holiday tipping

Is it appropriate to leave a larger-than-normal tip around the holidays at places you go all the time? For example, if you go to the same restaurants once a week or so and you usually have the same server, would you pay your bill and then leave $10 or so as a "tip"? I wouldn't want to insult a server or make anyone feel weird or awkward when I went back again.

I see no reason to tip differently based on the time of year.

When I'm a regular at a place or have a regular server at a place I tip more generously if I'm there on a holiday or right before a holiday. It's like a small holiday gift, very much like the extra holiday tip I give my hairdresser in addition to the amount I tip him every time he cuts my hair.

I've never known anyone who gets offended by a large tip....

If a server has been your "Regular" at a given restaurant I personally think it's a nice gesture to give them a special tip for the holidays. Serving years ago when my wife and I were living in South Carolina we had a local restaurant that we visited weekly, the front of house knew who we wanted for a waitress and as soon as she saw us she'd put in our drink order. We tipped her nicely every time we visited (usually paying with a credit card) one night over the holidays after paying the bill I left a $50 on the table, she asked if I need change and when I told her it was her holiday tip she was very excited and appreciative!

See her excitement made the holiday that much more special for us!

[Robin Garr]

Is it appropriate to leave a larger-than-normal tip around the holidays at places you go all the time? For example, if you go to the same restaurants once a week or so and you usually have the same server, would you pay your bill and then leave $10 or so as a "tip"? I wouldn't want to insult a server or make anyone feel weird or awkward when I went back again.

Good question, Ellen, and a reasonable one. As most of the others have said, no server is ever going to feel offended by an unusually generous tip, and if, as you say, you're a "regular" and are served by the individual often, it's a very kind and appropriately seasonal thing to do.

Not required by any means - no etiquette requires it. But it's a generous and appropriate gesture, and reflects well on you for thinking of it.

I've often thought about this during this time of year. I always tip well, and especially generous if the service is over the top. I suppose because I see how hard my servers work, unless service is terrible, I generally leave 20% or more. I know some people may say, "why would you do that? They need to get a hint if they're not doing a good job", but my feeling is that servers usually get $0 paychecks---and unless the server is lazy and doesn't care, I think 20% is a reasonable amount for waiting on me.

As far as tipping extra during the holiday season, I think it is VERY much appreciated. I remember one time YEARS ago, when I was a cashier at Doll's Market, I was working the Saturday before Christmas. I had NO money, as I had car insurance to pay for, and I had bought everyone gifts. There was a man, I so wish I knew his name today, whose change was ten dollars. He asked for two fives and put one in my apron. I can't tell you how much it meant to me----not only that I didn't even have money for lunch---but just becuase he was thoughtful, and even five dollars made such an impact on my holiday spirit. FIVE DOLLARS!! I worked there a lot, but didn't recognize him as a 'regular' customer whose name I remembered. He may or may not have known mine, but it was just a nice gesture on his part.

I always tip my nail lady extra during the holiday, and my hairdresser as well, so with it all being in the service industry, I think it is a nice, welcomed gesture. Someone mentioned an extra $50--that's awesome---if you've got it to give, your server will appreciate it!! BUT, even an extra five or ten over will be noticed, and TRUST ME, servers WILL remember and you WILL get that extra special service the next time you're in.

My servers always remember who tips well, and not so well. As a matter of fact, there is one table who comes that NOBODY wants to take. It's awful---usually 2 on $25. So, this brings up another point....how do you deal with this? I've had one server actually tell me that if they come in again, he refuses to take the table....I think he got $3 on a $40 when the guy decided to pick up the table. They are lunch diners, and my customers, nonetheless, but it's hard for me because I know that even if they try, it's hard not to show frustration when they take the table. And, they're rather rude---always wanting something special---and usually when people as for something different or off of the menu, an EXTRA tip is left as a sign of appreciation. I've gotten to the point where I take the tables because I don't want to hear the servers compain when they leave....trust me, they get not-so-good tips sometimes, but these are HORRIBLE. Owners/Managers---how would you deal with that?

Ashley

I think if you are *really* a regular a nice tip in a card is in order. Same for the guy or gal who cuts your hair and others you come into contact with regularly during the year.

Now, the newspaper guy who lets my paper get wet every day but then sends me a Christmas card expecting a tip - that's another story!

I'm not an owner or manager, but seriously since you can't possibly honestly care if you keep them as customers, I'd charge them for anything and everything special they order off menu, and probably write a suggested tip on their ticket.

In the days when the family would go out regularly to certain places (Garrett's comes to mind) and we always asked for the same server, we'd leave a "Christmas Present" of some extra green in the tip.

It's something that is nice to do to give back to somebody who's been consistently nice to you.

It is always appropriate to leave a larger tip when deserved. Christmas is a nice time to show appreciation, but I would not limit appreciation to once a year.

Now, the newspaper guy who lets my paper get wet every day but then sends me a Christmas card expecting a tip - that's another story!

Of course we can always talk about letter carriers who don't even bother to get out of the truck (they just beep the horn) when they have a package for you. Of course they always leaving card the holidays!

Now, the newspaper guy who lets my paper get wet every day but then sends me a Christmas card expecting a tip - that's another story!

Of course we can always talk about letter carriers who don't even bother to get out of the truck (they just beep the horn) when they have a package for you. Of course they always leaving card the holidays! :roll:

Isn't trolling for tips like that illegal? My sister-in-law is a mail carrier in a rural county (her dog bites and broken ankle attest to her personal delivery) and always returns cash tips, no matter how much the family could use the bucks. Baked goods seem to be another story- their house looks like the cookie monster's wet dream come the holidays.

In my past food industry experience, the holidays have always proven generosity. Once my kids grew up, I started making sure to work on christmas eve, or day, for the tips were 50%. In one case I had the christmas regulars that gave 50%. The tips are definitely increased due to fine thoughtful folks like yourself. Yes, that 50 bucks would make my night too, especially in the holiday season. You would be surprised how a lot of servers out there, don't have a family, and money is their only joy. To those who are not tipped employees, like myself at one time, the 5 bucks is gold. ANY TIME OF YEAR. I have also worked banquet christmas functions, and that is where the server generally does not get tipped. It is included a total expense for that function. The servers there never get them. If you attend one this season, feel that BANQUET SERVER did a great job, a little green goes a long way. NEVER IS IT AN INSULT. ALWAYS A NICE GESTURE FOR ONE THAT DESERVES.

Mail carriers are not supposed to accept cash. They can accept gifts up to 20.00 in value. They are also supposed to get out of the truck and deliver packages that can't fit in the box.

TP .. the best way to cure wet papers is to call the newspaper for a replacement. Has to be done before 10 am (later on Sunday I think). They charge the carrier for the paper and extra for delivery. They do this in Jefferson County and I assume the same holds for regular delivery outside the county. They have access to plastic bags if they need them.