Tipping?

[Fishing Rhino]

Just read an article about tipping, and how the jars for tips have appeared at counters, even at franchises over the years.

Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, ice cream shops, nearly everywhere there is counter service.  Even at drive through windows.

I am a generous tipper, except in the case of lousy service.

We tip the waitresses at our favorite restaurants twenty percent.  I'm talking about the local diner style restaurants, not the upscale joints.

When we order takeout, I leave a ten percent tip.

But, I refuse to put money in a tip jar for counter service.

It may be me, but to put a container on the counter is akin to a panhandler rattling his cup in front of passersby, begging for money.

My wife has scolded me because I don't send Christmas cards or trinkets to my customers.

When she does, I ask her why she, a customer, gives seasonal gifts to the hair dresser, manicurist, and the like.

They never have given her anything for her patronage.

Anyway.  When it comes to those cups on the counters, I do not tip.

[done]

I am with you there. Whats funny, I used to work at a McDs through HS and college. We were forbidden from tips or putting anything like that on a counter.

You tip a waitress cause they actually do service. They get refills, come back to your table at regular intervals and actually take care of you while you are there. There is more skill to it. McD's is set up now with staging, Q'ing ovens, clamshell grills, a well trained monkey can do that job. As long as it does not try to kill insane customers.

As for the gift giving, I do not do that but I could see for hairdressers and such, you develop a more personal relationship, especially women folk. Since they put a lot more consideration into looking nice for us schlubs.

I know my wife loves ot do little things. Like when our mechanic went out of the way and did a lot of extra work, for free, that he didnt need to do but he was helping us out, next time she was in, she brought a dozen donuts, they still salivate when I go in there after that.

I would not say I would feel obligated to though by any means

[dave]

When it first came into the vernacular, TIPS:

T - to

I - insure

P - prompt

S - service

Not the custom anymore but...

I, like everyone, else tip for good service and don't tip for bad service. I'm not tipping just because someplace puts out a tip jar.

[Sfritr]

I have been in the Restaurant business for 15+ years and tips on average have increased.  It used to be that the standard tip was 15%  Then it went to 18%.  Now it is pretty much common place that you should leave 20%.  The issue is that the service level in most establishments has gone down.  I am much more critical than the average person because I am in the business but i cannot remember the last time I dined out and had FANTASTIC service.  Most of the time its just "ok".  it certainly doesn't blow me away.  

However, if I do get Great service I will not only tip very well but I will verbally tell the server what a good job they did.  Sometimes that means more than anything.

The cans have to go IMO.......

[wagn]

What I don't understand it why the standard tip % has gone up. Why was 15% okay a few years ago, but now the standard tip is 20%?

[RobbyZ5001]

I do 20% because it is the easiest to do in my head.

[Sfritr]

I think that as the economy goes so goes the tip amounts.  Clearly, the ecomony is terrible now, but, like everything else.  How do you lower what has become the norm?

We don't pay professional athletes less now because of the down economy, which is a joke.

[Tin]

I do 20% because it is the easiest to do in my head.

It's sad what the excess Franzia has done to you. ;D

I can't stand tipping for counter service. But my girl friend works part-time at Dunkin Donuts and she does great because of tips, so she is all for it. Therefore I must. She is still at URI full time but makes shift leader pay and can actually count on bringing home an extra $20-$30 a shift in tips. So it is like she works an extra 25 hours a week. I have zero issue making her pay for dinner every now and then.

[burleytog]

Just call me Mr Pink.

Tipping is an antiquated practice that should be eliminated.

[Bassn Blvd]

Just call me Mr Pink.

Tipping is an antiquated practice that should be eliminated.

Awesome movie

[Tokyo Tony]

Restaurants if the service doesn't raise a red flag for crappiness, I'll leave 20%. If the service is awesome, I'll leave 20% and tell the hostess that the service was great.

