Terminalcoffee discussion
Rants / Debates (Serious)
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How rude is it not to tip? >> the most disgusting thread in Goodreads.>> nurses win.
Lobstergirl wrote: "In restaurants I tip 20% at dinner, 15% at lunch. Unless service is bad, then less. At airports, hotels, or on shuttles, $1 per suitcase. At hotels, I leave $3/day for the maid (and leave it eac..."I used to work at Starbucks years ago and at the end of the day we split everything from the tip jar among all the baristas...at the end of the month it all adds up and becomes money for food or laundry, or extra change to buy coffee for the homeless lady. It's a pay-it-forward kind of thing?
Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Barb wrote: "Oh yes, I tip our dog groomer too ... can't have little Reese coming home with un-even hair!"Do Canadians tip everyone as well? I find the whole USA tipping thing scary. It's the t..."
I can't say for all Canadians but in a metro-area like Toronto most service workers deserve a tip because it's so expensive to live here on minimum wage alone. Service jobs tend to be $10+/hour, unless you work for a scammy, cockroachy place in chinatown, but rent costs $600-$1200/month for a single bedroom depending on which area you live.
The only time I don't tip is when the service is awful. Otherwise, it's 15-20%.The Golden Rule applies. Imagine yourself in the waiter's position. I often thank God I never had to be a waitress. I'm sure I would have punched someone in the neck on the my first day. Imagine having to serve so many aholes and then getting stiffed on your tips!
Once I got a haircut and the guy gave me a scalp massage. I didn't even ask. I had no idea there was such a thing as a scalp massage. It was so wonderful I proposed to him. But he was gay so he said no.
The haircut cost me $30. I tipped him $20 for curling my toes.
I ignore tip jars, I must admit. But otherwise, tipping is mandatory.
Aynge wrote: " I tipped him $20 for curling my toes..."I would think that using a curling iron on the toe hair would be too close for comfort.
I always tip in restaurants, if there is a waiter or waitress. If I can't afford to tip, then I go to fast food, where it is not expected.I do tip on the rare occasions I order food delivery. I tip taxi drivers.
Those workers really need those extra dollars.
True story: my sister was waiting tables and served a party of ten. The tip was 35 cents! A quarter under one plate and a dime under another. Years ago, yes--but for a party of ten? Granted it was lunch, but the bare minimum should have been $1 per for a total of $10.
If you visit a restaurant often---say twice a month--if you tip, believe me, the wait staff notices that. I'd rather overtip than undertip--but if I get my math wrong, even if I only have a dollar or two, I leave something.
I work nights and the only in-house options we have are Subway which closes at 10P and Chick-Fil-A (YUK) which stays open til 2A Mon-Fri, closes at 10P on Sat and of course is not open at all on Sun. There're vending machines as well but paying a buck for a bag of chips doesn't seem practical. Sooooooo, we order out rather frequently. The point of the story is that we ALWAYS tip at least 15% because we don't want to get on anyone's "Do Not Deliver" list.
The only delivery you get here is pizza. We sometimes order food to go from area restaurants. When I pick it up and pay, I'm always unsure what to do on the "tip" line on the charge slip.
When I can afford to eat out or go to a bar, I tip 15-20%. Not tipping just feels wrong to me.
As long as the service warrants it, I'm a very good tipper, 15-20% always. Generally I only tip at restaurants and the nail salon. Oh, and if I win anything on the "idiot tax" I always put a bit in the boys' mug at the deli.
Mod
Totally agree, Sal. It's not often that I have to deal with it, but I was a nanny for years and I feel you on that one!
Mod
You still get the folks with the little kids out first. You can only entertain them for so long before it becomes painful, and then the tip goes DOWN.
BTW, I tip well because I know I would starve as a waitress. People irritate me.
BTW, I tip well because I know I would starve as a waitress. People irritate me.
Mod
Mod
Yeah, I'm old. Hurry! I could have a stroke before you get that good tip that I'm thinking will help you pay rent or pay tuition. Leave the young gals with kids for last: You can't count on them for shit.
What we have here is a lack of empathy.And ....
Just making the point that we old people don't like to be poked at any more than the young ones do. Live and let live, and stop the crap.
Mod
I didn't poke...I just left you to wait.
Mod
I thought all the poking was on FB. We can't poke on GR, can we?
I hate that FB poking thing, I finally started to ignore it.
