World Championships 2013 - Las Vegas

[uvafan]

Bad news: we're decreasing the size of the 3x3 consolation round.

Good news: because 72 more people are making 3x3 round 2. See http://www.cubingusa.com/wc2013/events.php for that change as well as a few other increases.

Awesome!

 

[Stefan]

Good news: because 72 more people are making 3x3 round 2.

I expect those 72 people to buy me a beer.

Spoiler

Really, I do.

Spoiler

Cause I should be among them and at some point will probably buy myself one, and cause I said "a" beer, not 72.

 

[acohen527]

I expect those 72 people to buy me a beer.

Spoiler

Really, I do.

Spoiler

Cause I should be among them and at some point will probably buy myself one, and cause I said "a" beer, not 72.

I wonder how hard it'd be to do a 5BLD solve after 72 beers.

Spoiler

considering you'd most likely be dead by then, I'd say pretty difficult.

 

[Dene]

Ugh tipping... How are you supposed to know if you're meant to tip someone or not? What if I want to take my own bags? Do you tip the receptionist? How do you tip the housekeeper if you never see them?

 

[Julian]

Dene, look at the previous page.

 

[jayefbe]

Ugh tipping... How are you supposed to know if you're meant to tip someone or not? What if I want to take my own bags? Do you tip the receptionist? How do you tip the housekeeper if you never see them?

If you're taking your own bags, no tip necessary. For housekeeping, you generally leave money on a table in the room before you check out. How much you leave is dependent upon how long you've stayed, how much work they had to do cleaning up after you, and how generous you're feeling. At least, that's what I've been taught.

When it comes to restaurants, ~20% is now the general standard. When I waited tables anything less than 15% was cheap and 20% was good (Kian's post is right on for me). Feel free to stiff someone if you feel it's justified due to the level of service. I know I have left smaller tips under a couple isolated instances, but that was due to incredibly poor service, like take my order and I don't see them again until they drop off the check poor service. Average service, I'll tip 20% and may go beyond for exemplary service.

Some states allow for lower than minimum wages for employees that are expected to make most of their income from tips. When I waited tables in Maryland, I made ~$2.30/hour. My paychecks were a joke. California was minimum wage, not sure what the case is in Nevada. As a server, if you don't want to be audited, you have to declare at least 10% of your sales as tips for tax purposes. So, if you're stiffing a bartender or a server, they are quite literally losing money by serving you, not even taking into account the lost opportunity cost. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[David Zemdegs]

I heard that for housekeeping, you leave a couple of dollars with a thank you note on the pillow every morning before you leave your room for the day?

 

[Noahaha]

I heard that for housekeeping, you leave a couple of dollars with a thank you note on the pillow every morning before you leave your room for the day?

I think people just do that before checking out.

 

[cubernya]

I heard that for housekeeping, you leave a couple of dollars with a thank you note on the pillow every morning before you leave your room for the day?

I always leave it on the little nightstand by the door (normally under a mirror). If it was in the bed, I'm not sure they would take it since they might think it was just left behind

Edit: With a note, they would probably take it

 

[David Zemdegs]

The reason people say not to leave it at checkout is that you may have a different cleaner each day, so its unfair to just leave it once.

 

[cubernya]

The reason people say not to leave it at checkout is that you may have a different cleaner each day, so its unfair to just leave it once.

Normally you have the same person each day in the US, since they're assigned certain rooms/floors

 

[JasonK]

When I waited tables in Maryland, I made ~$2.30/hour. My paychecks were a joke.

Holy crap, how is that even legal?

 

[legoanimate98]

Holy crap, how is that even legal?

I think waiters can get less than minimum wage because they assume they'll get enough money from tips.

 

[JasonK]

I think waiters can get less than minimum wage because they assume they'll get enough money from tips.

I realise that, but to me a tip is a reward for outstanding service. If the tips are essentially just the person's wage, then you feel obligated to pay it and that defeats the whole point of tipping.

(I'm aware of how tipping works in the US, I just think it's an insane system)

 

[cubernya]

I realise that, but to me a tip is a reward for outstanding service. If the tips are essentially just the person's wage, then you feel obligated to pay it and that defeats the whole point of tipping.

(I'm aware of how tipping works in the US, I just think it's an insane system)

It is, but the hourly wage plus tips still has to average out to minimum wage (currently $7.25 federal, different for some states)

 

[Dene]

Dene, look at the previous page.

I did. It confused me even more, hence more questions >.<

If you're taking your own bags, no tip necessary. For housekeeping, you generally leave money on a table in the room before you check out. How much you leave is dependent upon how long you've stayed, how much work they had to do cleaning up after you, and how generous you're feeling. At least, that's what I've been taught.

When it comes to restaurants, ~20% is now the general standard. When I waited tables anything less than 15% was cheap and 20% was good (Kian's post is right on for me). Feel free to stiff someone if you feel it's justified due to the level of service. I know I have left smaller tips under a couple isolated instances, but that was due to incredibly poor service, like take my order and I don't see them again until they drop off the check poor service. Average service, I'll tip 20% and may go beyond for exemplary service.

Ok thanks. I'll do my best. I just don't want to be throwing away money at this stuff; I'm trying to keep my costs down wherever possible.

 

[Vincents]

20% is ridiculously high. If you have a large group, restaurants will auto-charge you 15%-18% - tips they believe to be high enough to justify dealing with the hassles of a large group. 15% is standard. Chinese places may expect (only) at least 10% in the Bay Area, at lealst.

 

[jayefbe]

20% is ridiculously high. If you have a large group, restaurants will auto-charge you 15%-18% - tips they believe to be high enough to justify dealing with the hassles of a large group. 15% is standard. Chinese places may expect (only) at least 10% in the Bay Area, at lealst.

15% was standard. It's really not anymore. I've never worked at a restaurant that charged less than 18% for large groups, and most servers I know chose not to automatically add gratuity (if given the option) because they could reasonably expect to receive more from the customers.

 

[Dene]

Does anyone have good knowledge of the best public transport to catch from the airport (McCarran) to the Riviera (not necessarily right to the front doorstep)? I've searched a bit and it seems catching a bus down the strip is the best option. But if anyone has specific knowledge of the best way to get from the airport to the hotel area, such as the exact bus to catch, or a specific airport-to-hotel service could you please respond ^_^

 

[CarlBrannen]

I almost always leave $5 for the cleaning people each day I stay in a hotel. I don't see what the point is in only leaving a small amount at the end. If you're staying several days you want them to treat your room nicely each night you stay there. Why surprise them after you leave? I don't get that.

I suspect that $5 is too much because every now and then they try to give it back to me, or don't pick it up, and I have to leave it with a note.