At the townie bars I frequent, I tip huge because I've built (platonic) relationships with the bartenders. They hook me up, I hook them up. I don't mind leaving huge tips in those situations because I still end up paying less than if they had charged me for all my drinks. Win-win situation, even for the owner because he'll still make a profit off of my friends and me, and we'll go more often. Plus, with a couple of the most skilled bartenders, I don't even have to ask for another drink. It appears in front of me when I have about 25% left :-) Man, all this talk is making me thirsty.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

No, I don't like tipping at jars.Those people already make what they make per hour.Jobs like waitressing for instance normally pay very low per hour and tips are the main breadwinner.

I got a question though, and sorry for maybe getting off topic:

What do do do when one of those reject pizza delivery guys says "Do you need change for that"? You hand them a 20.00 bill to pay for say a 15.99 order.If I am going to tip then I will tip.Don't put me under the friggan gun!You can just take yourself and get the@#$% off my property if you want to ask like that.

That is one of the rudest things I have ever seen and I have even told them to just take the food back,I don't want it anymore,after a pizza hut driver said that to me after I handed him a 20 to pay for a 12.99 order and all he had to do was drive 2 blocks. :

Just had to rant since the subject came up :-/

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Right,and all that is true. I am asking you then if someone handed you a larger bill to cover the cost of a drink or two did you ever ask them "do you want the change?" or just automatically keep it and drop it in your jar without giving them the chance to hand it to you or leave it on the table for you? I would consider that bad service and make a point of slamming my hand in a car door before I go back.

[.dsaavedra.]

Just call me Mr Pink.

Tipping is an antiquated practice that should be eliminated.

Awesome movie

YES

[Bassn Blvd]

Bassn Finatic,

I'm with you on this one.  I see where Muddy is coming from but I hate when my delivery guy asks "do you want change."   I tip very generously but don't pressure me or put me on the spot.

How about restaurants that include 15-18% gratuity to your bill.  I realize they do this because they're serving 6 or more people but the service BETTER be good or else I embarrass everyone at the table by letting the waitress know he/she sucks.  I usually would tip more than what they imposed on me but I hate being forced.

Here's one I don't tip on and that's wine/alcohol for dinner.  The wife will drink 2-3 glasses of wine for 18-24 dollars.  The waiter doesn't put in any more effort bringing her the wine then they do bringing me my water.  I deduct the alcohol from the bill before I tip.

[grimlin]

Bassn Finatic,

I'm with you on this one. I see where Muddy is coming from but I hate when my delivery guy asks "do you want change." I tip very generously but don't pressure me or put me on the spot.

How about restaurants that include 15-18% gratuity to your bill. I realize they do this because they're serving 6 or more people but the service BETTER be good or else I embarrass everyone at the table by letting the waitress know he/she sucks. I usually would tip more than what they imposed on me but I hate being forced.

Here's one I don't tip on and that's wine/alcohol for dinner. The wife will drink 2-3 glasses of wine for 18-24 dollars. The waiter doesn't put in any more effort bringing her the wine then they do bringing me my water. I deduct the alcohol from the bill before I tip.

Here's one important thing though..you stop tipping those drivers,they won't deliver to you anymore. Those guys depend on their tips to fill those gas tanks.

I remember a pizza place in Texas that used to deliver.Their delivery guys were complaining they weren't getting tipped(or paid enough)...and quit.They just ended up canceling the entire delivery thing out.The only way you can get food now is go get it yourself.A few other places come to mind...they won't even deliver to that certain area,but yet deliver to the few blocks over.Believe me that sucked....I couldn't get delivery because of it.I asked the manger and that was the answer he gave me.

Our delivery orders are usually around $20(or a little under)....We always pay $25 even.Just like tonight,we ordered pizza...$18.99..we paid $25 even.It was cold,neither of us wanted to go out and fight the Saturday traffic...and i usually feel for the people who got to work the weekends.So when he asked,I said you are all good to go,keep the change. In return we get awesome speedy deliveries here.