Basically, if someone's providing a service for me that I'm not providing or won't provide for myself (i.e. serving a meal, mixing a drink, carrying something heavy for me, cutting my hair, grooming my dog, etc), I'll tip. 20%, typically. If I can't afford the tip, then I'll order down so that I can tip fairly, if not well. $2.13/hr is a hard lesson in tipping. Fo sho. When I go out to a bar with friends, I'll tip 50% or more - bartenders remember that courtesy and will treat you kindly when you do that. And if I'm just ordering water, I'll still tip generously - they tend to keep the water coming when I do that, too... a tip from my bartender friend.
Britt, if someone gives you bad service, consider the whys... I know when I was waiting tables, I always appreciated it when the customers would tip me well for being honest and considerate w/ them when the kitchen was behind or someone else mess up their order somehow. Typically, the customers don't recognize it's not the messenger's fault and they tip low or not at all. Really, what they should be doing is tipping well (because I was great at customer service, esp. when under pressure, so assuming as such) and complaining to the manager or to the headquarters. That's just my opinion.
And if the service is really, really bad - rude, inconsiderate, etc, I'll ask for someone else. As an absolute last resort, I will tip a quarter, a dollar... whatever is a pittance of a percentage of what I'd otherwise pay. They get the message loud and clear - I didn't forget to tip. I was displeased with the service. I can promise you that's the sort of thing they don't forget. I've only done that twice in my life.
And I like the innuendo of poking, even if it is a bit immature. :)
Heidi wrote: "Basically, if someone's providing a service for me that I'm not providing or won't provide for myself (i.e. serving a meal, mixing a drink, carrying something heavy for me, cutting my hair, groomi..."There's a guy who comes into our bar and orders off-menu. He asks for breakfast for dinner, egg dishes without the eggs, etc. Then he doesn't tip, even a cent, even though he has wiped his plate clean. For a while, we listened to his requests. These days, we ignore him, and we no longer let him order off-menu.
Contrast that with the people who come in and tip my bartenders generously. If they say "Tuesday is my birthday" they may get a cake if they show up, or a round of shots for their friends. If there's a beer they want us to carry, we order it.
It definitely pays off in karma to tip on the generous side.
I usually leave a tip in restaurants, taxis, my hairdresser and my cleaner. I think it's different in the UK as I wouldn't leave a tip in a bar here if I had to go to the bar, order my drink and go sit down. I'd tip if I got table service in a bar though.
I find any expectation of a tip really offputting and irritating though-when I visited New York, the bar staff actually told me that "It's customary to tip" when I paid. I mean, fine but I'll give you a tip if you've done something over and above your job but you shouldn't demand it.
I leave a tip if I have to go to the bar to get a drink.
That is rude and presumptive for him to say that to you, even though it is customary. Besides, some people leave a tip after every drink, and others at the end of the night. Maybe if you don't usually tip in the UK, he has started saying that to anyone with an accent?
Maybe Sarah-I thought it was rude too. I'm not a stingy person so I would usually leave a tip if I'd had good service so yeah, little bit annoying. Was an amazing bar though :)
Wait staff in the US are paid less than the minimum wage (normally...depends on where they work obviously) with the expectation of tips and they are meant to pay taxes on their tips (which is why I try to always tip in cash). That is why there is an expectation of tip in the US. However, the amount of the tip is still going to be in keeping with the level of service, and it was rude to SAY that to you.
When I lived in England taxi drivers and such used to be surprised when we tipped. I don't think they get it that much outside the bigger cities.
When I lived in England taxi drivers and such used to be surprised when we tipped. I don't think they get it that much outside the bigger cities.
No, but ugh, the author's prose style is dog-awful.
I used to be a third shift waitress, and I tip generously. Servers have to claim taxes based on the cost of the food they sold, not on what they are actually tipped. For that reason, when you do not tip, you are actually taking money out of their pockets.
I think the very fact that servers in restaurants make less than minimum wage is an institutionalized form of sexism, as most servers are women. All other tipped jobs staffed more often by men--bartenders, drivers, etc.--are paid at least minimum wage. Add to that fact that waitresses have to put up with a lot of harassment in order to make those tips. It only seems fair to compensate them decently.
Now that I think of it, I am not sure if strippers make minimum wage or not. They do tend to be excellent tippers, however. They know the deal.
I think the very fact that servers in restaurants make less than minimum wage is an institutionalized form of sexism, as most servers are women. All other tipped jobs staffed more often by men--bartenders, drivers, etc.--are paid at least minimum wage. Add to that fact that waitresses have to put up with a lot of harassment in order to make those tips. It only seems fair to compensate them decently.
