Here in New York City, there are certain bars — most of them in hotels and most of them frequented by people who read in Us Weekly that celebrities party there — that are not only charging absolutely ridiculous amounts of cash for basic cocktails, but are automatically adding hefty tips onto the tab. [More]
the tipping point
Celeb Chef Mario Batali Sued Over Tips By Staff At Yet Another Restaurant
By 10.13.10
Back in July, pony-tailed celeb chef Mario Batali found himself the subject of a lawsuit filed by workers at five of his NYC area restaurants for allegedly withholding credit card tips from the staff. Absent from that litigation were employees at Batali’s flagship eatery Del Posto… until yesterday when 27 members of that restaurant’s staff sued, claiming they weren’t paid a legal wage. [More]
Tips On Tipping Everyone From Your Pizza Guy To Your Sherpa
By 8.24.10
We all that know that tipping your waiter 15-20% is the standard (though some of you will surely disagree) or that you usually throw the pizza guy at least a couple bucks, especially if he braves flood waters to deliver your order. But what about your tattoo artist, or your salmon fishing guide or your sherpa? [More]
How Much Would You Tip This Dedicated Domino's Driver?
By 8.17.10
On Sunday, people in sections of Charleston, SC, were up to their knees in flood water. But that didn’t deter this driver for Domino’s Pizza from making his deliveries. [More]
Celeb Chef Mario Batali Sued By Staff For Alleged Tip Skimming
By 7.30.10
We know that tipping is a touchy subject here, but not as touchy as it is to the wait staff at the restaurants owned by celeb chef Mario Batali. The red-headed TV personality is the subject of a class action lawsuit that alleges he’s been screwing his employees over by skimming off the top of the tip pile. [More]
If You Don't Tip Your Cabbie, You Might Get Held Hostage
By 6.16.10
We know that tipping is a touchy topic, but a cab driver in New Orleans appears to have gone a teensy-weensy bit too far in his attempt to wrest a 10% tip from his passenger and he’s now facing charges of extortion, simple assault and false imprisonment. [More]
POLL: Which Services Do You Tip For?
By 5.6.10
As many Consumerist readers have pointed out over the years, you’re generally under no obligation to leave a tip for someone who provides you a service. That being said, most of us still do — and for a seemingly increasing number of services. That’s why we want to know about those situations in which you almost always leave a little extra. [More]
Do Tip Jars Pressure You Into Tipping?
By 4.11.10
Is that tip cup on the counter at Starbucks staring accusingly at you? Do you feel pressure to pony up 15 percent or more even if your massage was barely adequate? How about that automatic gratuity tacked on? The New York Post is taking a look at “tip-jar madness” — a phenomenon particularly relevant in New York City, where the average tip is 18 percent. [More]
Should You Tip The Owner Of A Restaurant If He Delivers Your Food?
By 4.2.10
Daniel recently had an interesting tipping dilemma. He ordered a smoked brisket from a locally owned barbecue place, and had it delivered. Unexpectedly, the restaurant owner himself showed up to deliver the brisket. So, he asks: should he have tipped the restaurant owner? [More]
To Tip Or Not To Tip: Full-Service Gas Station Attendants
By 4.1.10
Last week’s poll on tipping the pizza delivery guy certainly riled a lot of feathers, with over 300 comments on the topic and more than 12,000 votes tallied. It’s also brought up some good questions about tipping from Consumerist readers, like this one from Chad, who has just been introduced to mandatory full-service gas stations in New Jersey. [More]
4 Myths About Tipping From A Former Pizza Delivery Guy
By 3.30.10
When we posted a simple poll about tipping delivery drivers, we had no idea it would garner the kind of mammoth response it did, with folks on both sides of the tipping divide ardently defending their position. In an effort to clear up what he sees as common misconceptions about tipping, Consumerist reader and former delivery guy Justin wrote in to take a sledgehammer to a handful of “myths” about his past profession. [More]
