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Where's My Tip - a cashless way to tip when you travel

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) on Jun 15th 2010 at 10:00AM

Tipping when you're traveling can be an uncomfortable situation. For example, you get to a foreign country and, exhausted, you have to get cash and get it changed into small bills or coins immediately so that you can tip whoever takes your bag when you get to the hotel. Half the time, you don't even know what an appropriate tip is in that country (I always ask the exchange teller if I've forgotten to Google it), and the other half of the time you forget completely and all you have in your wallet is a $20 bill. Even on a domestic trip, having nothing but a $20 bill is a dilemma.

Where's My Tip is a new company which aims to solve these problems. Upon joining, you get a small box of 100 cards slightly taller and less wide than business cards which say "You've just been tipped!" Instructions on the card direct the holder to WheresMyTip.com, where they can click "Request a Tip" and enter the unique ID number on the card.

On the "Request a Tip" page, the tipped party enters their name, the email address they use for PayPal, their service and location (like ... bellhop service at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island) and their tip request. Yes, the dollar amount. The screen prompt will inform them that the most commonly requested tip is $5.

After the request has been filed with your unique ID number, you will be emailed a PayPal invoice for the amount specified by the tipee. PayPal takes their cut, of course. You will also have the option to modify the amount; if they request a $400 tip, you obviously don't have to pay it.

There are clearly some kinks to be worked out; I'm sure that the valet at a restaurant would rather the $20 bill than a card with instructions on it. Also, this won't work in parts of the world where people aren't hip to the PayPal thing (though that number is always shrinking). Still, this is an innovation we could see growing into, at the very least, a great backup for when you have no tipping cash on you, and maybe, one day, an alternative to carrying cash when you travel at all. Additionally, if someone, like the concierge, gives you service over and above what you have in your wallet, this is a great way to get them that $50 you'd like to give.

We recommend tipping a couple of dollars extra with these, since the tipees have to go online to get their tip.

Membership at WheresMyTip is $100 per year and comes with 100 tip cards per year. Currently, membership is by invitation only. Click here to apply for a membership.

[Photo by Annie Scott]

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Animesh Jun 15th 2010 11:04AM

Really? I mean, REALLY? So you're saying that remembering to keep a stack of cards is easier than remembering to keep a bunch of 5s? Also, I'm pretty sure any bellboy in Asia would simply throw it away.
One thing is for sure. It is definitely NOT a good idea to tip this way in a hotel if you're staying there for another day. :)

Noah Jun 15th 2010 11:42AM

I usually just use American ones and fives if I don't have local currency. It's never been a problem before.

Carl Hancock Jun 15th 2010 12:31PM

I had to look at the calendar for a second to make sure it wasn't April 1st. This has FAIL written all over it in more ways than one.

Not only will people not know what the hell the card is, they probably won't follow up. Then take into account many restaurants and bars that pool tips and it becomes even more worthless.

Fail. Fail. Fail.

Ryan Erisman Jun 15th 2010 1:14PM

Thanks for the post Annie!

@Nick - Where's My Latte? Hmmm...not bad!

@ Carl - Definitely not for use in restaurants or bars. Think travel related service people (bellhops, valet, concierge, etc.) So far about 90% end up redeeming.

Scott Carmichael Jun 15th 2010 2:10PM

Ah - ok, that makes more sense. I could see these being handy for people you'd not normally tip, but it doesn't change the fact that they'd probably prefer cash in hand, doesn't it?

Ryan Erisman Jun 15th 2010 2:50PM

You're exactly right Scott. Everyone prefers cash and we encourage our members to use cash if they've got it.

Where's My Tip works best for those who rarely/never carry cash (becoming more common as we move to a more debit/credit card society) or for those times when you simply don't have any cash on you.

ann robinson Jun 15th 2010 3:37PM

This one is a real waste of money. Are you sure it's not a joke?