Now that I think of it, I am not sure if strippers make minimum wage or not. They do tend to be excellent tippers, however. They know the deal.
I may be wrong, as I have never worked as a stripper. But, from what I understand (reality tv, people), generally the strippers only make what they get on stage. Maybe it depends on the club though.
Of course it is kind to give a consideration for a service you recieve if one can afford to but one is not under any obligation to do so.If a waiter or deliveryperson is on a minimum wage it is wrong for them or their employer to expect their patrons to suppliment their income. Let the employer give their employees a reasonable living wage.
There are many jobs where the employees are quite rightly forbidden from accepting tips for a service that is freely provided.
Not all consumers are made of money - if anyone truly are. Must consumers who themselves may be on a minimum wage or on welfare really be expected to tip someone who delivers either furniture, or groceries, or pizza even simply because some with more means may tip generally or possibly liberally?
You've obviously never worked in a restaurant.If you can't afford to leave a tip, then you shouldn't be going out to dinner.
But I have ate at resturants. Not all are so grasping as to expect their patrons to pay through the nose for everything. Some have service included in the price and leave it up to their patrons to decide to leave a discretionary consideration.I've stayed at many hotels too and frequently use room service. But the management don't expect me to behave as if Rockerfeller or whoever everytime they send me a porter.
Malcolm wrote: "Must consumers who themselves may be on a minimum wage or on welfare really be expected to tip someone who delivers either furniture, or groceries, or pizza even simply because some with more means may tip generally or possibly liberally? "Everywhere has it's customs on how things are done.
If we're talking Europe and the tip is included ...fantastic. That makes it easier on everyone. I love it that way and agree it would be nice if it were that way in the US too.
But since it is the custom, in U.S. full-service restaurants, to pay the staff HALF of the MINIMUM wage and let them earn tips, then that is the standard.
That still doesn't mean you HAVE to tip, but since it is customary to do so, than you had better or expect people to look at you like you are a huge ass-hole.
Malcolm wrote: "Not all are so grasping as to expect their patrons to pay through the nose for everything. Some have service included in the price and leave it up to their patrons to decide to leave a discretionary consideration. "
Are you telling me you'd rather the restaurant build it into the cost and charge you a bit more or charge a few bucks less and let you decide what kind of tip to leave?
Harry wrote: Are you telling me you' drather the restaurant build it
into the cost and charge you
a bit more or charge a few
bucks less and let you decide
what kind of tip to leave?
This is not a consideration I usually make when dining out. I go for the food. If I am happy with that and the service then I may or may not tip. If I've had a bottle of wine or two, one may have to shell out for a taxi to return me to the hotel. Depending upon the price I might say "keep the change". And then again I might offer the suggestion of further education for better prospects or a change of job as a tip.
Harry wrote: Everywhere has it 's customson how things are done.
If we 're talking Europe and
the tip is
included .. .fantastic . That
makes it easier on everyone.
I love it that way and agree it
would be nice if it were that
way in the US too .
But since it is the custom, in
U. S . full -service restaurants,
to pay the staff HALF of the
MINIMUM wage and let them
earn tips, then that is the
standard .
That still doesn't mean you
HAVE to tip , but since it is
customary to do so, than you
had better or expect people
to look at you like you are a
huge ass- hole.
I'd say the hugest arseholes are those who pay half minimum wage, those who work for half minimum wage, and those who give such places their custom.
Are you really talking about America and not some tin-pot 3rd world dictatorship?
Surely a word with one's police or senator would get these illegal hell-holes shut down. Failing that, a word with your nice Mr President should do the trick.
This is the only tip you will get from me and I offer it freely :o)
Harry wrote: "You've obviously never worked in a restaurant.If you can't afford to leave a tip, then you shouldn't be going out to dinner."
It's not that one can't afford to leave a tip but that one is not under any obligation to do so regardless of the judgemental attitude of the staff poorly paid or otherwise.
As for resturants who treat their staff with the contempt to only pay half the legal minimum wage, they would never get my custom as how could one be sure they haven't served you dodgy food bought cheaply from dubious sources?
if you're worried about dodgy food i'd advise you to tip well.
janine wrote: "if you're worried about dodgy food i'd advise you to tip well."You'd be well advised not to eat in a dodgy resturant in the first place :o)
Same here in the "heartland." I know you've probably never heard Nebraska referred to as such. That's what Nebraskans like to call it. But I'm not from here -- I just live here.