Have you ever wondered if there will be consequences if you don’t tip a bellhop at a hotel?
The answer to this question is revealed in a fascinating Q&A thread featuring a bellhop who works on the Las Vegas Strip.
The 25-year-old, whose job involves carrying bags and opening doors for guests, lifted the lid on what it’s like to work in “one of the most expensive premium hotels” on the Strip after taking to Reddit’s.I’m a‘forum, write, under the username’hurt‘: ‘I’m a porter… ask me anything.’
Scroll down to see his reactions, covering bellboys’ “revenge” for people who don’t tip, the “weirdest” thing he’s seen at work, and more…
SALARY AND TIPS
A bellhop has revealed what it’s like to work in ‘one of the most expensive premium hotels’ on the Las Vegas Strip (file image)
How much money can you make as a bellboy? That was a question from an unnamed user, which led the hotel worker to reveal that while the hourly wage is “nothing special,” he tips around $65,000 (£50,000) per year.
“It’s heavily influenced by what kind of shift you have — mornings or nights, what door you’re working on, and so on,” he explained.
In a later post, he revealed that the older generation of hotel bellboys remember “coming home with hundreds or even thousands of dollars” in the industry’s “golden days.” He explained, “These days a more realistic goal for the end of the day is $150 to $200 (£116 to £155).”
Another Reddit user, ‘InterestingPerson84’ — who revealed they were applying for bellhop jobs — asked how much tip they could expect “on a quiet weekday” and “on a busy weekend.” In his reply the seasoned bellboy said it varies from hotel to hotel and depends on how busy it is.
He wrote, “Get a consensus from the other guys around you if you [get the job].
“If the guys on full-time day/shift shifts seem to be comfortably making $100 (£76) or more a day, then it’s a good place. Since doormen don’t pool, your best days will look pretty sweet and your bad days will make you want to pursue other work.
“But if you’re in a good field, and especially if you’re in a good service, it all works out in your favor in the end.”
FIP ETIQUETTE
“If you don’t need help, it’s actually better you don’t ask because it frees us up for people who do,” the bellhop said of helping guests with their bags
Several Reddit users were intrigued by tipping etiquette, with user ‘Cohesive spoon‘ asking, ‘Is it impolite to refuse the service of a doorman and only carry my own bags? Would there be any form of retaliation from the hotel staff?’
The bellhop replied, “Absolutely not. If you’re more comfortable carrying your own stuff, that’s 1000 percent within your right and you won’t be blamed.’
He added, “If you don’t need help, it’s actually better you don’t ask for it because it frees us up for people who do.”
‘Light_Dark_Choose’ wondered how non-tipping customers are treated and whether “the workers are secretly punishing them,” to which the bellboy replied, “There are levels and shades of gray.”
“When we help a guest, we know that’s not the case [going to] give us something there will certainly be a certain reduction in effort and enthusiasm, but we are only human.’
Once the bellboys are out of sight, it “gets less fun,” with the Reddit forum’s bellboy revealing that he’s seen other bellboys “throwing bags around” in the past and “being a little extra rough” with luggage around their vent frustration.
If you don’t have cash to hold your share of the exchange… carry your own bags. I hate to say it, but as someone who has worked in this industry, that’s my honest opinion
He said, “The safest way to do this is if you don’t have cash to hold your share of the exchange… carry your own bags. I hate to say it, but as someone who has worked in this industry, that’s my honest opinion.’
The bellhop recalled an incident where a guest with 20 bags had to rush down his luggage but didn’t tip. He revealed that, in retaliation, the bellboys in question were deliberately slow to bring the bags down.
He said, “The guys who take bags to the room are not on the curb and vice versa, so we don’t have to worry that we [the guest] again and there are a million reasons [why] we could say it took a long time.’
The bellboy added that the team has “discreet” ways of letting other bellboys know that certain hotel guests have not tipped. He said: ‘I’m not saying I do these things, but guys understandably get annoyed when it comes to their main source of income.’
STRANGE HOST BEHAVIOR
As part of a trio of questions, ‘LegoMyAlterEgo’ quizzed the bellboy about the ‘strange’ requests he receives ‘on the clock’
To steer the conversation in a different direction, ‘Gandalf The Jaded’ asked the worker what was the “weirdest” thing he had seen at work.
The bellhop’s answer? Apparently, he witnessed a hotel guest urinate in front of “hundreds of people” after being escorted out of a beach club during the day for being “too wasted.”
User ‘LegoMyAlterEgowondered if guests ever asked him for tips on finding escort services or drugs, to which the bellboy replied, “I get those questions from young boys who don’t know any better.” This job is considered somewhat desirable in this town, so it would be kind of silly to actually try to hook someone up that way.”
He added: “Same as being ‘introduced’ as an employee – the answer should always be no.”
In a similar vein,’Appropriate-Divide64asked, “Do you have shady contacts to get clients what they ask for?”
The bellboy quickly closed the question, saying his workplace was too “posh” for such events.
He said, “Even if I did, or one of my colleagues, the chances of us risking a job that’s pretty hard to get for [the] maybe $100 (£76) to bribe us is pretty low.”
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
The bellhop revealed that German luggage brand Rimowa is his favourite
On a lighter note, some Redditors wanted to know more about the bellboy’s personal taste in luggage and the various cars he sees pulling up outside the hotel.
He revealed that German luggage brand Rimowa is his favorite, adding, “Louis Vuitton [luggage] is not very practical, but I do like the classic brown pattern.’
The bellhop, who used to work as a valet, further revealed that Porsche GT3s used to be one of his favorite cars to drive for guests. He said, “Anything that’s fun and interesting and not absolutely disgusting inside is welcome.”