Another Tipping Pet Peeve

[Disney4Drew]

While reading the other tipping thread, I remembered a few instances on vacation where DH and I got annoyed:

We'd go to get DS an ice cream treat from the van
that would pull up on the boardwalk (we were in Ocean City, MD). On the counter of the ice cream truck was a jar labeled "My college fund". Ok, you're getting me the 4.00 popsicle out of the freezer and handing it to me. That obviously requires a tip. I just found this weird and wanted to tell her that I am paying my under grad loans and taking out more for my grad degree. These "college" jars are popping up everywhere! We even saw one at a small grocery store that said "Beer Fund" (at least they were honest)

We also saw one that said "Without your tips I can't buy gas to get here". This was at an ice cream stand near a lake!

Is it just me or are these tipping jars way out of control and inappropriate? I'm surprised the owners even allow this.

 

[mattsdragon]

I never put anything in the tipping jars.

Gee, thanks for pouring me a cup of coffee, my 2.50 should be enough thank you.

The tipping jar is actually a big no-no with some companies, and the counter people can get fired for putting it out (Baskin&Robbins fired a friend for just that).

 

[FlyingBelle]

I hate the obligation of tipping. I have no problem tipping if someone does a great job - but I hate tipping for so-so service. I'm a little more understanding when it's busy and they're making an effort.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Gotta love the tip jar at the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru...

 

[Dana49]

I have to agree. On Saturday mornings, I go to a local farmer's market. Within the last month or two, each of the booths have placed a tip jar on their counter with a sign that reads: "Tips Encouraged." I just wonder what I'm supposed to be tipping for.

 

[bgirldeb]

We have a coffee shop (not starbucks) on the 1st floor of my building at work. I avoid going there BECAUSE they have a tip jar.

Interestingly, from a page on tipping etiquette:
http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

Tip Jars
They're showing up everywhere -- tip jars. Most people hate them. Where is it appropriate to leave a tip in a tip jar? We'll cover some of the basics.

Star bucks - Nothing.
Any fast-food restaurant - Nothing.
Buffet-lines or cafeterias - Nothing. If there is a person who comes around and keeps your tea glass full, tip him personally $1-2.
Donut, bagel or coffee shop - Nothing.
Sports arena concession stands - Nothing.
If you get the idea that tip jars are inappropriate at any food-service establishment that does not actually bring the food to your table and keep your drinks refilled, then you are correct.
Laundry service - Nothing.
Car wash - $2-3 for a car; $3-5 for an SUV or large vehicle. If there is a tip jar, leave your tip there. It will be split among the workers. Otherwise, tip the person(s) who did the cleanup after the wash.

 

[FlyingBelle]

Loved the link! Thanks!


PS - the one about strippers made me laugh outloud

 

[Stacerita]

The tip jars at places where no real service actually happens kills me. I tip well when its deserved. But I'm sorry, if you just grab a donut out of the case, or ring up my order, there is nothing there that made you go above and beyond to serve me. I tip for good service, not for the task you are beind paid for.

When this jars started popping up everywhere a few years ago it made the sweetpea think that you can ask for tips for anything. She put a tip jar for herself in the house. I asked her what that was for, she said for me to give her money. When asked why if she didnt do anything, she said because if I put it out, you will want to give me money. Asked her where she got that crazy idea, she named off a bunch of places where we have seen tip jars. Then she told me, they get money because the jar is there, why can't I?

I never put money in a tip jar. Why would I?

 

[kdudley3]

Gotta love the tip jar at the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru...

I thought the same thing a couple of years ago at Dunkin Donuts. I couldn't believe the nerve. It ticked me off for some time.

I'm better now.

Now, I just laugh and walk away.

 

[lowie]

we were at cold stone gettting ice cream a the register paying when my 6 yo ds looked down and found a dime. he picks it up and announces that he found it. the girl at the register told him to put it in the tip jar. the look i gave her could have melted all the ice cream in the store!

 

[Luv'sTink]

I find the tipping in the link very funny! According to that some people who provide service deserve a tip and others don't.

I personally think ALL tipping is getting out of hand, period!

Tip the person that delivers the appliance but not the person who comes out and repairs it
Shoe shine yes, tailor or seamstress, no.
Land scapper no, maid yes.

 

[escape]

I personally think ALL tipping is getting out of hand, period!

AMEN!!!! I'm finding it tough knowing whom to tip, how much to tip and when to tip.

 

[Princess89]

Maybe I am wrong, but my understanding of tipping is when a service is provided, mainly wait staff, hair stylists etc. I was also under the assumption that certain professions generally are paid less than the minimum wage per hour, because the tips compensate for it. So I don't give the girl scooping my ice cream or grabbing my donut a tip. I just never understood it.

