This tipping thing is really out of hand

[ronandannette]

Actually I have to tip my mail man. He drops off a Christmas card and an empty envelope with his name on it every day starting about 12/1 until I put it in.

I am not the best tipper in DW, as I won't leave 15-20$ for a dinner at chef Mickey. ... And I don't tip house keepers/mouse keeping. I also put a DND sign on my door most of the times on cruises cause I won't pay 30$ to turn my bed sheets down n drop a choc mint on my pillow.

Do you not pay gratuities at all on cruises? Many lines charge them to your account daily (a portion of which goes to your steward). Do you have the auto-grats removed? NCL for one is more upfront about this and calls it a "daily service charge", not a gratuity or tip.

 

[lizzi6692]

Maybe someone in the know can explain this, $2.25 an hr! I read this quoted response, before the article. I had been thinking, some cities in the USA pay lower wages, in comparison to Canada; As home prices, vehicles, appliances, groceries, gas, etc. cost less. Apples/Oranges to compare the two countries.

However, I'm perplexed New York City!? A Raise to $7. something an hr. I do not understand.
Was it a type error?

Regular minimum wage and servers minimum wage are two different things. MW for servers is a third or less of MW for other jobs.

 

[NFLDERS]

Regular minimum wage and servers minimum wage are two different things. MW for servers is a third or less of MW for other jobs.

Thanks for clearing that up!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I always thought it was ridiculous that Starbucks had a tip jar, but then my daughter got a job there. She made $2.50 an hour less than minimum wage, and it was expected that the tips would make up the difference. Fortunately enough people tipped to make it worthwhile for her. It wasn't always fair because the tips are pooled among all employees for the week and there were always the few employees that didn't pull their weight. It was her choice to stay though, and she made it work.

As for tipping pizza delivery guys, a couple months ago we ordered a pizza that came to something like $12.50. I gave him $15.00 and told him to keep the change. He got really snotty with me and said "wow, a whole $2.50. Maybe you need this more than I do" and then handed the change to me. I just said "Maybe I do" . I then took the money and closed the door. That really tcked me off.

That really surprises me because Starbucks is always rated as one of the top paying companies for both hourly and salary workers. My DD has multiple friends who are working or have worked for Starbucks and every one of them has made more than minimum wage.




My nephew lives in London. He just turned in his expense report to his boss and he got it back with a note saying, "Stop tipping the cab drivers. We don't tip here!"

Oh my. I have tried and tried to not post on any tipping threads, but I have to break on this one.

First, I would SERIOUSLY question what Starbucks they are working for. Starbucks stores are either company owned or "license" stores. I was a manager for over 6 years with the company. Starbucks DOES NOT pay less than minimum wage. A "license" store (mainly airports and Targets) I'm not sure about so I can't definitively say, but I would be SHOCKED if that was allowed in a US License store. And in working for the company have never ever heard that. I also can't definitely say about the wages for salary, but I can tell you that for my area I was making 98% of the maximum wage for a manager, and it was OK, but by no means close to the top in either retail or restaurant for General Manager.

Second, when I was in the restaurant business, which was not too very long ago, we HAD to claim 8% of our sales as tips or the tips on the credit cards receipts charged to our server number, whichever was higher. So if you made 5% in tips for the night, you were paying taxes on more than you made. Granted, that only happened to me twice in the 20 years I was in the business. However, the taxes normally took your paycheck. I rarely even looked at mine because about 85% of the time they just said ZERO.

Lastly, and let me try to be polite, I often tip at Fast Food places or Starbucks or places like that out of simple obligation. As a former server/bartender and a former Starbucks manager, I can guarantee that (all things being equal) your server/bartender is working much much harder. One of the main differences that I see is that your bartender or server is getting paid the same below minimum wage hourly rate even after the customers are gone, while your barista is still making upwards of $9 after the doors are locked. Your bartender is scrubbing bar mats, scrubbing floors, cleaning out beer drains, hauling kegs, and soaking liquor pour spouts. Your barista is vacuuming out bean hoppers and stirring mocha. Now in my Starbucks they did have to scrub floors every night, but we were gone within 45 minutes of closing. As a bartender, it was completely normal to not leave until 4AM after a 2AM closing.

