Why Tip?

[SoulManX]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/m...91992bc8acdd&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg

 

[Bubonic]

At work and can't take the time to read the article just yet, but I'm certainly at odds with tiping.
At a restaurant or bar I'm glad to do so if the service was great, but then I get delivery guys from 'free delivery' places putting out their hands, barbers expecting a little extra for a job well done, gas pump attendants thinking they should get a few bucks for washing my window when I didn't ask for it.

 

[Silk Spectre]

I agree with the article when they state that good service does not guarantee a good tip. There are some cheap mofo's who just wont tip no matter what. However I can not imagine anyone tipping well for bad service.

 

[Heretic]

I love tipping...for good service. I'll be honest, I look like a broke rock n roll loser, which often gets me horrible service. We as a populace seem to have lost the ability to perform quality customer service. When I go to a restaurant, I am SURPRISED when the waiter/waitress actually give me above nonchalant service. My favorite waitress at a restaurant I used to frequent would get 150% tips from me every time...but that kind of service is rare. Ive had waitresses bad mouth their other tables to me (which of course means shes badmouthing me to them) and just simple stuff...like refilling a drink...seems to be above their job description.

BUT...these people accept jobs that are tip based...meaning that when they give good service they DESERVE a good tip. If they are too stupid to realize that better service will generally mean a better tip, then that is their problem. I have no problem whatsoever leaving no tip at all...or leaving hundreds of dollars. Ive done both. If you get good service and cant afford afford a good tip, then you dont have the money to be eating out...as the server fee should be considered before you leave the house.

 

[Bubonic]

I get sort of upset that I'm looked at like a cheap jerk when I tip a dollar for a brew at the bar.
I don't even think I should feel obligated to tip that much for something that cost 3-5 dollars.
In most occasions you wouldn't be tiping 25-33% for average service would you?

150% tips is ridiculous unless its for some really cheap thing, or if your getting a happy ending with your meal.

 

[Silk Spectre]

I tipped my hairdresser 35%, she was meticulous and spent an hour on my hair.

 

[Heretic]

I get sort of upset that I'm looked at like a cheap jerk when I tip a dollar for a brew at the bar.
I don't even think I should feel obligated to tip that much for something that cost 3-5 dollars.
In most occasions you wouldn't be tiping 25-33% for average service would you?

yeah...I think if the beer is $3.50, then you should tip the change. Hell...its popping a cap and handing you something. In fact, Im convinced that higher tipping is WHY beers are often whatever-fifty. Keep in mind that a bigger tip IS SUPPOSED To Insure Proper Service, but often I can tip a bartender a couple of bucks for a drink and then sit there with an empty bottle half the night while he hits on the girls.

 

[Heretic]

150% tips is ridiculous unless its for some really cheap thing, or if your getting a happy ending with your meal.

No, I just got excellent service from a waitress who told jokes with us and helped us have a great time...she was paid well for doing her job well, which is how it should be in any profession. In fact, the next time I was there, she remembered us and hung out, and comped us out a bunch of food (they were introducing new entrees and the cooks were fine tuning them, so she figured shed give me a free meal as opposed to throwing stuff away). That time my bill for two appetizers, meals, drinks and desserts was less than $10. I tipped her a hundred bucks or so.

 

[Nirvana]

I usually tip the standard 15%, but sometimes I tip higher if the waiter/waitress is pretty nice and is overall likable. Sometimes of the person will screw up my order and has a negative attitude about it, I won't even bother tipping.

 

[Bubonic]

I tipped my hairdresser 35%, she was meticulous and spent an hour on my hair.

Hair is serious thing, you get a bad haircut and you might end up looking like a dick for a few weeks, so I do find tiping appropriate in that case...
I'll tip good if I'm at a barber that charges only 10 bucks for a haircut and he does an excellent job.

But if it is at a hair salon where they are charging 30 bucks or more for a cut, and they are probably being paid profesional salaries, then why tip?

yeah...I think if the beer is $3.50, then you should tip the change. Hell...its popping a cap and handing you something. In fact, Im convinced that higher tipping is WHY beers are often whatever-fifty. Keep in mind that a bigger tip IS SUPPOSED To Insure Proper Service, but often I can tip a bartender a couple of bucks for a drink and then sit there with an empty bottle half the night while he hits on the girls.

Especially if you'Ve gone back a few times for refills, if i buy 6-10 beers in the night I definitely shouldn't be dropping more then a bit of change each time. Especially considering the service is never that great on a crowded night.

No, I just got excellent service from a waitress who told jokes with us and helped us have a great time...she was paid well for doing her job well, which is how it should be in any profession. In fact, the next time I was there, she remembered us and hung out, and comped us out a bunch of food (they were introducing new entrees and the cooks were fine tuning them, so she figured shed give me a free meal as opposed to throwing stuff away). That time my bill for two appetizers, meals, drinks and desserts was less than $10. I tipped her a hundred bucks or so.