 

[kandeebunny]

I worked in an ice cream parlour for years...we were paid HORRIBLY. We not only made the sundae's/shakes/cones/etc we took the orders and were the cashiers. We did everything, and unfortunatly only one of us was working at a time. What people didn't realize is we were paid wait staff pay for that work!!! Tipping was GREATLY appreciated!

 

[singingpixie]

I'm kind of in-between on this issue. It seems like depending on where you live, making minimum wage doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to be able to support yourself. When I worked at coffee shops (1 starbucks, 2 others), we had tip jars, but they either didn't say anything or had a small "thanks" tag on it, and we certainly never referred to it or encouraged anyone to tip. If they wanted to, great. Generally, those who tipped were the regulars that I knew, and would make their drink as soon as they parked in the lot to have it ready when they pulled up, or those that came in every day and chatted, etc. I certainly didn't expect it, but those tips made a difference at the end of the week when I was only making minimum wage and trying to pay for college.

I guess in general, I don't have a problem with tip jars being there, but I think it's classless to draw attention to them, make innappropriate labels, etc. Some people working in those borderline places go above and beyond the expected "ringing someone out and handing them a cup of coffee." If the customer sees fit to tip, great. If they don't, the employee certainly shouldnt make them feel bad!

On the other hand, I definitely had people take money from my tip jar to make the change for their drink- I think that's just as rude as begging for tips!

 

[tmt martins]

I just can't believe with all that wonderful Ice cream on the Boardwalk you would buy from one of those terrible looking trucks.

However every place on the boards have the Tips jugs on them as well.

I'm in service and I never get tipped.

It just seems the employers are letting them put these things out as an excuse to not pay them more.

 

[perdidobay]

I worked in an ice cream parlour for years...we were paid HORRIBLY. We not only made the sundae's/shakes/cones/etc we took the orders and were the cashiers. We did everything, and unfortunatly only one of us was working at a time. What people didn't realize is we were paid wait staff pay for that work!!! Tipping was GREATLY appreciated!

It's my opinion that YOU choose were you work, and if the pay is horrible, you made the choice to work there, not me. I don't tip when there is no other service than handing me something over a counter. That's what you are paid to do... and it's already included in the cost of the item I bought.

 

[pigletz]

I agree that tipping is getting out of hand. I'll have to show the sports arena concession stand one to some of the people that I volunteer with. I volunteer at stand at Jacobs Field for a church. While we don't get paid, the chuch gives us 50 dollars per game towards anything educational (tuition, students loans, etc). We're allowed to have a tip cup but it has to be hidden. I never understood why we would be accepting tips. I'm not doing anything but ringing up your order and pouring you a beer. Usually the only tips we get are from friends that we give free food to or when someone decides they don't want their change back. Some people though complain about the lack of tips the whole time we're there. Unfortunatley we also have a little old lady who trys to guilt people into giving tips. I feel bad taking tips from people. After you pay for the ticket and then almost 20 dollars for two hotdogs and two beers why shell out more money when all I did was punch in some numbers.

 

[themarquis]

thanks for posting that, singingpixie -- I was just about to go on and say something like that myself!

It seems doubtful to me that any of the rest of you have ever worked in counter service, or been in a situation where you got to "choose" (the term that Kandeebunny used) between a job working behind a counter at a coffeehouse and a job at Walmart, or, for that matter, ever tried to support yourself (and perhaps pay for tuition or perhaps support a child) on minimum wage.

The point of a tip jar is that it is completely optional -- no customer is required to tip, and no customer will be treated badly because he/she doesn't tip. (So for those of you who are upset by tip jars, just go ahead and "choose" not to tip when you buy your coffee/ice cream/etc at an establishment at which servers "choose" to work.)

Tips are often given for especially excellent service; the existence of tip jars tends to enhance the overall quality of service, since servers never know whether or not they will be tipped. Tips increase a server's wage, and therefore increase their job satisfaction and desire to please their customers. An individual customer thereofre (whether he/she tips or not) *benefits* from the existence of a tip jar.

 

[smartestnumber5]

Do you all tip bartenders? I thought that it was accepted that bartending is a tipped position.

If that's so, though, I don't see how this "service/handing me something over the counter" distinction can hold up. Sometimes all the bartender does is give me a draft beer--that seems pretty equivalent to giving me an ice cream scoop. Other times the bartender makes me a mixed drink, sometimes one they're not even sure how to make. But even when they do that, this seems like less work (and less time) than the person at a coffee shop goes through when making an espresso drink to one's preference.

I mean, if you don't want to tip don't. (I don't always tip at coffee shops--often I'm using a credit card and don't have any cash on me. But if it's a place I go often I try to make up for it at a time I do have cash.) But I don't think trying to justify tips for a certain kind of employee based "service" will give us any useful distinction between kinds of jobs. (Nor do I see how "choice" will get us anywhere either. Clearly in the free will sense everyone chooses their job, hence if a person's having chosen their job justifies not tipping them, then we don't have tip wait staff either.)