Doug Wallace is a Toronto-based lifestyle writer and editor-publisher of TravelRight.Today. He is a consummate entertainer and social convener with strong opinions — and razor-sharp common sense. Ask your lifestyle etiquette questions at [email protected].
Gratuitous gratuities are a hot-button topic these days.
It can seem like service providers are guilt-prompting us to tip for mere transactions — a friend asked me recently, in a huff, if grocery store clerks and postal workers will be next.
“Tipflation” is also a real concern, since default suggestions at payment terminals often start at 18 per cent, on top of services and products that are already inflated — the $80 bottle of wine at a bar, the primo hair salon, and so on.
A reader named June wrote to me saying that she needs help with household-related chores, and is wondering what tips are appropriate for tasks like cutting the lawn, snow-shovelling, housecleaning and rides to the grocery store.
My suggestion is to round up to the next $5 or $10 increment, depending on the intensity of the work and how long the job takes — how big is your lawn? I feel that even a few extra dollars can put a smile on someone’s face, and be an indication that you cared enough to make the effort.
In Toronto, most people tip 15 to 20 per cent on pre-tax totals at bars and restaurants, for food delivery services and at hair salons and spas. At coffee shops, you can round up or add change to the tip jar. (My mother-in-law sees red when she notices a tip jar in places she doesn’t think it should be, like ticket counters or the bakery.)
You might add 10 to 15 per cent to taxis or ride-share services and paid excursions like tour guides.
When travelling, tips for housekeeping (per night), luggage help and valet parking can land between $3 and $5. But when you’re abroad, keep in mind that the culture of tipping is not worldwide. Australia, Britain and much of Europe don’t follow this code. And in Japan, tipping can actually be interpreted as a sign that staff aren’t doing their job well all the time, which can be a troubling thought.
I’m always happy to throw money at people who deserve it, who go above and beyond the scope of their duties and really make a difference to my experience. But while there is often an expectation, there is no obligation. In the end, you should tip what you feel, what you’re comfortable with and what you can afford. We are not made of money.