Having done both jobs, I can be honest in that I made upwards of $50K a year as a bartender. I was a darn good one, I worked hard. We ran constantly (this was when TGIF was in it's heyday) and we treated our customers EXTREMELY well. I knew every name, every drink, every schedule of our regular customers. In fact, now that I'm in Real Estate, some of them have looked me up and are my clients!

I DID NOT make $50K a year as a Starbucks manager. (Well, maybe if you include bonuses, which virtually disappeared my last year and a half there), but frankly I didn't work nearly as hard. AND I got insurance and paid vacation, which I didn't get as a bartender. When I moved into restaurant management prior to Starbucks, it took me quite a while to make what I was making behind the bar, and I worked 60-80 hours a week.

I remember when I went to Starbucks during my training they said that at Christmas it gets very busy, and unfortunately I might have to work close to 45 hours a week for the month of December. I laughed out loud, I thought they were being sarcastic. Coming from restaurants, 45 hours a week was vacation! HAHAHAHA!

I knew exactly what I was getting into in all of these jobs. I knew what was required of me and I knew the income potential. I eventually left the restaurant business for Starbucks because of the time demands on my family. I'm a firm believer that if you don't like your job and what it requires, then leave. Hence why I'm not at Starbucks anymore.........

All of this being said, the tip jars at fast food places and coffee shops really really bother me. I think after reading this thread I will take a stand and stop feeling obligated to throw money in that jar. Dangit.

 

[NFLDERS]

Oh my. I have tried and tried to not post on any tipping threads, but I have to break on this one.

First, I would SERIOUSLY question what Starbucks they are working for. Starbucks stores are either company owned or "license" stores. I was a manager for over 6 years with the company. Starbucks DOES NOT pay less than minimum wage. A "license" store (mainly airports and Targets) I'm not sure about so I can't definitively say, but I would be SHOCKED if that was allowed in a US License store. And in working for the company have never ever heard that. I also can't definitely say about the wages for salary, but I can tell you that for my area I was making 98% of the maximum wage for a manager, and it was OK, but by no means close to the top in either retail or restaurant for General Manager.

Second, when I was in the restaurant business, which was not too very long ago, we HAD to claim 8% of our sales as tips or the tips on the credit cards receipts charged to our server number, whichever was higher. So if you made 5% in tips for the night, you were paying taxes on more than you made. Granted, that only happened to me twice in the 20 years I was in the business. However, the taxes normally took your paycheck. I rarely even looked at mine because about 85% of the time they just said ZERO.

Lastly, and let me try to be polite, I often tip at Fast Food places or Starbucks or places like that out of simple obligation. As a former server/bartender and a former Starbucks manager, I can guarantee that (all things being equal) your server/bartender is working much much harder. One of the main differences that I see is that your bartender or server is getting paid the same below minimum wage hourly rate even after the customers are gone, while your barista is still making upwards of $9 after the doors are locked. Your bartender is scrubbing bar mats, scrubbing floors, cleaning out beer drains, hauling kegs, and soaking liquor pour spouts. Your barista is vacuuming out bean hoppers and stirring mocha. Now in my Starbucks they did have to scrub floors every night, but we were gone within 45 minutes of closing. As a bartender, it was completely normal to not leave until 4AM after a 2AM closing.

Having done both jobs, I can be honest in that I made upwards of $50K a year as a bartender. I was a darn good one, I worked hard. We ran constantly (this was when TGIF was in it's heyday) and we treated our customers EXTREMELY well. I knew every name, every drink, every schedule of our regular customers. In fact, now that I'm in Real Estate, some of them have looked me up and are my clients!

I DID NOT make $50K a year as a Starbucks manager. (Well, maybe if you include bonuses, which virtually disappeared my last year and a half there), but frankly I didn't work nearly as hard. AND I got insurance and paid vacation, which I didn't get as a bartender. When I moved into restaurant management prior to Starbucks, it took me quite a while to make what I was making behind the bar, and I worked 60-80 hours a week.

