Consumer Reports Poll: Fewer People Tipped During 2008 Holidays Than In Previous Year

Consumer Reports Poll: Fewer People Tipped During 2008 Holidays Than In
Previous Year

YONKERS, N.Y., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans have become more
choosy about whom and how much to tip at the holidays, according to a new
nationally representative phone survey conducted by the Consumer Reports
National Research Center.

How much to tip and whom to give it to has always been a tricky decision, one
that may get harder in these tough economic times. During the 2008 holidays,
fewer people than in the previous year tipped their newspaper carrier, barber,
mail carrier, hairdresser, manicurist, and garbage collector.

The poll of more than 1,800 U.S. residents was conducted in January, shortly
after the 2008 holiday season, when respondents could best remember what they
gave. A separate survey CR conducted in October 2009 shows that the downward
trend might continue: 26 percent of Americans who usually tip or give a gift
to a service provider said they would spend less this holiday season than
last. Just 6 percent said they planned to spend more.

The full results of the tipping survey are available in the December issue of
Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

The big recipients were house cleaners, with 58 percent of respondents who
employ them tipping them with cash, check or a gift card and 17 percent
tipping them with a gift last year. House cleaners also received a larger
gratuity than other service providers, averaging about $50 or an equivalent
gift per tip.

Consumer Reports found other service providers included in the survey
received, on average, tips valued between $10 and $40 per gift. Average cash
or non-cash tips were also smaller for some occupations. The median tip value
for manicurists was $10, half the amount given during the prior holiday
season; the median tip for pet-care providers dropped from $30 to $25.

"Families are looking for ways to balance their financial concerns with the
need to thank people who have helped them during the year," said Tobie
Stanger, senior editor at Consumer Reports. "This year, tipping is more of a
challenge than ever, but CR's survey shows that people are still trying to do
it, for the most part."

Rounding out the list of other service providers who received cash, check or a
gift card and who typically receive holiday tips in the survey: hairdresser
(36%), manicurist (33%), newspaper carrier (30%), barber (26%), pet-care
provider (26%), child's teacher (20%), mail carrier (13%), lawn-care crew
(18%), and garbage collector (6%).

If the tipping budget is tight this upcoming season, Consumer Reports experts
recommend that those wanting to express their gratitude can still say thanks
with a card or a homemade gift.

DECEMBER 2009
Consumers Union 2008. The material above is intended for legitimate news
entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes.
Consumer Reports(R) is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent
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To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our
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SOURCE Consumer Reports

C. Matt Fields, +1-914-378-2454, cfields@consumer.org or Rachel Zuckerman,
+1-914-378-2417, rzuckerman@consumer.org, both of Consumer Reports