if you're a regular and appreciate the service.

[@TheCriticalChris]

So in other words, that compensation restaurant employees derive from tips should be built into the menu prices?

[@powerofdeath.]

I also tip on pizza deliveries, thats the only other time i tip

[@henrytjhie10]

artie is definitely not in the food service industry. I make $3 an hour from my employer. Look don't eat out you can't afford it and no one wants to find you in their section. Just leave!!!

[@artie4017]

@@henrytjhie10 Wrong, I worked serving at a hotel restaurant, etc.

[@henrytjhie10]

You don't know anything and you are a slave driver justifying forcing free labor

[@jkbutnotreally]

Tipping in the US is excruciatingly annoying. I have no interest in doing a job performance evaluation at the end of every meal, that should be the owner's job. Nor do I want to do math before I pick the restaurant to figure out the true cost of dining there. Nor do I want to be asked every 5 minutes if I need anything by employees eager to please (which makes sense - their livelihood depends on it). Nor do I want to have the fear of a confrontation if I don't tip what the employee thinks I should dangled in front of me.

[@Thomas-lk5cu]

A 1-hour guide on the tipping etiquette says it all. Too complicated for anyone outside of the US.

[@YellowProductions]

Too complicated for those of us in the USA too :)

[@darrylk808]

Your next video should be on Resort Fees. I think you might have done one? I have resort fees, parking fees, and a "convenience" fee. A $200/night room that I can't check in till after 3pm and check out at 10am costs $300/night.😮

[@0000BODYGUARD0000]

in Italy we don't tip. Bye

[@jameshiga8077]

Hi Chris. Great update info on tipping. I agree about the tip fatigue. Seems like you have to tip for everything now days. I don't mind tipping when it's earned or deserved but not when it's automatically expected. People should remember the info is mostly a guide and ultimately it' s your decision on what you feel the service received. Thanks again for sharing and take care.

[@YellowProductions]

Good stuff! Thanks James!

[@bernadettkatona3300]

In Hungary, it is getting crazy as well. In most restaurants and bistros, they automatically charge you 13-18 % service charge and look at you weird (at least in some places) if you don’t tip on top of it. So you are not alone 😬😅🙈 great video btw, thanks for the tips haha 😁

[@Garudaa2]

Was in the US in 2019 at a Chicago airport I purchased a donut at a little store and the server looked at me weird when I did not tip him. Gave him $2 and then he smiled. This was just for a Donut and bottle of drink. Americas tipping culture is just weird.

[@jjasea]

I only tip on the subtotal and before any discounts. Never on tax or surcharges.

[@divineunion]

Great video as always. Being from Australia I do not like tipping. Just feels excessive that's for sure. This was very helpful. Also just an observation, when I delivered with ubereats the algorithm would allocate me the same customers so I would think it would be the same for rideshare

[@carlsnook9797]

The worst is adding the tip into the order for delivery. I don't even get to know whether the delivery and/or the product are what I wanted before I pay. I don't mind paying a delivery charge, but don't be asking me for a tip until I see your friendly face with my actual product.

[@FREDDEMONIZER156]

I always tipped and tipped well. Restaurants, haircuts, Taxi, and maybe I’m missing one or two. Now everyone is looking for a tip. They’re everywhere. It’s too much for the average person.

[@sandyseibelhager7131]

Have you noticed many hotels now have signs that say housekeeping won’t come more often than every third day unless requested

[@YellowProductions]

Yeah.. it's lame

[@gtownmonarch]

I was always taught that tipping is way of being polite, respectful, and appreciative to the wait staff at restaurants, food deliverers, and rideshare drivers. I also heard though that at Vietnamese Pho restaurants in America, the owners of these establishments take their workers’ tips

[@clement2780]

yes all vietnamese chinese korean japanese thai malays burmese etc; note Wealthy people gace a Small amount

[@justincosplay]

In New York this week. Tipping is out of control here. And that coming from Canada.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for that perspective Justin! I believe it!

[@BillyChu123]

There are ppl going through FB groups and list a "tipping guide" for every service under the sun, and gets mad when others don't agree with them. How pity!!!

