This tipping thing is really out of hand

[Bob NC]

I usually tip when someones actions require more than the basic amount of effort required and it's something that has a benefit to me.

When I go in a restaurant and they hand me a meal in a bag and I have to go get my salt and pepper, utensils, condiments and bus my table myself, in most cases there is no tip involved.

If I go into a restaurant and there is a bag with my meal in it and a hostess or waitress had to get my ketchup, salad dressing, utensils, napkins, check to make sure everything is correct and then give me my completed order, then I am tipping.

If I go to a place where you order at a counter and they bring the food to you and bus your table, I'm leaving a tip.

When the Time Warner Cable guy came out 8 years ago and ran wires across my garage ceiling without stapling them up, left a mess in every area he worked in, he got no tip.

4 Years ago when the Direct TV guy came and he spent xtra time making it look like a professional job, hiding wires, stapling them up out of the way, cleaning up after himself, he got a tip. This may or not be a time most people would have tipped, but this guy exceeded my expectations so he got a tip from me.

I tip the woman who cuts my hair because I know by societies standards this is assumed to be a tipped position.

I don't tip the mailman or garbageman. These are not minimum wage workers and they perform their basic duties, nothing personal about it, never necessary to really perform 'extra' duties. They put my mail in the box, or they don't. They empty my trash can or they don't.

I don't tip the police or fireman I see, or my kids teachers.

I think most people really DO have an idea of who is or is not typically to be tipped, but, the people that don't like to tip always like to play the "I'm confused" card, or the "I don't believe in tipping card."

 

[mmouse37]

Totally agree!!!

Just curious what everyone thinks of this.

Right now, my Mom is on a six day trip to Canada with a tour group. There is a travel guide from the agency and a bus driver. The trip was quite expensive, but worth it to my Mom who loves to travel and see new things, and since my Dad died, does not want to travel alone.

She gave me a copy of her itinerary, so I could follow along on what she is doing each day. On the bottom it says. "tips to your driver and tour escort are not included. These tips should be extended on an individual basis and NOT as a group. A suggested amount is 4.00 each day for both the bus driver and guide"

So that is an extra 48.00 since it is a six day trip and two people to tip.

I thought that was a lot and a little tacky to put on the schedule.

Just curious of what others thought.

I travel a lot and don't think that is odd or tacky.

Tips are customary for drivers and "travel hosts/guides" and I like knowing a "suggested amount"...I can then decide, based on performance, attitude, being friendly, helpful or not, on how much I decrease or increase the tip (or leave the suggested amount).

MJ

 

[cfriend416]

Ugh, I agree. Call me cheap if you will, but I hate tipping anyone other than waitstaff. This really takes the cake, though: I bought my boyfriend his first tattoo as an anniversary present a couple of weeks ago. We really know nothing about tattoos and found out later from my sister that we were "supposed to" tip the artist 20%. I'm sorry, but when you're paying for a service that costs $150 per hour for a total of about $350, being expected to tip is ridiculous. I know the artist does not receive all of that $150/hour after cost of supplies and etc, but seriously...

 

[SueInBoston]

Totally agree!!!

"tips to your driver and tour escort are not included. These tips should be extended on an individual basis and NOT as a group. A suggested amount is 4.00 each day for both the bus driver and guide"

So that is an extra 48.00 since it is a six day trip and two people to tip.

I thought that was a lot and a little tacky to put on the schedule.

Just curious of what others thought.

Although I haven't been on a bunch of tours but the few that I've gone with outside the US all have similar tipping guidelines.

My retired aunt and her friends go to the casinos often on those one day bus trips and there is also a guideline to tip the bus driver and guide.

 

[luvsJack]

Technically, it is against company policy for them to accept tips. I tried to tip one at the Sonic here, and he said thank you, but said he was not allowed to accept tips.

I have always heard tip the sonic car hops and try to do so but, I don't always have cash. I am a mostly debit card/disney visa kind of girl.

See I have seen it both ways at the same Sonic!! I try to tip one car hop and they say no thank you. The next time, I pay in cash and they ask if I need my change?? The one we go to doesn't have a drive thru.


OP, I agree, it has gotten out of hand. Every where you go there is a tip jar. One restaurant I have gone to, has a tip jar by the register that is labeled "tip the cooks".

