[sumeethaldankar]

Not much of a heavy restaurant user (light snacks) my standard tip is 10 Rs for the waiter. For Zomato etc I add 20 Rs as the tip. I generally do not tip Uber drivers as I think the fare is fair. For rickshaws I usually leave the last 2-3 Rs in fare and do not take change from them.

For workers/labourers/delivery people (large items like TV etc) who come to my home I tip generously about 100 to 500 bucks depending on the work. I make sure if there is more than one person they can divide the amount fairly between themselves. Also I do not haggle for price with street vendors (bags/slippers etc). If I find the item too pricey I do not buy.

[rpunwani]

Originally Posted by JoshMachine

I do tip regularly to folks who show a great sense of ownership and integrity in their work and who go out of the way which directly enhances comfort, safety or reliability of the service being rendered - this includes people amongst servers, valets, porters, car hires, daily work service personnel (Urban Company for e.g.).
And I consider it ok even if some of them explicitly ask for it. I usually reserve 7-10% as the tip amount.

However strictly no tips or any favors to roadside beggars or folks who are looking to make a fast buck without blinking their eyes.

I pretty much follow the same policy.

In addition, I do the following:-

1. Leave change/a little tip for the cab drivers when I take them, specially the kaali-peeli (Mumbai Taxi's)
2. Tip the building Security who oblige with parking space
3. Generously tip the barmen in our club. They know what you would like to drink and it promptly appears on my table
4. Distribute our old clothes/shoes, etc to the security staff in our building

The above are only a few examples. Most important is to be kind and understanding to all. Treat them as equals and offer them the basic humane courtesies like water, tea, biscuits

[shyampsunder]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Looking to the forum members for suggestions for a problem I am facing these days : Lack of lower denomination currency. I just cannot find 10/20/50/100 notes these days. Almost everyone uses UPI for small amounts and CC for large amounts. So how do you manage to keep the small change for people like air pump/parking attendants?

On my last solo highway trip, my food bill came to 190 and I had to make a choice between the waiter and the parking attendant since I had only 500 notes with me.

I use CC everywhere that it is accepted. But even if I am paying by CC, I ask the waiter to add the tip amount to the bill and then enter it on the POS. Few restaurants refuse because it creates problems in their accounting. At that point, I give the waiter a Rs 100 or 200 and ask for change so that I can tip. They happily get the change because they know they are going to get a part of it

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by m8002?

...

Looking to the forum members for suggestions for a problem I am facing these days : Lack of lower denomination currency. I just cannot find 10/20/50/100 notes these days...

You could get a bundle from your bank.

I rely on my Dad to occasionally get me a bundle of 20s when he goes to the bank. Stays in my glovebox, very handy for petty expenses, and lasts a while.

[binand]

Originally Posted by m8002?

I just cannot find 10/20/50/100 notes these days.

I cash a self-cheque every so often at my neighbourhood SBI branch. Usually 15K, with 10K in 50/100 notes and 5K in 10/20 notes.

[DigitalOne]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

You could get a bundle from your bank.

I rely on my Dad to occasionally get me a bundle of 20s when he goes to the bank.

Same here. I ask my FIL to get it for me. I stuff these 20rs notes into a travel sling bag (Amazon) that I carry on outstation trips, especially pilgrimages. It gets so convenient to tip or drop cash into temple hundis.

[nxshar2]

I have found most (not all) service industry people to be extremely happy and enthusiastic about their jobs even at roadside low/moderate priced joints. Its only fair to do my part to add to their happiness.

But I do haggle for bargains everywhere no matter the price. I believe in "Hisaab Pai Pai ka, Bakshish Lakh Ki".

I find it weird that you can't tip stewards/stewardesses on flights though sometimes they provide way better service than most star restaurants.

[bhansali_hardik]

I tip only in places where I see cleaners, low/mid end restaurants where there is a guy assigned the cleaning duty and guards who are relentlessly stand out on highways/streets just to guide you in!

However there’s this untold snobby rule at high end places, we levy service charge which is exuberant and you have to pay irrespective of what the law of the land is! I don’t want awkwardness or an uneven atmosphere when we step out, but this boils my blood and I just pay what it’s and wonder if it compensates the staff/valet and other folks! Because inherently my mind calculates 600~700 odd rupees paid as service charge and any tipping on top of it feels I’m getting ripped off!