[@Thehumanlife]

Good points you make here on tipping culture! Buying food/going to restaurants seems to become similar to buying a flight online where you only get to know the final price at the very end of the process after three different "service charges" have been added to the low basic price that you get baited with. Asking for obscenely high tips and even forcing you to give a high tip by setting the minimum tip high adds to this and turns tipping culture (what used to be a positive thing to show your appreciation for good service) into a rip-off culture. This way it gets less and less fun to go to a restaurant.

[@kennixox262]

Also, remember for those who are not in the United States, all 50 states, counties and cities have different sales tax percentages, or none at all in some places. That is why the sales tax is added at the point of sale. Tips on the other hand, hate it!

[@clement2780]

same for cruising flights renting attending college universities

[@pi17835]

Also, if I’m at a restaurant for say 1h, I have a hard time justifying a tip of more than 5$, no matter the check. I mean: the waiter is doing 4 tables or more. If every table tips 5$, that’s 20$/h for the waiter. Not too bad, I’d say.

[@lockdownlover73]

Hi, what I found in NYC that in the fancy restaurants, if you give a "cash" tip to the one who brings you to the table and your waiter (server!?) who only really takes your order. You don't tip the ones who actually bring your order, and take it away (they're the ones who really have to work) So, maybe if you add the tip with a credit card, hopefully all the staff get a share?

[@YellowProductions]

Probably more likely that the tip will be split if you tip by credit card yeah

[@pdxaviation]

Bummed I had to miss this stream, but always enjoy catching the archive on the rare chance I can’t make it live.

[@YellowProductions]

Better late than never 😀

[@nataliasa9944]

Great video. I will be in the US in 2 weeks so this information is very useful. Thanks

[@pi17835]

Tipping is a terrible concept and shouldn’t be a thing. It’s the employer’s obligation to pay their employees. My obligation is - or at least should be - to pay the restaurant. And nothing more. Also, while I usually love the US, I hate the lack of transparency. How can it be ok to not state the final price, including taxes, surcharges and fantasy (resort) fees? Write the final price down.

[@darrylk808]

Start a anti-tipping week. Everyone stay home for a week and don't patronize a business that you tip at. Could be a thing?

[@harrygoldun5779]

Stayed at a resort on Kauai back in 98. Walked to our rooms, went inside, shortly after the porter came with our bags. Opened the door, handed over our bags, then just stood there. My wife said I need to give him a tip, so I did and off he went..What a joke, he works there and that's part of his duties. Not my job to pay him.

[@darrylk808]

@@harrygoldun5779 I'm on Kauai now!🤣

[@wontondestructxn]

The place with a 10% option must have been an Asian joint.

[@YellowProductions]

Indeed :)

[@albedo0point39]

This is why I travel to Asia not the US.

[@pi17835]

Hotels: I always have the „do not disturb“-sign out to not get house keeping. They would just mess up my carefully curated set up. Therefore: no tip.

[@darrylk808]

Koi Palace...oh, i'm not on the live stream... I remember because I go there too, the one in Daly City, I live just outside SF. Didn't know there was one in SF. I dont go into the city anymore.😂 Now I go to the sister restaurant called Palette.

[@dragonofparadise]

I am heavily against tipping and think it should be banned. I prefer the Japanese model for customer service for both sides. Customers get better service and employees earn a higher stable wage. The higher quality restaurants that would get bigger tips should earn higher hourly wages as well.

[@pi17835]

For me: no tips at a Starbucks, McDonald’s or any other place where I walk to the counter, place my order, later pick it up. You didn’t do anything for me. Yes, you made my coffee, but that’s what I bought, making the coffee at a Starbucks or Burger at McDonalds is part of the sale, not a service to me.

[@sandyseibelhager7131]

Our Cracker Barrel now has a QR code that you can scan and pay that way. I have seen more of those kiosks on the table now too

[@YellowProductions]

Nice!

[@sandyseibelhager7131]

Here in Omaha we have an entertainment/restaurant tax now. Was told it was temporary but you know how that goes

[@YellowProductions]

Yeah... temporary until it's permanent 😀

[@ajexxan3415]

With bars, would you tip for every drink? Or just the first drink?

[@YellowProductions]

Probably depends on how generous you feel and how good the service is.

[@davidleinoff8589]

Tipping 15-20 percent at a restaurant is fine, but I don’t tip on the tax. I don’t get housekeeping my choice at a hotel still leave a tip if my room is clean when I arrive and they still have to clean my room Great informative videos, thank you.