Some fool will probably purschase this service. BooHoo!!!!!

brad Jun 15th 2010 4:12PM

This is just stupid. Maybe not if it was a free service, but it looks more like an ad than an actual article. I doubt people would appreciate being given a card to go online, then paypal takes a cut?? I love AOL, but sometimes its ridiculous how they throw in crap advertising like this. Anyone stupid enough to pay 100 a year rather than carry around small bills is either a moron or lazy....

As far as gift cards, I sometimes when I know a waiter / waitress will give a gift card but tip on top as appropriate. It's just an added bonus and appreciated, but I haven't checked up to see if they use them! Cash or a gratuity added to a bill is what is the right thing to do.

Laura Jun 15th 2010 4:46PM

As a person who has worked extensively in restaurants and bars, I am not really sure how this would work for waitstaff/bartenders who are typically tipped by cash or credit/debit card and rely upon tips for their income. Legally the IRS requires tipped employees (I believe it is those who receive more than 50% of their income as tips) to declare 100% of their earned tips for tax purposes. I've always had to declare all of my tips at the end of the shift I was working - not days later. So is this money coming in from PayPal "under the table" or will a system be set up for the tips received in this way to be declared to the IRS at a later date? The computer systems set up at places I have worked don't have that option, but perhaps the owner or manager could go in to adjust it (though that could be time consuming). I don't have that much of a problem with the card tipping idea - and would rather receive one than no tip at all - but I think for waitstaff the whole thing might be more trouble than it is worth.

Ryan Erisman Jun 15th 2010 5:06PM

Laura - Thanks for the insight and input. Where's My Tip is not intended to be used in restaurants or bars...only for travel related service people (valet, bellhops, concierge, etc.)

Kay Jun 15th 2010 5:37PM

I think you covered it all....When you know you will be eating out, just be prepared. Who comes up with all of this stuff anyway ? I always tip 20% and if the service is exceptional I tip up another 20%. I have worked in the hospitality business and cash always works, after all..it pays the bills.

Jessica Skelton Jun 15th 2010 5:30PM

As someone who has held many job in the service industry, this seems like a very easy way for people to avoid tipping with out looking like total jerks. I have seen people do some extreme things to avoid tipping, and this just seems like it will make it easier for them. Also, what about places that pull tips, so that the cooks and hostesses are tipped out? So many questions come to mind.

Ryan Erisman Jun 15th 2010 5:40PM

Good questions Jessica. We think our barrier to entry ($100/year membership fee) will keep the cheapskates out. Also, members risk losing their membership if their ratio of requested vs. paid tip requests dip below a certain %.

When you mention cooks/hostesses that sounds more like a restaurant setting, which this isn't for.

Nikki Jun 15th 2010 5:59PM

I've never traveled abroad but I had a professor who was from South America, she said she was surprised when she was in the resturants and she found out that she was supposed to tip the waiters. In her country waiters get paid hourly like everyone else and there were no tips. I figure the process of giving gratuity is different in other countries.

Ellen Lopes Jun 15th 2010 5:58PM

This service must be catering to an a very elite group. Jet setters or something similiar. 100 dollars a year to be able to leave a card because you are to lazy or busy to be able to tip the way you want is just plain a luxury that the average Joe cannot even fathom. And then on top of that you say Pay Pal takes their share????I wish you luck, but I can't see this taking off.

Digi Jun 15th 2010 6:49PM

Anyone who actually wastes money for this is a true poster child for the mentality rate decrease in the world these days. Im sorry but if I was at a job in which provided services customarily tipped, it would just annoy those you are tipping. This is kinda an insult I mean hell they have to go through all that work to get a measily few bucks? WHat if they dont have a paypal? now they have to sign up for a whole nother service to get a simple tip? Im sorry but most tipee's would toss the card. If you dont know how much to tip, just give them a few bucks. Unless you're an idiot you would know how much a few bucks is worth no matter where you are at/