Ds had dgd's birthday party at the local place with the jumping things and slides and such--lots of fun. With parties they have a "party hostess" that sort of just lets you know when its time to go in the party room, cuts the cake and hands out plates and cups of Coke. She did a nice job. As we were getting packed up, I noticed a tip jar on the counter. (I would have assumed she was paid enough not to be a "tipped" position). I grabbed a twenty from ds really quick and gave it to her. I personally, think with the amount that is paid for these parties, a percentage should go to the hostess rather than expecting someone to tip.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I travel a lot and don't think that is odd or tacky.

Tips are customary for drivers and "travel hosts/guides" and I like knowing a "suggested amount"...I can then decide, based on performance, attitude, being friendly, helpful or not, on how much I decrease or increase the tip (or leave the suggested amount).

MJ

Thanks for the info!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Although I haven't been on a bunch of tours but the few that I've gone with outside the US all have similar tipping guidelines.

My retired aunt and her friends go to the casinos often on those one day bus trips and there is also a guideline to tip the bus driver and guide.

Thanks for the info!

I just didn't realize this! On this trip my Mom went to Canada, but she did two last year that were in the US and it was the same tipping guideline.

A few years ago, we went on a float trip down the Snake River in the Grand Teton National Park. I think it cost around 250.00 for the almost two hour ride. There was no mention of tipping in their brochure or anything, but we had such a great time, when we got off, we gave our guide a big tip. I guess, I was just surprised to see the explanation/directions at the bottom of my Moms sheet about the tipping.

 

[Luv'sTink]

Tipping is out of control!

In WA State, the minimum wage is almost $10 and hour with a raise almost yearly. Waitstaff receive the $10 an hour no exceptions.

A few weeks back we were in BJ's Restaurant and they had a suggested tip amount on the bill. The problem I had with it is, they used the full amount including tax, unless they are paying the Dept of Revenue a tip, I feel that is wrong. (Our restaurant tax rate is almost 10%)

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds had dgd's birthday party at the local place with the jumping things and slides and such--lots of fun. With parties they have a "party hostess" that sort of just lets you know when its time to go in the party room, cuts the cake and hands out plates and cups of Coke. She did a nice job. As we were getting packed up, I noticed a tip jar on the counter. (I would have assumed she was paid enough not to be a "tipped" position). I grabbed a twenty from ds really quick and gave it to her. I personally, think with the amount that is paid for these parties, a percentage should go to the hostess rather than expecting someone to tip.

I've had dozens of parties out, so I know that the hostess is tipped.

I also know that tour guides are also tipped, and although I never knew tattoo artists were tipped (since I never had a tattoo), it does make sense. I've have my hair highlighted and cut, and have spent $250 or so, and I tipped 18%. A tattoo would take the same amount of time (with no down time for the tattoo artist), and be even more of a personal service (since it lasts a lifetime). As for the cost, one wouldn't spend a few hundred dollars on a meal at a restaurant, and not tip, because of the cost.

 

[OhioMom02]

Tipping is an odd ritual.

My rough guideline is I tip an employee in a minimum (or sub-minimum in some states) service sector job.

I do not tip repairmen, movers, garbage men or the mailman. I may be wrong, but I am kind of guessing they all make more than I do in salary, and I have a good job, and I would never tip anyone who makes more than I do. I just looked and my mailman has been on the job 30 years, so is making a base pay of $54,000. According to their union contract, our Garbage workers start at $63,000 a year. Sorry, with those salaries, they don't need tips.

I have a close relative who is a mailman and they are not supposed to take tips anyway. And yeah, when someone is making a heck of a lot more than me working full time like me at a job that isn't traditionally a tipped position anyway (mail carrier/garbage man, etc.) then I just don't feel the need to tip. Some would argue that they have to deal with the weather but isn't that why they have higher than average wages anyway?

 

[Hrhpd]

I own a takeout restaurant. We have a tip jar at the window. Sometimes the person you talk to will take your order and make your drinks while someone else in the back cooks your food and then calls your name to come get it. Other times, depending on the day, the person you talk to will be doing it all alone - taking your order, making your drink, cooking your food, packaging it and serving it out the window. My kids (they're all mine once they're hired!!) make more than minimum wage, and they split the tips between them that they get on their shift. They rarely get more than a couple of dollars on a 5 hour shift. If I am working by myself, I do not put out the tip jar, nor do I split tips with my kiddos - technically, I am getting the most benefit from their work, so I don't think it's fair to take part in the tips. At sit-down restaurants, I tip 20%, but that's about as far as I take tipping, except for hotel maids who have to clean up in personal areas like bathrooms. Other positions, I hope they're getting paid enough or they set their own prices(mailman, massage etc.) Guess I'm probably a cheapass but so far nobody has said anything to me!

