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Comment by SwiftyBug | Hacker News Reader

Do I have to tip _well_, though? What's a neutral tip? I agree that while visiting your country, I should try and follow social norms there, but at least let's make official how much I should tip. I do not really have a very clear understanding of what good service is in comparison to bad service. Restaurant service to me is pretty much the same or, at least, I can't tell the difference.

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A neutral tip for table service is somewhere between 15% and 25%. If you're in that range, you're not explicitly sending a signal to staff that you are exceptionally pleased or displeased. 15% might come off as a bit cheap, 25% as a bit generous, but the waitstaff will assume it's a you thing as opposed to a "your opinion of them" thing. Above or below that, and you're making a statement, intentionally or not. Less than 15%, you're saying you were displeased with the service you were provided. Only ever go below 10% if staff took deliberate action against you, and don't go back to that restaurant again.

At bars, 20%, or a buck or two a beer is perfectly acceptable. Cocktails should be tipped better, tied to how much effort it takes to prepare them. If you're going to be at the same bar for a few drinks, consider tipping generously on the first drink to help you get quicker service on future drinks.

At hotels, leave housekeeping $5-$10 a night, using the pen and pad of paper in the bedside drawer to leave a note indicating that the cash is for them.

10% on rideshares and taxis, $5-$10 on food delivery.

Pretty sure that's a pretty exhaustive list of places it's a significant faux pas to not tip. You'll be prompted to tip at a lot of fast-casual (order at the counter) places, but it's unlikely to be taken an insult if you don't. Anything higher than 10% is exceptional.

This sounds very exhausting. And implies that I have cache on me all the time, which in most cases I don't. Thank you for the tips (pun not intended), I'll make sure to follow this next time I'm in the US.

For restaurants, you typically tip on your card. After you're done with your meal, the server will leave a folio with the reciept. You look over the reciept, make sure it's right, and then put your card in the folio, and leave it near the end of the table. The server will pick up the folio, go and run your card, then bring back the folio, with your card, and 2 copies of the receipt. One is for you to keep, the other has a tip line, and a place to sign. Once you fill that out, you're free to leave. No further back and forth is required from you.

Bars have a similar process, but with the added "close it out or keep it open" option on each drink. To tip on the first drink as suggested, you can close out and then run a tab for the rest of the evening, but cash is easier.

Rideshares and food delivery will have tip options for card.

The only one you really need cash for is tipping hotel cleaners. Not sure why no one has figured out a solution for that one yet.

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