I remember when I went to Starbucks during my training they said that at Christmas it gets very busy, and unfortunately I might have to work close to 45 hours a week for the month of December. I laughed out loud, I thought they were being sarcastic. Coming from restaurants, 45 hours a week was vacation! HAHAHAHA!

I knew exactly what I was getting into in all of these jobs. I knew what was required of me and I knew the income potential. I eventually left the restaurant business for Starbucks because of the time demands on my family. I'm a firm believer that if you don't like your job and what it requires, then leave. Hence why I'm not at Starbucks anymore.........

All of this being said, the tip jars at fast food places and coffee shops really really bother me. I think after reading this thread I will take a stand and stop feeling obligated to throw money in that jar. Dangit.

Forgive me, I get things confused more often then not. But, in the beginning of your post, you were in doubt of Minimum wages paid in a Starbucks. Yet towards the end were explaining, employees getting paid less then, and working into the wee hours; At a Starbucks?

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Forgive me, I get things confused more often then not. But, in the beginning of your post, you were in doubt of Minimum wages paid in a Starbucks. Yet towards the end were explaining, employees getting paid less then, and working into the wee hours; At a Starbucks?

Sorry, maybe i babbled. I absolutely doubt employees getting paid less than minimum wage at Starbucks. The working wee hours into the morning and getting paid less than minimum wage was in reference to bartenders/servers.

Even during the Christmas set up night we never left past midnight at Starbucks. And that was one night a year. If I was the closing bartender at TGIFridays (or any bar that was open till last call) I worked until 330 or 4 AM.

 

[disney1990]

Actually I have to tip my mail man. He drops off a Christmas card and an empty envelope with his name on it every day starting about 12/1 until I put it in.

I am not the best tipper in DW, as I won't leave 15-20$ for a dinner at chef Mickey. ... And I don't tip house keepers/mouse keeping. I also put a DND sign on my door most of the times on cruises cause I won't pay 30$ to turn my bed sheets down n drop a choc mint on my pillow.

You do know it is illegal for a Postal worker to accept cash.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/12/what_can_you_give_the_mailman.html

 

[Mary7116]

What about the shuttle bus driver from Car Care Center who picks me up/drops me off at my resort? One man tipped but I didn't. I think the driver expected a tip. Seriously it was a 7 min ride.

 

[mfd25wife]

Forgive me, but I didn't go back and quote people but I have a couple of comments.

I saw someone said that you should tip as if you ordered two meals even if you share a meal. I may get flamed, but I disagree. It's contradictory, IMO. We are expected to pay a % of the meal cost. I've had better service at times from the lower end restaurants than at some higher end. We tipped based on %, but basically one was rewarded more than the other who actually was better. I don't live in a big city so we don't have a lot of high end restaurants so it's not like they can just switch. I just don't see the justification for pretending I ordered more just because most eat separate meals. If it's expected to be a % so be it, but not a % plus make up more tips because I don't eat as much. Am I to do the same when I eat just a salad or just an appetizer?

Recently, we went on a cruise and left and returned to Port Canaveral. We had a porter who started grabbing bags and kept saying he would take them to the pick up lane for us. We kept telling him no since we didn't pack all that heavy. He kept on. At the same time, we saw signs specifically stating that porters were paid regular wages and not expected to be tipped. Since he already had grabbed two bags, we just gave up arguing. We tried to chat with him in line and walking, but he was not at all friendly. When he got to the pick up line and DH loaded the luggage, he got snitty before DH could even tip him since he didn't see money already out and stomped off. He considered giving him a little but not what we normally would. Once he stomped off, DH sure wasn't going to chase down a rude man especially after seeing the signs that tipping was not necessary.

 

[Bob NC]

Forgive me, but I didn't go back and quote people but I have a couple of comments.