All this sounds like a regular job description.

Why don't you pay "your kids" a decent wage for doing their job rather than having them beg for tips?

I hate when places that pay a regular wage put out tip jars. That is their job. They are not being paid a sub-wage that depends on tips.

Can't wait for the time I walk into my local bank and their are tip jars on the teller counter. Oh wait, banks are professional. That wouldn't happen.

The only time I will tip is if I go in with a huge order for a party. But for a regular order, ridiculous. And I worked at Arbys through my entire college career. We were forbidden to accept tips. And we were proud of it. We would have been mortified to accept tips for just doing our job.

 

[cfriend416]

I've had dozens of parties out, so I know that the hostess is tipped.

I also know that tour guides are also tipped, and although I never knew tattoo artists were tipped (since I never had a tattoo), it does make sense. I've have my hair highlighted and cut, and have spent $250 or so, and I tipped 18%. A tattoo would take the same amount of time (with no down time for the tattoo artist), and be even more of a personal service (since it lasts a lifetime). As for the cost, one wouldn't spend a few hundred dollars on a meal at a restaurant, and not tip, because of the cost.

The haircut comparison is fair I suppose (though the artist did take a break halfway through), and I admit that had I known people typically tip tattoo artists we would have at least given him something, though definitely not 20%. Especially because I am pretty sure the two artists who work there co-own it. However, the expensive meal comparison makes less sense. Waitresses make a reduced hourly wage because tips are expected and I would never dream of not tipping a waitress well simply because I already spent a lot on the meal. But I would also never spend a few hundred dollars on a meal.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

If I offend you well my apologizes.

I am so baffled at all the who to tip and what to tip that my head may explode.

So I tip you if you work for the company doing the job but I don't tip if you own the company.

I don't tip repairmen but tip movers.

I tip waitstaff but not the kid who brings out my food at fast food.

I tip the barber at the chain hair cut place but not the one who owns the shop

I don't tip the mail man or garbage man

Enough already how about this we let businesses pay there employees and let the employees decide if that's enough for them to work. Even better is its a state to state thing on how people are paid.


Rant over/

Oh, my gosh OP, I almost posted the exact same thing last night. Actually I did around 11:30 pm then deleted it. I couldn't agree more. I feel it's gotten completely out of hand, I mean where do we draw the line? It’s called your job, do it, and collect your hourly/salary wage.

I understand tipping wait staff because they don’t make minimum wage, but anyone and everyone beyond that who makes an hourly wage, shouldn’t expect anything from anyone. If you get a “tip” congratulations for a job well done!

Thank you and have a nice day!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Oh, my gosh OP, I almost posted the exact same thing last night. Actually I did around 11:30 pm then deleted it. I couldn't agree more. I feel it's gotten completely out of hand, I mean where do we draw the line? It’s called your job, do it, and collect your hourly/salary wage.

I understand tipping wait staff because they don’t make minimum wage, but anyone and everyone beyond that who makes an hourly wage, shouldn’t expect anything from anyone. If you get a “tip” congratulations for a job well done!

Thank you and have a nice day!

This is what I think too!! I get that wait staff don't make a minimum wage and rely on tips. But for the people that get paid a fair hourly wage, I don't think tips should be expected. Of course, I say this and I tip everybody; maids, hairdresser, driver to the airport etc.

I guess, what I don't like is to see it written down, like in my Moms case. But, hey, that's just me!!!

 

[sandynd]

Why don't you pay "your kids" a decent wage for doing their job rather than having them beg for tips?

I hate when places that pay a regular wage put out tip jars. That is their job. They are not being paid a sub-wage that depends on tips.

Maybe you didn't read closely. My kids are well-paid. The lowest paid is getting $9.60 an hour for their training period and will rise to $10.25 when they have proven themselves ready.

I put out a tip jar because my kids also try and go above and beyond to be entertaining and give good service, so if someone wants to tip them for that, good for them! And the only way I can see to be fair about it is to have them split tips at the end of their shift - otherwise the ones assigned only to backroom duties that day would not have a chance at any tips that shift. My kids appreciate the tips they get because they know they are for good service only, not because they're paid poorly.

