What Are The Rules For Tipping Us Postal Service Employees?

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Etiquette pros offer communication on whom you should tip, how much and when.

En español | The emergency road service guy showed upwardly in record fourth dimension to recover the keys y'all left in your locked running car. Your get-go instinct is to graciously milk shake his manus, then pull him in for a bear hug, but a tip would be far less embarrassing. Merely, look. Do you tip route service folks? If yous do, how much?

Tipping is a very old practise, only it remains a source of debate and confusion for many. At a eating house, you don't think twice nearly tipping the waitstaff. But you might ignore a tip jar on the counter at a deli. And the idea of giving the cable guy any extra money may seem ludicrous, but the fact is that information technology isn't unheard of.

"Tipping is important. There are so many services where people aren't fifty-fifty paid minimum wage," says Debby Mayne, etiquette guide for the resource website About.com. "The pizza delivery guy is out in that location braving the elements. There'due south a reason why y'all didn't go get that pizza yourself."

So when you find yourself face to face with i of the following service providers, handle your gratitude with grace by post-obit these "tips."

Food server

For a full-service, sit-down meal, 15 to twenty percentage of the pretax bill is customary. At a buffet, leave a x percent tip. Just picking up a sandwich or a decaf latte from the counter? Tip at least 10 pct.

Exterminator

Getting rid of pesky critters in your habitation will cost y'all. But the peace of heed may exist worth slipping a trivial extra to the bug guy. Mayne says exterminators more often than not don't expect tips. "Just if the person does something actress, such as care for an area more heavily than normal or motility article of furniture, you lot may want to tip $5 to $x. Vacation tipping of $20 or a eatery gift menu is ever appreciated," Mayne says.

Valet parking personnel

When your car is returned to you, it'southward appropriate to tip the valet $2 to $5.

Hairstylist/hairdresser

Stylists and barbers should be tipped a minimum of 15 to 20 percent of the service, and that tip tin can be split among others who assisted (for instance, the shampoo person and colorist). Apply the same value to manicures, pedicures, massages and the similar. Retrieve the owner of the salon shouldn't exist tipped? Turns out that's an quondam tradition. Owners today appreciate and will accept 15 to 20 pct.

Maid

At a hotel, you're expected to leave a little something for maid service, based on how many days you stayed. Simply what near at dwelling house? Tipping a business firm cleaner who's employed not past y'all but by a cleaning service is optional. If y'all feel then inclined, x to 15 per centum is adequate. At vacation fourth dimension, or if you're particularly impressed by a chore (the gunk was cleaned from all your liquid soap dispensers), increment it, just by no more than $xx.

More often than not you wouldn't tip a cleaner you hired direct, except possibly for the holidays.

3 Rules of Tipping

Mayne'southward meridian 3 rules of tipping:

1. Offering what you tin beget. If you tin can't beget a tip that will be expected, don't apply the service.

2. If yous're unsure about a tipping policy, ask a managing director.

3. If the situation calls for it, consider a thank-you card, letter or batch of cookies to show your gratitude instead of a cash gift.

Contractors (electricians, plumbers, etc.)

If you lot piece of work with a regular contractor who cuts yous a break from fourth dimension to time, you may be compelled to offer a tip. Most of the time information technology isn't necessary to tip an electrician or plumber, Mayne says. "All the same, if they practice anything extra or spend more than time than expected, a tip is always appreciated, with the minimum being $xx."

In-home health intendance worker

Earlier tipping an in-home health care worker, it'southward a good idea to find out the policy of the employing bureau. Many companies don't let their personnel to take greenbacks tips, Mayne says. Only "if the home health worker is contained, anything the patient offers would probably be appreciated. In either example, small-scale gifts with a value under $20 are mostly allowed."

Road service provider

In some cases, y'all may want to tip a road service commuter when you don't have to pay out of pocket to cover the costs of spring-starting a car or fixing a flat. This might apply to members of AAA or like roadside assist programs. According to AAA, its road service employees can and do take tips. A range of $10 to $20 is a safe bet.

Cablevision/satellite installer

With the high price of cablevision and satellite service, a tip is likely the last affair on your mind. But if the technician's across-believable service warrants it, and you've got it to spare, offering no more than $twenty.

Movers

For a local movement (with no broken dishes), Mayne says $20 per mover is fair. If it'south long altitude, consider offering more.

Postal carrier

People often show their love for the mail carriers of the world effectually the holidays. Just no matter the time of year, civil servants in America are forbidden past law to accept cash gifts. According to Mayne and others, you may offer your post carrier a gift valued at no more than $20. "A gift card, a coffee mug, cookies, something that doesn't have high value," she says. "You don't want to get them in trouble."

Stacy Julien is a writer and editor at AARP Media.