I saw someone said that you should tip as if you ordered two meals even if you share a meal. I may get flamed, but I disagree. It's contradictory,

If a meal is split and all the server does is put the full meal in front of you and an empty plate in front of your partner, then yes, I would tip on the price of one meal.

If the server gets the extra plate and splits the meal, (meat, vegetables, starch), onto 2 plates to serve each person 1/2 a meal, then I would tip extra. The server then did extra work that wasn't actually required. Frequently when you do this the server will even get a little extra of your sides to make the serving look a little better.

In most instances the kitchen doesn't even KNOW this was a split entree, the server does all the work, for YOU.

 

[marius97]

But one thing I want to know when it comes to tipping on percentages of a bill, why is bringing out an expensive entree worth more than bringing out a less expensive one? It's exactly the same amount of work for a server. We often eat in a group where everyone will order a drink, entree and dessert. Some will have a $30 steak with a $12 glass of wine and some will have an $11 chicken wrap with a $4 soft drink. Same number of plates to carry, same number of trips to the table. There is no "upselling" by the server; we know what we want and we order it so there's nothing that's been earned. I've always wondered about this...

This is my problem with tipping as well. I started a thread a few years back that caused me to get 3rd degree burns from the flames being thrown at me. I'm a simple guy with three young(ish) kids. We're a burger and bbq kind of family. We are fine with the chain restaurants or a similar local establishment. I always tip well; start at 20% and go up from there. I base my tip on how well you deal and interact with my kids. My problem was after eating at TRex at DTD for the first time. Food was just as "good" as a Friday's type place and service was no better. Yet, the Trex server got twice the tip for the same amount of work just because we are paying extra for the ambiance. To me, that isn't right.

 

[Lindaland]

I am sure I will get flamed for this but, I have serious issues regarding tipping. If I feel a server has gone above and beyond the usual (seat you, take your order & bring food, and ask how things are then bring you a check) I will give a good tip. But if you just do the basics, I feel that is covered in the price of the meal. The cost of the dish is far above the cost of the products in that dish. Its their basic job to do those things, if a server is friendly and helpful or engages me in other ways such as visiting often, offering drinks if my glass is empty etc., then I tip very well. If not, its a flat 15-20% of the meal depending on the level of restaurant I am in. If I get the minimum service, you get the minimum tip!!

I also don't understand tipping the bus driver or mailman???? If my postal worker put an envelope in my mailbox for tips I would report him to the manager!!! I know those jobs have a base wadge and they do not work on tips, so why would I give them one??? I am a nurse and I actually save lives, no one gives me a tip when I care for them!!

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Since we are talking about tipping--are you supposed to tip the carhops at Sonic?

I thought yes but if you pay by debit card there isn't a tip line on the slip. And they apparently not taught to give your change in a way to make it easy to tip (5 one's instead of a five) Anyone know?

I haven't read all the posts by my understanding is that the carhops get the same pay as a waitress and you are supposed to tip. My DS17 has friends who work at Sonic. Bless his heart, he told me that he will tip $5 to make up for all the people who don't tip. Such a sweat boy a raised.

 

[fisherjenn]

I tip waiters/waitresses and the bell hops. I know servers only make 3-something an hour (which is stupid). I feel that they both put up with a lot of kaka.

 

[Art 1]

I am sure I will get flamed for this but, I have serious issues regarding tipping. If I feel a server has gone above and beyond the usual (seat you, take your order & bring food, and ask how things are then bring you a check) I will give a good tip. But if you just do the basics, I feel that is covered in the price of the meal. The cost of the dish is far above the cost of the products in that dish. Its their basic job to do those things, if a server is friendly and helpful or engages me in other ways such as visiting often, offering drinks if my glass is empty etc., then I tip very well. If not, its a flat 15-20% of the meal depending on the level of restaurant I am in. If I get the minimum service, you get the minimum tip!!

I also don't understand tipping the bus driver or mailman???? If my postal worker put an envelope in my mailbox for tips I would report him to the manager!!! I know those jobs have a base wadge and they do not work on tips, so why would I give them one??? I am a nurse and I actually save lives, no one gives me a tip when I care for them!!

