WHEN SHOULD YOU TIP?
Etiquette experts agree that Uber drivers and other cashless services deserve something extra,
NEW YORK— On-demand apps make life easier: A few taps on my phone and you can get a cab in minutes or groceries delivered to your door.
The hard part? Figuring how much — or if — you should tip the people who drive you around or pick out your cheese at the supermarket.
Part of the confusion arises from the companies themselves. Some don’t allow tipping through their apps, even though they say tipping is allowed. And the policies posted on their websites can be unclear.
Just like other service professionals, we should tip these types of workers, says Sharon Schweitzer, etiquette consultant and founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide. Many of them have to reach into their own pockets to pay for gas, bike repairs or other costs, and a tip can help them make ends meet, Schweitzer says.
“The apps are designed for us to evolve to a cashless society,” she says. “However, that doesn’t mean we become heartless in the process.”
Indeed, cash is best if you have it. Some companies will deduct processing fees that credit card companies charge before paying the driver, so they won’t get the full amount of your tip.
Below, some additional tipping suggestions, according to etiquette experts: Ride-hailing apps Uber doesn’t allow users to tip through its app because it wants to keep the ride cashless. You can tip if you want to reward good service, however, and drivers can accept — Uber clarified its policy to say so after recently settling two lawsuits filed by drivers — just remember to bring cash. Forgot the cash? At least give their driver a good review on the app, Schweitzer says. Tip: 20 per cent of the cost of ride. Grocery delivery Workers for grocery-delivery services often need to wait in long lines and carry heavy items. When calculating a tip, base it only on the cost of the food, says Callista Gould, an etiquette instructor and founder of the Culture and Manners Institute. You might want to tip at a higher percentage if they’re carrying your goods up several flights of stairs or if the weather is bad. Tip: 20 to 25 per cent of grocery costs. Restaurant delivery Most restaurant delivery companies allow tipping through their apps and websites, but give them cash if you have it. Bigger orders, such as for an office party, should get a higher tip percentage. Tip: 20 to 25 per cent of food order. Home rentals Just because you skip the hotel and rent a place through Airbnb or HomeAway, you shouldn’t skip tipping the housekeeper. Often, owners of the property hire people for clean up, Schweitzer says.
To ensure the money gets to the right person, Schweitzer says she leaves tips in an envelope addressed to housekeeping under a pillow or near the dirty towels. (No, you don’t have to tip the host.) Tip: $3 to $5
“The apps are designed for us to evolve to a cashless society. However, that doesn’t mean we become heartless in the process.” SHARON SCHWEITZER FOUNDER OF PROTOCOL & ETIQUETTE WORLDWIDE
Laundry delivery Apps that send someone to pick up dirty laundry and return it clean have been popping up in big cities. One of those companies, Rinse, tells its workers not to accept tips.
But Schweitzer says you should try anyway if the cleaned laundry is delivered to you and not left with a concierge or doorman. Tip: 10 to 15 per cent of laundry bill.