Tipping!

The TIP, "la mancia", non è inclusa nei prezzi e nei conti, così è un prassi consolidata negli Stati Uniti: è l'integrazione dello stipendio di base di chi la prende, tendenzialmente chi fa un servizio, fa parte della loro economia. Basta solo capire quali sono le convenzioni e le variabili, poi potete usare le stesse percentuali o di più...


Tipping in New York City
Tipping is an important social convention. Note that a "mandatory" service charge is not usually included in the price. There are some people you always tip. They are:

• Delivery people: variable, depending on the size of the delivery and the quality of the service. For small packages $2.00 is fine, but if there are several packages, the tip should be $4 - $5 dollars.
• Doorman: variable, depending upon the service provided. For getting a cab or opening a door, $1.00 is fine, but if he/she carries packages up to your apartment, the tip should be $3 - $5 dollars. Remember, a good doorman is a great asset.
• Hairdressers/barbers: between 15% and 20%. This also applies to manicurists, pedicurists, and masseuses.
• Hotel Staff: between $2.00-$3.00 for each time they clean your room. Usually, this tip is paid at the end of your stay.
• Parking garage attendants: between $1.00-$2.00 each time they deliver your car.
• Skycaps: they should get at least a dollar for each bag you check. You may want to tip more, remember, your luggage is in their hands.
• Taxi drivers: between 10% and 15%. If the service is excellent you can tip more, but if it's poor, tip less, or not at all if the driver is downright awful.
• Waiters/Waitresses, Bartenders: between 18% and 20%. If you are with a party of 6 or more, you may considere to pay extra. Again, the quality of service is a factor. In restaurants and some other places, tips are shared by the "bus boy", "bar tender" and others. TYPTip: For large parties, some restaurants will automatically add the tip to the bill. Check for this.
  In most cases, tips are given directly to the service person, however, at restaurants, clubs and bars, tips can be added to your bill if you pay by credit card or if you are dining at the restaurant of the hotel you are staying in, you may include a tip on the house charge slip. In either case, you must write the amount of the tip on either the charge card slip or the house charge slip and enter a "total" amount at the bottom.   
• Tip Cups
  In recent years many establishments have placed a "tip-cup" next to the cash register. Pizzerias & delis are good examples of this. In these places, it is up to your discretion whether to tip or not, many people don't.
  
  

New York City Tipping Guide

• Hotels
  When staying at a New York City hotel, tip the hotel doorman $1 for hailing you a cab or assisting with other needs. Bellhops will likely assist in carrying bags to your room, and it is common to tip a dollar or two for each bag. Leave a tip of between $1 and $5 on the nightstand for the maid when you’re heading out for the day to show gratitude for their cleaning services. It's amazing how much cleaner the room will be.
• Restaurants, Bars, Clubs
  Wait staff at restaurants expect 15% to 20% gratuity on the total bill. When eating out during Restaurant Week in New York City, tip generously because you may have gotten a large discount on food, but wait staff still need to earn a living. Also tip well if you are with a large group of people. Many people work for tips alone in the service industry. NOTE: Accidental double tipping is common, so you should avoid tipping on top of bills that were totaled up with the service charge already added. Double tipping can mean that you accidentally leave a tip of over 40%, something the server will rarely tell you about.. Also, parties of five or more often have this service charge automatically added to the bill, so there is no need to tip.
• Bars and Clubs
  At bars, always tip the bartender $1 for the first drink, and if you are feeling generous, continue to tip $1 for each drink purchased. Failure to tip will result in the inability to order another drink. Dance clubs and some bars will often have a bathroom assistant there to hand out paper towels to dry your hands. Tip bathroom assistants $1 at some point during the night, as you will most likely be stopping in a few times. 
• Coat Checks
  Many restaurants, bars, clubs, museums, and other establishments have coat checks available to check belongings. Upon returning to pick up your belongings, drop $1 into the tip jar or bowl they have placed out to show appreciation. 
• Transportation
  Tipping a taxi or limo driver in New York City is customary. Tip the driver 10% to 20% of the total fare, depending on how large of a bill it is and how good the service was. Consider how quickly and safely the driver got to your destination. Go with your instincts; if the driver seems to have taken advantage of the fact you are from out of town, then there is nothing wrong with giving a small tip or nothing at all. If you choose to not give a tip to a cab driver, be prepared to defend your choice and you may also receive a tirade of insults as New York cabbies are not know for being shrinking violets. 
• Food Delivery
  Having food delivered is an incredibly popular and convenient way to eat in New York City. Endless amounts of restaurants have food delivery service. For small, cheap packages, tipping $2 should suffice; but for a larger bag with several items of food, tipping $4 or $5 should cover it. If the delivery person had to weather rain or snow to get to you, be extra generous. 
• Coffee Shops and Sandwich Shops
  Many coffee shops and sandwich shops now have a tip jar at the register. It is not normally appropriate to give a tip for these services unless the barista at Starbucks really went out of their way for you. If this trend continues then all people in every spectrum of the service industry will have their hand out for a tip after performing any service. By the way, please be sure to leave a couple of dollars at the end of this article. 
• Gas Stations
  Although there are few gas stations in New York City, it is not customary to tip at the pump unless the gas was pumped for you and the windshield was cleaned. Two dollars is usually appropriate for this service. 
• Shopping Sales Tax
  Price tags on clothes and other items don’t display sales tax, which can sometimes push a seemingly cheap item into expensive territory. New York City sales tax is 8.375%. Sales tax is not payable on items such as food at grocery stores, clothing, footwear, or prescription drugs. For clothing and footwear purchases exceeding $110, a New York state tax of 4.375% is charged.