I visit a café regularly and they do not levy service charges, I happily tip the guy serving me occasionally in upwards of 20% at times just because I’m acquainted to the welcoming nature, my preferences and what I expect when I visit them! Had there been a compulsory service charge I would have not had this rapport I guess!

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Looking to the forum members for suggestions for a problem I am facing these days : Lack of lower denomination currency. I just cannot find 10/20/50/100 notes these days.

For 100 notes, while withdrawing from an ATM enter the amount ending with either 400 or 900. You will be dispensed at least 4*100 notes, unless the ATM does not have the denomination in which case the transaction may get rejected.


For smaller denominations like 10/20/50 :

1. If withdrawing from an ATM at a branch location, after the withdrawal approach the cashier at the counter and ask for exchange of 500/2000's.

2. While withdrawing from the branch, request for payment in the desired denomination. At the time of major festivals like Diwali etc. Bank branches do receive new notes for distribution. If you prefer new notes for tipping, withdraw your annual requirement of small denomination bundles at such times.

3. Towards the end of the day / shift, taxi / auto drivers and bus conductors are more than happy to exchange smaller denominations for 500's since it helps with their reconciliation.

Originally Posted by Neversaygbye

Tipping is sometimes tricky -
we were confused on what to do (they had become more like friends) and all of us debated on whether we should tip and then finally decided to.

When in such a doubt, found that giving in kind was better. Recollect the first such incident where I faced this dilemma.

So, a cab driver was with me for a trip of 4 days. Sat down on the front seat besides him as I normally do. He was quick to observe and even comment that I was subconsciously moving both my feet as if I was driving when he changed gears. He was sincere and friendly so was in a similar dilemma just like you.

While in transit, invited him to have lunch with me at all the highway restaurants we stopped enroute. On the penultimate night of the trip when we reached back to the base town where he resided, had him stop outside a shop just before he dropped me off at the hotel. Bought a box of assorted chocolates and told him it's for his small boy from me.

The next day while dropping me off at the airport, he thanked me profusely saying that his son was thrilled and kept thanking him every time he ate a chocolate. It was apparently the first time he ever took something home for his son after a trip.

[sam264_2000]

I tip based on the service I get.

Restaurants:
If a restaurant adds a service charge to the bill, then I do not tip. If not, I usually pay 10% of the bill amount for lunches and dinners. Not for snacks/tea/coffee.

Valet or Parking:
If I opt for a valet service, then I definitely pay either 20 or 50.
Highway side hotel parking guy/watchman: 20 to 50.

Hotel stay:
It's usually 100 at check in/out if I am helped with my luggage.

Airport Pick up & Drop:
50 to 100 if the driver helped me with my luggage.

Delivery Boys:
Swiggy / Zomato - I pay cash tip usually 20 or 50, almost every time I order. I offer them water as well.

Postman/courier guys:
Rs. 10 + water.

Delivery for furniture, electrical appliances like AC/Refrigerator:
Rs. 200 to 500 depending on the amount of stuff getting delivered.


Household helps and car wash guy:
Every Diwali, they get 100% of their salary as a bonus.
Household helps also get additional money over and above their salary if I have had guests/relatives/friends for a stay over or parties or extra cleaning/work. It's usually 500 for that month.

Salon:
Not in India but 10% to 20% when visiting USA.

[Clown Prince]

I usually tip all the balance amount to waiters. If it's round figure or I am making a card payment then I give it in cash separately or ask the cash counter person to include it, if I don't have cash or change. My tips are usually 10%~15%. If the service is sub par or inadequate, then I won't tip.

It happened with me around 7 or 8 years ago. I was with my grandparents in this restaurant in Calcutta. We were eating and the waiter was in so hurry that he started clearing the table without even asking and I was still eating. It ruined all the taste of food. I refused to tip. I was angry but didn't complain to manager. My Grandpa told me not to.

As for Zomato guys I tip them directly since I don't trust the app. As beggars if they want food that I do provide but no money.