For the mailman or garbage man it's not usually a tip but a Christmas present. I'm surprised that as a nurse no one has ever given you a thank you gift, I have before to nurses and docs that have been extra caring for a family member, usually a gift card.

 

[Lindaland]

For the mailman or garbage man it's not usually a tip but a Christmas present. I'm surprised that as a nurse no one has ever given you a thank you gift, I have before to nurses and docs that have been extra caring for a family member, usually a gift card.

We get cards and the occasional box of candy or something, but as a daily event in our jobs or an expectation..... then no. Then there are the times we actually get yelled at because the ER took to long, or the kitchen has closed. Most operations of the hospital are not controlled by the floor nurse, no matter how impressive they might be!

 

[Art 1]

We get cards and the occasional box of candy or something, but as a daily event in our jobs or an expectation..... then no. Then there are the times we actually get yelled at because the ER took to long, or the kitchen has closed. Most operations of the hospital are not controlled by the floor nurse, no matter how impressive they might be!

I can imagine, but remember the people are under a lot of stress and for many may never have been in a hospital. I too have to take a lot of crap each day but have just learned to take it with a big smile. Usually the people mellow right out.

 

[Lindaland]

I can imagine, but remember the people are under a lot of stress and for many may never have been in a hospital. I too have to take a lot of crap each day but have just learned to take it with a big smile. Usually the people mellow right out.

I completely understand the stresses people are under when they come to the hospital, especially my unit which is the monitored unit where they are hooked up to cardiac monitors and have lots of wires with bells & alarms going off constantly. And I understand it is part of my job which I am also totally fine with.

The point I was making is that I know it is part of my job and I don't work for less than minimum wage and rely on tips. The part of my statement about not getting tipped for doing my job refers to those who make a wage and still expect a tip, such as those referenced like shuttle drivers, postal workers, garbage men etc... I am sorry but a garbage collector makes more than some of my friends who work in offices and they also have benefits!!

Just because you do a job that you were hired to do doesn't mean that you get a tip because you do it! I tip people who I know make less than minimum wage who rely on tips.

 

[sookie]

I wish things were simple, but they aren't! I wish everyone had a liveable wage and that we didn't have to worry about tipping. It would make my life easier. I tip:

Waitresses / waiters (always).
bartenders (always)
Service / repairmen in my home (sometimes).
Hairdresser (always).
Nail tech (always).
Facial / eyebrow lady (always).
Babysitters (always. yes, even the ones who are family. We also recruit college students whom we trust, and they deserve it).
I tip at Sonic! I used to be a carhop. It is hot and exhausting work. Tip those girls!!! It didn't matter if you got minimum wage. At least for me, I was working there as a teen and had just had a baby and was returning to school - tips saved me!
I tip bell men. I tip drivers who get my bags off the car.
I haven't had the pleasure of tipping housekeeping in our hotel rooms lately. We have had some crappy experiences and they didn't deserve a tip as of late. We stayed in a Hampton Inn this weekend and they forgot to clean our room two days in a row. No tip. things were organized for them when we left though each day.
Taxis - I always tip.
Starbucks - sometimes. Depends on how complicated the order was and if they stayed friendly throughout it.

 

[Art 1]

I completely understand the stresses people are under when they come to the hospital, especially my unit which is the monitored unit where they are hooked up to cardiac monitors and have lots of wires with bells & alarms going off constantly. And I understand it is part of my job which I am also totally fine with.

The point I was making is that I know it is part of my job and I don't work for less than minimum wage and rely on tips. The part of my statement about not getting tipped for doing my job refers to those who make a wage and still expect a tip, such as those referenced like shuttle drivers, postal workers, garbage men etc... I am sorry but a garbage collector makes more than some of my friends who work in offices and they also have benefits!!

Just because you do a job that you were hired to do doesn't mean that you get a tip because you do it! I tip people who I know make less than minimum wage who rely on tips.

I understand, but sometimes it's just nice to make someone happy with a couple of bucks.