A Guide to Gratuities
ask an expert: tippingcanada
(Sep.24.10)
Ever wondered how much you should really tip the pizza delivery guy? We asked our etiquette expert what's appropriate.
We all know we're supposed to tip for good service at a restaurant, but what about those other people who occasionally cross our path, such as the clown you hired for your child’s birthday party or the person who delivers your take-out dinner? Here are a few suggestions to assist you in knowing when to tip:
Who
|
How Much |
| Taxi driver |
10% of the fare |
| Dance club DJ |
$1 per song request |
| Tow-truck operator |
$5 - $10 (when locked out of your car or changing a flat tire) |
| Picking up take-out food |
10% of the bill |
| Take-out delivery person |
$2 (most of them are paying for their gas) |
| Newspaper carrier |
$25 once a year (if you have a daily subscription) |
| Electric cart driver at the airport |
$2 per person |
| Driver of the airport courtesy shuttle |
$2 if he/she helps with the bags |
| Valet or parking attendant |
$2 for returning your car to you |
| Doorman |
$1-$2 if he hails you a cab |
| Delivery of special items at a hotel |
$1 per item received (such as an iron, extra pillows etc.) |
| Wine steward or sommelier |
10% of the wine bill |
| Shampoo assistant at a hair salon |
$2 |
| Bag boys at a golf course |
$2 - $3 for cleaning your clubs |
| Sports arena in-seat food service |
15% of the bill at the time of payment, not delivery |
| The birthday party clown |
$15 - $25 depending on the quality of the service and whether they helped decrease your stress level! |
Hope this guide helps the next time the pizza delivery guy rings your doorbell.
Janet Watson loves showing people how to eat, and how to set a beautiful table, how to hand out business cards and what NOT to wear to an interview...in other words, anything to do with social and business etiquette. She is the owner of The Etiquette Class in Calgary, Alberta.
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