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

I don't disagree with tipping wait staff by any means, but reading all these posts has me thinking .... why is there a percentage rate attached to it? Does the waitress work harder or do more for me if I order the $30 steak as opposed to the $8.99 chicken special? No, so why does her tip now triple?

I'm also surprised by the number of people that are adamant about tipping valet (when all they do is walk a bit and drive) yet they won't tip housekeeping that scrubs your toilet and deals with your used soggy towels. Does anyone happen to know what base salary is for Disney valet and bellhops?

 

[momz]

I don't disagree with tipping wait staff by any means, but reading all these posts has me thinking .... why is there a percentage rate attached to it? Does the waitress work harder or do more for me if I order the $30 steak as opposed to the $8.99 chicken special? No, so why does her tip now triple?

I'm also surprised by the number of people that are adamant about tipping valet (when all they do is walk a bit and drive) yet they won't tip housekeeping that scrubs your toilet and deals with your used soggy towels. Does anyone happen to know what base salary is for Disney valet and bellhops?

In response to your first paragraph. The wait staff is tipped a percentage and as a result, this is incentive for them to up-sell. That is why they tend to promote things like appetizers, drinks, deserts, etc. They want you to spend more, therefore, they will be rewarded for their selling by getting a larger tip.

 

[cfriend416]

I don't disagree with tipping wait staff by any means, but reading all these posts has me thinking .... why is there a percentage rate attached to it? Does the waitress work harder or do more for me if I order the $30 steak as opposed to the $8.99 chicken special? No, so why does her tip now triple?

Great point! Why is it that our tipping culture is based on a percentage and not, let's say, a certain amount per course and per person. So, for example, a waitress(er) serving a table of 4 who all ordered apps, entrees, and desserts would get a larger tip than someone serving a table of 4 who only got entrees. Likewise, someone serving a table of 8 would get a larger top than a table of 4. Makes sense to me!

 

[Hrhpd]

Maybe you didn't read closely. My kids are well-paid. The lowest paid is getting $9.60 an hour for their training period and will rise to $10.25 when they have proven themselves ready.

I put out a tip jar because my kids also try and go above and beyond to be entertaining and give good service, so if someone wants to tip them for that, good for them! And the only way I can see to be fair about it is to have them split tips at the end of their shift - otherwise the ones assigned only to backroom duties that day would not have a chance at any tips that shift. My kids appreciate the tips they get because they know they are for good service only, not because they're paid poorly.

As an employer, you should be rewarding your employees that go above and beyond with a bonus. Not relying on your customers to pay their salaries.

Tip jars for standard, or in your case, above standard wages, is an insult to your customer. And greedy on your part that you keep your maximum profits and put the onus on your customers to fork out more for your product when you have excellent staff who should be rewarded.

That is how I feel about tip jars. It is the establishment owners who are becoming inordinately greedy. They have found a way to maximize their profits by not rewarding their employees. They are putting the responsibility for rewarding their employees for excellent work on the customer. If an employee is going above and beyond, their profit needs to be minimized a bit to reward that employee. The customer should not be expected to pay more for their product.

 

[luvsJack]

I've had dozens of parties out, so I know that the hostess is tipped.

I also know that tour guides are also tipped, and although I never knew tattoo artists were tipped (since I never had a tattoo), it does make sense. I've have my hair highlighted and cut, and have spent $250 or so, and I tipped 18%. A tattoo would take the same amount of time (with no down time for the tattoo artist), and be even more of a personal service (since it lasts a lifetime). As for the cost, one wouldn't spend a few hundred dollars on a meal at a restaurant, and not tip, because of the cost.

I have had dozens of parties out too. Only one other place had an actual host, so most places don't even have anyone to tip.

Actually, if a party of 10 (going by the number of kids in the party) went out to eat most places WOULD in fact, add an 18% tip to the bill.

I don't have an issue with tipping and I didn't mean that it cost too much to tip, I meant the business could make sure the girl is properly paid for her services.

She probably gets overlooked a lot. I happened to notice the little jar because my camera was sitting by it.

This place (like many others) charged $210 for 10 kids. If those same 10 kids had just came together to jump it would have been $80. They included 2-2 liter drinks ($2) and 10 little cups of ice cream (you can buy in bag of 12 for $3 so we will add $3). If 18% of the total cost went to the hostess the place would still make twice as much as they would have if 10 kids had just showed up to jump. And the girl was not just there for the party, she worked at the door too.