Well it must be nice having $100 to throw away on a $10 meal.
I realize she gave you a bit extra in terms of food, and the service was excellent but it still seems exorbitant to me but thats your choice to spoil her, now she`ll probably expect it every time.

 

[Heretic]

Well it must be nice having $100 to throw away on a $10 meal.
I realize she gave you a bit extra in terms of food, and the service was excellent but it still seems exorbitant to me but thats your choice to spoil her, now she`ll probably expect it every time.

I never go out unless I have the money to do so. Therefore, that waitress will never see me if my bills arent paid.

And I'm not rich at all...but tipping excellently for excellent service is not out of my price range to the point where it affects my ability to live comfortably.

 

[Bubonic]

I usually tip the standard 15%, but sometimes I tip higher if the waiter/waitress is pretty nice and is overall likable. Sometimes of the person will screw up my order and has a negative attitude about it, I won't even bother tipping.

Last time I went to an Indian restaurant, had a really nice meal and such, but when it came time to pay they decided to tell me then that they couldn't except bank cards or credit cards at the momment even though it was clearly indicated on the door that it was a viable option.

So I'm forced to use one of these ATM machines that charge you almost 5 bucks to withdraw your own money, the bill was around $40 so I was going to give $10, but I substrated the $5 they cost me with their bank machine and he actually got indignant and told me it was unacceptable to give him 5 dollars, and I said 'oh I'm sorry about that' and took it back.

 

[Bubonic]

I never go out unless I have the money to do so. Therefore, that waitress will never see me if my bills arent paid.

And I'm not rich at all...but tipping excellently for excellent service is not out of my price range to the point where it affects my ability to live comfortably.

I just think people tipping like that are giving the people they tip an inflated sense of worth, like I can imagine if I tiped her 10 bucks for the same service that I'd somehow be looked down upon.

Plus half these waitresses are big fakes that'll obviously bend over backwards for you if you tip like that, but if you started tiping regularly they'd probably not find as much time for you as before.

 

[Rando]

2 words:

reservoir dogs

 

[Heretic]

Last time I went to an Indian restaurant, had a really nice meal and such, but when it came time to pay they decided to tell me then that they couldn't except bank cards or credit cards at the momment even though it was clearly indicated on the door that it was a viable option.

So I'm forced to use one of these ATM machines that charge you almost 5 bucks to withdraw your own money, the bill was around $40 so I was going to give $10, but I substrated the $5 they cost me with their bank machine and he actually got indignant and told me it was unacceptable to give him 5 dollars, and I said 'oh I'm sorry about that' and took it back.

You did the right thing. Yes, waiters expect tips, but they should never act like it. They should never assume they are getting a dime. I remember eating somewhere for the first time. It was just a small thing, like $10. I gave the girl a 20 and she never came back. Eventually i tracked her down and asked her where my change was and she said "oh, I just assumed you didnt want any change, its only $10..." at which point i had her give me my entire change amount and left.

 

[Heretic]

I just think people tipping like that are giving the people they tip an inflated sense of worth, like I can imagine if I tiped her 10 bucks for the same service that I'd somehow be looked down upon.

Plus half these waitresses are big fakes that'll obviously bend over backwards for you if you tip like that, but if you started tiping regularly they'd probably not find as much time for you as before.

People are people, and who knows what goes through an individuals mind...If you can afford a ten dollar tip, and Bill Gates comes in and gives her a $1,000 tip, its not like she'll hate you for not being Bill Gates. However, if Bill gates tips $10 for excellent service then thats kind of a *****ebag thing to do. First and foremost is the quality of the service...but if the service is excellent then you tip according to your financial means.

I dont walk in announcing that Im a big tipper. I let the waitress do her thing, and then i tip accordingly. If I enjoyed myself then i will return, and ask for the same waitress...but it is the initial service, with no promise of a tip at all, then wins my money.

 

[Watson]

I don't know how it is in other places, but in Ontario server minimum wage is a lot less than actual minium wage. Regular minimum wage is $8 and server is $6.50. It's damn hard to survive on $8 an hour and next to impossible on $6.50, especially in a city like Toronto that has a very high cost of living. That is why tipping, even just the bare minimum, is really important becuase it brings a server's hourly wage up to something more respectable. I worked at a pub where I made usually about $60 in tips (on avg, sometimes better sometimes worse) over a 5 hour shift. I would tip out 2% to the bartender and with that gone I would be at $16 an hour. At that rate I was actually able to pay rent, buy groceries, etc.

I totally agree with the posters who said that you should tip well if you get good service. But I also think folks really need to consider that servers have a tough job. On a really busy night when you've got 6-7 tables +, it can be really easy to forget little things like glasses of water or side condiments. Plus we deal with a lot of crap from people. Some seem to think that you can treat your server with less respect than other people. When I worked at the pub I was sexually harrased on a regular basis as well as berated by customers for things I had no control over (the taste of thier food, etc). I even had to break up a fight once. At the time I weighed about 120 lbs so I'm sure the two drunk 230 lbs Ukrainian guys weren't very intimidated. So a little sympathy for your servers is all I ask. But by all means, if your service is truly terrible don't tip.

