Who do you Tip for the Holidays?

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Replies

  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited December 2018
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    My family have always gifted our doctors GP and specialists during the holidays. I am,uncertain if others do it in the US. I know some do send their doctors alcohol in my part of the USA. A Christmas card with a cheque has always been what we do (my family).

    Ahh, I think gifts (like alcohol) are a lot easier to imagine than tips. Or a check, although I don't quite get it myself.

    Generally, when I think of "tips" I imagine smallish amounts (let's say $100 or less) which to me would be strange for a person in a professional position. I think if I tried to tip my dentist a twenty dollar bill he would totally laugh, and probably not accept it, and that's kind of what I was imagining.

    5% of total value of yearly treatment. Certainly more than $100. If it was $100, I would certainly send alcohol.

    I know Beverly Hills doctors who don't balk at gifts from clients, be they $100 cheque, alcohol, chocolates etc.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited December 2018
    This thread is beyond weird to me. Everyone has their own idea of what's normal though, I realize that.

    When we were in SF, we ordered a lot of seafood from a fishmonger in Sausalito (family owned company) because of Pacific functions we'd order for ( my sister and I) - islanders eat a lot of seafood. Every Christmas and New Year's, this family would deliver 3 large esquees filled with giant whole crabs as a gift. They weren't foreigners, rather a white American family.
  • Tigg_er
    Tigg_er Posts: 22,001 Member
    My Crew Chief,,For keeping my chute packed so it always works
    Mail Man -for bringing me all them goodies
    Trash Man - For hauling all my crap away
    UPS Gal -She is always smiling
    The Neighbor for keeping his brats out of my yard ,and for putting up with all kinds of noises at all hours
    The local cops ,,for not arresting me
    Oh The list goes on and on ,, now I'm broke
  • glamorousAdvocate
    glamorousAdvocate Posts: 15 Member
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    Both my dentist and my doctor have been with my family for over 25 years, and I see them several times a year. A card is the least I can do to thank them for their work!
  • CaptainFantastic01
    CaptainFantastic01 Posts: 9,558 Member
    my sanity starts to tip. does that count?
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    Im in the us and have never heard of that either until now.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    edited December 2018
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    Both my dentist and my doctor have been with my family for over 25 years, and I see them several times a year. A card is the least I can do to thank them for their work!

    So I guess they're almost like a family friend? That would make sense I suppose.

    Sorry this is just a completely new concept to me and I'd never heard of it until this thread.

    My husband and I go to the same GP and have for 5-6 years but we only see him once a year, twice at most, and generally deal with the NP for minor illnesses. I have a new women's doc just about every time I get a wellness check because of health system changes. I'm very loyal to my dentist, and like him a lot as a person, but at the rates the office charges I'm out quite a lot of money per year even after my insurance kicks in - so not inclined to tip him jack squat. haha
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited December 2018
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    Both my dentist and my doctor have been with my family for over 25 years, and I see them several times a year. A card is the least I can do to thank them for their work!

    So I guess they're almost like a family friend? That would make sense I suppose.

    Sorry this is just a completely new concept to me and I'd never heard of it until this thread.

    My husband and I go to the same GP and have for 5-6 years but we only see him once a year, twice at most, and generally deal with the NP for minor illnesses. I have a new women's doc just about every time I get a wellness check because of health system changes. I'm very loyal to my dentist, and like him a lot as a person, but at the rates the office charges I'm out quite a lot of money per year even after my insurance kicks in - so not inclined to tip him jack squat. haha

    I'm like this @MedSpa when I do go. They charge so much for feel good fixes, I don't need to remember my technicians over the holidays, more than the tip given upon treatment. Most of the time, I prefer to attend to it myself.

    * My dentist for example ... I cannot thank her enough every single time I catch a glimpse of my teeth. Note, I didn't commit the dental hygienist - she gnaws on my last nerve. Always in a mood.

    * Our GP saved our lives last year most especially. He deserves sooooo much more than he charges.

    For the asterisked 2, normatively, I would let my mother send the appreciation cheques... Not this year.
  • go_cubs
    go_cubs Posts: 1,183 Member
    go_cubs wrote: »
    * Our drivers
    * Garbage collectors
    * Neighborhood paper route boy
    * Family banker, lawyer, GP & Dentist.
    * Favorite channels on YT

    Baked goods baskets:

    * Every home on our street. (Thanks to our neighbourhood Halloween listings, we know which homes have dietary restrictions & allergies).
    * Mail person ( they change all the time).
    * Neighbourhood security.
    * Pastors
    * Church friends.

    I was like ok ladyyyy lol

    My normal isn't your normal ... Lol

    Haha this is funny
    I guess so!
  • kindalikevelma
    kindalikevelma Posts: 1,337 Member
    I just started using a cleaning lady this year and plan on giving her and her son Christmas gifts/cards.

    I will also give a gift to my nanny and dog sitter.
  • Renaissance_Turtle
    Renaissance_Turtle Posts: 960 Member
    my sanity starts to tip. does that count?

    Mine too bro. Right about 12:01 AM onNovember 1st when all the extra special folks start playing Christmas music...
  • bojack5
    bojack5 Posts: 2,859 Member
    Tipping to me has to do with quality of service. I’m not saying I don’t tip, but not out of obligation. I tip when and how much I please depending on the service I’ve received. Purhaps that’s wrong but I feel a tip is a sign of gratitude and shouldn’t be done out of guilt or obligation. In regards to the holidays, I give a small gift to those I feel deserved it. Such as my children’s teachers. I don’t per say tip them rather I look at it as a small token of gratitude for the time they invested into my children.

    I always found it unfair that price of meal dictates size of tips most times. A $300 dinner at a nice place and a $30 dinner at a diner may take the same amount of work for the waiter or waitress, but the tip will be vastly different.