[@aungkyaw1991]

$25 for every $100 wildling

[@michaelaronson7253]

Excellent information. I will add though, specifically in relation to tipping in Vegas, is that they take it more seriously than just about anywhere else in the US that I know of. One thing that drove this point home for me was a story that Jacob from Jacob's Life in Vegas told on his channel, which was about alleged claims that some house keepers on the strip will brag about using guests tooth brushes to clean their toilets, if a tip is not left in the room. I've made it a point to always leave at least a $5 tip on the bathroom counter when I leave for the day (when I'm in Vegas). I can honestly say, tooth brush not withstanding, that they do a much better job at housekeeping than if I don't leave one. It it right? Maybe not, but that's just the way Vegas is

[@YellowProductions]

Yes.. you're right. Vegas takes it seriously. And housekeepers do a better job on your room when they get a daily tip

[@kennixox262]

Pro tip: Don't leave a toothbrush, or anything out in the hotel bathroom. It is easier for the housekeepers to clean the bathroom and eliminates the toothbrush toilet situation. A hotel would be in legal hot water if it were proven that a housekeeper did that. Pro Tip #2. Don't stay in Las Vegas hotels.

[@xBabyxGurlxKx]

Hi Chris, great video. Should I tip the people who pack my shopping in supermarkets/grocery stores? If so, how much should I tip? Thanks

[@YellowProductions]

Hi BabyGurl -- I'd say generally people don't tipping supermarket baggers... unless they help you to your car, and load in the car... then consider $1 or $2

[@markcummings3146]

I love visiting the USA but the only things I don't like are resort fees, tipping, and sales tax (why is this never part of the prices shown). I always try to give a tip when I visit the US but I hate the way especially in Vegas that it's now expected everywhere and for some stupid things like a bar tender who is just pouring drinks. I find it scandalous that employees are paid $2 an hour, they should be paid a fair wage end of. I know this will push up prices but people are just profiteering off it now instead.

[@YellowProductions]

Yeah... the USA is the land of hidden fees

[@gilbertocarmona6295]

Panjo again!?! Maybe it's a good idea I return to watch your videos "live"... 😜

[@YellowProductions]

Welcome back! 😀

[@harrygoldun5779]

If it's exceptional service, fine, but not my job to subsidise their pay packets. Go talk to your boss for a pay rise.

[@sharonmiller8500]

What about hair services, I see on TikTok where hairdressers have attacked the customer for not getting a tip or not getting enough of a tip.

[@YellowProductions]

Yeah. Probably 20% for hairdressers

[@marynausa7146]

What about salons? How many tips if I got wrong color of hair?

[@YellowProductions]

I'd say $0 if you got the wrong hair color :)

[@starcraftnewbie]

Booooo! No one likes obligated guilt-trip tipping.

[@debbic2055]

I was on a cruise in an area that traditionally doesn’t tip. We ended up in a late night conversation with a service worker at a bar. He said that he made much more money in areas that encourage tipping than in areas that “pay a living wage.”

[@kennixox262]

I hate the tipping culture in this country and living in Las Vegas; it is even more of a tipping culture. That is why I avoid places that require tips as much as possible. Way back just before ethe 1996 Atlanta Olympics Circus rolled into town, many restaurants in anticipation of foreign customers started to automatically add the gratuity to the bill as is common in the rest of the World. That lasted for a very short time as local dining patrons put their foot down and said a collective "NO" to that. Restaurants are the worst as they pay, in most states, sub minimum wage and expect the patrons to subsidize the employees. My view, raise the prices on the menu to a living wage and ditch the tips. This would naturally be the death knell of a good number of restaurants, especially the chain places. In my opinion, that would be a good thing as there are too many restaurants and people eat out too often and we wonder why 80% of Americans have a metabolic problem of one type or another.

[@YellowProductions]

Yeah. Vegas is like the ultimate tipping required for everything city

[@vincentwesolowski459]

Tipping at table service only. I used to tip 15% but since the food service industry took such a hard hit during Covid-19 I tip 20% now.

[@Twinsen764]

Woohoo! Another suggested comment becomes a live stream!

[@YellowProductions]

Hopefully this is what you were looking for Twinsen 😀