 

[Morg]

saw something while shopping, the store cashier wanted me to tip her, since when do cashiers get tips?

 

[Groovetopia]

Has anyone ever been harassed for not tipping?

I ask because last summer a couple of my friends and I took a trip down to Atlanta, and decided to stop at this small restaurant. The waiter came to the table took our drink orders and food food orders. Brought us our drinks and food and the same time and never refilled our drinks or checked on us again for our entire meal. The whole time we see him cozying up to a table of girls across the restaurant. All of that was cause enough to not get a tip, but wait there's more...When he finally notices we're done he brings refills on my tea because its in a pitcher but not on my friends fountain drinks. He brings us one check for all five of us and when we asked him to split the check he gets an attitude and slams the little black books they bring the check in on to our table. So we pay and he brings us our change and one of my friends has the bright idea to leave a single penny on the table as his "tip." So we walk outside and start to walk into another store in the complex and out of nowhere our waiter comes yelling in our faces asking do we "think that's funny and how hard it is to wait tables all day".

We ended up going back to the restaurant to complain and they ended up comping us some free shots but needless to say next time I'm in ATL I won't be going there again.

 

[Watson]

Has anyone ever been harassed for not tipping?

I ask because last summer a couple of my friends and I took a trip down to Atlanta, and decided to stop at this small restaurant. The waiter came to the table took our drink orders and food food orders. Brought us our drinks and food and the same time and never refilled our drinks or checked on us again for our entire meal. The whole time we see him cozying up to a table of girls across the restaurant. All of that was cause enough to not get a tip, but wait there's more...When he finally notices we're done he brings refills on my tea because its in a pitcher but not on my friends fountain drinks. He brings us one check for all five of us and when we asked him to split the check he gets an attitude and slams the little black books they bring the check in on to our table. So we pay and he brings us our change and one of my friends has the bright idea to leave a single penny on the table as his "tip." So we walk outside and start to walk into another store in the complex and out of nowhere our waiter comes yelling in our faces asking do we "think that's funny and how hard it is to wait tables all day".

We ended up going back to the restaurant to complain and they ended up comping us some free shots but needless to say next time I'm in ATL I won't be going there again.

Terrible. I've seen servers do that so many times. Makes no sense either. He just lost 15%.

 

[Heretic]

There is a difference between a server overlooking something because they are busy and a sever who is just rude and doesnt care. Overall though, you're right that serving is a hard job. i could NEVER do it...and I think in the US servers hourly wages are far, far below minimum wage. I knew a girl who was a GREAT server. She was GORGEOUS (at a restaurant where looks matter) and she had a lot of fun with her guests and they all raved about her. However, every day management would yell at her and make her cry because she didnt fold the napkins the way the company preferred or whatever...just stuff that no one even notices or whatever.

 

[Bubonic]

People are people, and who knows what goes through an individuals mind...If you can afford a ten dollar tip, and Bill Gates comes in and gives her a $1,000 tip, its not like she'll hate you for not being Bill Gates. However, if Bill gates tips $10 for excellent service then thats kind of a *****ebag thing to do. First and foremost is the quality of the service...but if the service is excellent then you tip according to your financial means.

I dont walk in announcing that Im a big tipper. I let the waitress do her thing, and then i tip accordingly. If I enjoyed myself then i will return, and ask for the same waitress...but it is the initial service, with no promise of a tip at all, then wins my money.

Well that is fair enough, I'm living pretty meagerly with my part-time job and student expenses.
I almost shat myself once when my buddy, who was making the same crap pay that I was at the time gave 15$ to the delivery guy on a 20$ order.
Not to mention we had it delivered from a place that was 3 minutes walking space... We were busy.

 

[Watson]

There is a difference between a server overlooking something because they are busy and a sever who is just rude and doesnt care. Overall though, you're right that serving is a hard job. i could NEVER do it...and I think in the US servers hourly wages are far, far below minimum wage. I knew a girl who was a GREAT server. She was GORGEOUS (at a restaurant where looks matter) and she had a lot of fun with her guests and they all raved about her. However, every day management would yell at her and make her cry because she didnt fold the napkins the way the company preferred or whatever...just stuff that no one even notices or whatever.

Ugh, that sounds awful. There are HORRIBLE restaurant managers. Mine was a raging alcoholic. We got to watch him drive home every night :

 

[Heretic]

I am offended by people begging for tips when there are paid over minimum wage. Freaking Starbucks employees...ugh. You are paid an hourly rate to serve my coffee, so I shouldnt be a part of your paycheck. I even hate it when I tour with smaller bands and they ask for a fan to shelter us for the night on stage...its just tacky (even though wed probably be dead without it some nights...).

 

[Majic Walrus]

2 words:

reservoir dogs

You took the words right out of my mouth.