[Jaguar]

With UPI, I feel it has become harder to tip. We generally don't have change and adding extra to the UPI payment will go to the establishment and not to the individual. If I am going for any planned activity like a car wash, I make sure I have cash on me, but otherwise, it is difficult.

In restaurants, if with family, I generally just pay the service charge. If I am with friends, I politely request to remove the service charge and pay the same or more directly to the waiter based on the service.

When staying in star hotels, it is easy to tip the valet or bell boy. But how do you tip the cleaning and other staff whom you don't even see perhaps? And if you are ordering room service/visiting the restaurant and charging for the room, you are not paying immediately. Would like to know the standard practice in these cases.

Originally Posted by binand

I cash a self-cheque every so often at my neighbourhood SBI branch. Usually 15K, with 10K in 50/100 notes and 5K in 10/20 notes.

Both the SBI and HDFC near my house never seem to have lower denomination notes. After multiple tries, I managed 10k in 50s.

Originally Posted by Clown Prince

As beggars if they want food that I do provide but no money.

I saw an Instagram post where a homeless guy in the US was talking about why he always refuses food or just throws away food unless you buy it in front of him. Apparently, people contaminate the food by adding drugs, spit, and other bodily fluids

[Mr.Ogre]

While I was in India I would tip if I liked the food and the service. During early days not much, but later on I tried to tip around 10% of the bill amount. Before I moved to Australia I had heard and read a lot about how tipping is mandatory in the USA, and I was of the opinion that it would be the same here.
However, I don't see people tipping that much here. I would even say its less that what it is in India. I rode with quite a few Australian blokes for overnight trips and none of them tipped. In fact they wouldn't mind getting every cent back as change.
But when it comes to food delivery guys, I usually tip them, because for one the weather here can get harsh especially the winters. It can become unbearable and when you see these guys and construction workers working on roads during after hours, you really feel for them.
And second, I know a lot of these delivery guys are students, and they try really hard to stay afloat. It reminds me of my days when I started out here. By God's grace I sailed through fine, however I try and tip them if they deliver it fine into my hands and not just leave it at the apartment gate.

[Mustang Sammy]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

With UPI, I feel it has become harder to tip. We generally don't have change and adding extra to the UPI payment will go to the establishment and not to the individual. If I am going for any planned activity like a car wash, I make sure I have cash on me, but otherwise, it is difficult.

In restaurants, if with family, I generally just pay the service charge. If I am with friends, I politely request to remove the service charge and pay the same or more directly to the waiter based on the service.

When staying in star hotels, it is easy to tip the valet or bell boy. But how do you tip the cleaning and other staff whom you don't even see perhaps? And if you are ordering room service/visiting the restaurant and charging for the room, you are not paying immediately. Would like to know the standard practice in these cases.

I saw an Instagram post where a homeless guy in the US was talking about why he always refuses food or just throws away food unless you buy it in front of him. Apparently, people contaminate the food by adding drugs, spit, and other bodily fluids

UPI and the concomitant decline in cash usage has made it harder to tip. However, for direct dealings you can still add the amount to the taxi fare, or pay the service provider (the person) directly to their UPI linked account.

For hotel cleaning staff I leave a tip in the room when I go out in the morning or when I check out. Room service folks can be tipped directly regardless of when the bill is paid.

Re: the concern about food contamination, the best and safest way to donate food is dry goods like biscuits and nuts. I carry a few packets in the car for kids who are selling stuff at traffic signals.

PS: we should just follow our hearts in these cases. They almost never fail to guide us in the right direction.

[Draunzer21]

As mentioned by most people, the tip culture is very common in many other countries especially US and in India if the service charge is already added in the bill, no need to give tip is the rule I follow but whenever I come out of the restaurant and if the security guard on duty helps by even just waving his hand, I make sure I atleast give him 20 rupees as he works hard waiting outside and helping car owners park.

If there is any family function and we have caterers, the workers would definitely ask for top at the end of the function and we cannot say no most of the times.

I believe in this : there is no point in spending a lot of money and then not giving 200-300 rupees and getting something called as baddua in hindi

At the end, if you genuinely like someone's work, please tip whole heartedly, if you don't like but someone asks, give some amount.

If postman or Zomato guy comes for delivery then along with 20rs. tip I make sure I ask for water to them