This tipping thing is really out of hand

[gunka]

How about Hotels? The Valet takes your car, one bellman unloads your suitcases etc. and then another bellman delivers to your room. Supposed to tip all three?

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

At our local ice cream stand last week they have the regular tip jar, then the girl working that shift had out a huge decorated box asking for donations to send her to Colorado to play soccer! Sorry, no!

In Michigan we have a 10 cent deposit on cans and bottles. We have groups all the time that want donations of them. To me that's the same as asking me to hand them over cash. One group even wanted us to load them in our vehicles and deliver them to the group at a designated location at a specific time! I swear nobody wants to actually "work" to raise money anymore!

 

[rockawaybeachgirl]

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 don't disgree that the tipping protocols are confusing. However, I am confused by the logic of 'I don't anyone who makes more than me'. We gave my college-student niece (who does not have a job) a gift certificate to a local restaurant for her birthday. By your logic, she should not tip the waiter?

Im from NYC, where waiters at steakhouses like Peter Luger/Sparks/smith and wollensky can pull in $1000 on a given night easy. So if you went to one of these restaurants, you wouldn't tip?

 

[okeydokey]

Here is what many people do not understand. The waitstaff is making minimum wage in many places.

Lets say for simple math they wait on 4 tables in 1 hour. Each table is $40 and each person leaves 10%. So that's $4 a table or $16 for all 4.

So $16 in tips and $10 in wages. Really $26 an hour for doing the bare minimum of your job. Most folks tip 15-20%.

In FL, I believe the wage is $4 something an hour and I really doubt they clear 4 tables every hours they are working. I guess the bill would depend on the type of restaurant. At a steak place, a couple could spend 80 for dinner, but a a local diner or Mexican restaurant, maybe 20 or 25. I don't know any servers who make 26 an hour.

 

[vicki_c]

As of last summer (per an article in the Huffington Post), 1/2 of the states still only paid servers the minimum tipped wage of $2.13. Employers are required to make up the difference to the state minimum wage if a server's tips do not cause their hourly wage to reach that figure.

 

[PeterPanic]

As of last summer (per an article in the Huffington Post), 1/2 of the states still only paid servers the minimum tipped wage of $2.13. Employers are required to make up the difference to the state minimum wage if a server's tips do not cause their hourly wage to reach that figure.

If the tips are in cash, how would the prove that. What I recall hearing was that the waitstaff that earn less then minimum wage are taxed by the government for assumed tips. If they assume 20% in tips and your bill comes to $100.00...that means that the worker is liable to the government for the tax on $20.00 even if you didn't leave a dime. That seems unfair to everyone. First the employee who possibly by no fault of their own get stiffed by a customer, is liable for tax on money that they never received. It seems unfair to the customer because now the tip is no longer for outstanding service, but a way for the employee to have a living wage. That never should be the buyers responsibility. The only two that come out well in that are the business and the government.

Pay people a living wage. Raise prices if necessary to cover the increased payroll costs and do away with tipping completely UNLESS you, the customer, really feel that the service was worthy of a little additional reward to the employee. That is such a 18th century business cop out to save themselves money by employing slave labor and expecting the public to make up the difference. It's just wrong on so many levels. In today's world where payroll/employer taxes are based on wages paid (i.e. Social security matching fund or unemployment insurance) they are making out like a bandit. However, instead of the public complaining, like they should be, they just keep on finding reason to tip people that shouldn't be tipped and are just doing the job they get paid to do.

 

[tvguy]

I don't disgree that the tipping protocols are confusing. However, I am confused by the logic of 'I don't anyone who makes more than me'. We gave my college-student niece (who does not have a job) a gift certificate to a local restaurant for her birthday. By your logic, she should not tip the waiter?

Im from NYC, where waiters at steakhouses like Peter Luger/Sparks/smith and wollensky can pull in $1000 on a given night easy. So if you went to one of these restaurants, you wouldn't tip?

Sorry, I should clarify. I don't tip anyone whose base pay is greater than mine. I don't count tip income. Someone making federal minimum wage is worthy of consideration for a tip if they provide good service........someone making two or three times federal minimum wage, IMHO, does not get consideration for a tip from me.
And I'll be honest, my tips are going to be 20% at Denny's, and 15% at Mortons. That server works just as hard at Dennys.

 

[vicki_c]

If the tips are in cash, how would the prove that. What I recall hearing was that the waitstaff that earn less then minimum wage are taxed by the government for assumed tips. If they assume 20% in tips and your bill comes to $100.00...that means that the worker is liable to the government for the tax on $20.00 even if you didn't leave a dime. That seems unfair to everyone. First the employee who possibly by no fault of their own get stiffed by a customer, is liable for tax on money that they never received. It seems unfair to the customer because no the tip is no longer for outstanding service, but a way for the employee to have a living wage. That never should be the buyers responsibility. The only two that come out well in that are the business and the government.
.

I'm was just repeating what I'm pretty sure the article said, it is possible that I misinterpreted or oversimplified. The part about the $2.13 min wage though I know is correct.

 

[IDoDis]

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?

My DD's boyfriend works at Sonic. The answer is YES, the car hops rely on tips and do not make minimum wage. They make the same per hour here that a waitress makes. I asked him about paying with a debit or credit card and he said that he will sometimes still get a cash tip, but usually not. He usually only gets tips from cash paying customers. I try to keep two or three extra dollars at all times in my ash tray for emergencies, parking meters, etc. but will use it also to pay a cash tip if need be.

 

[DeaverTex]

I always tip waitstaff, and I raised my base tip from 10% to 15% a few years back. Don't talk to me about 20% tips being standard -- just... don't. That tip goes up or down based on whether the service is good, bad, terrible, or wonderful. Other than that, I'll tip cab or shuttle drivers that help out with luggage (if they'll take it), and the folks who deliver a pizza.

Overall, I think that tipping is completely out of hand, and I'm tired of seeing people with their hands out, waiting for money. Tips should be a reward for extra or special service rendered -- not an expected income stream to bail out employers who are too cheap to pay a decent wage.

There. I'm done with the soap box. Your turn.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I always tip waitstaff, and I raised my base tip from 10% to 15% a few years back. Don't talk to me about 20% tips being standard -- just... don't. That tip goes up or down based on whether the service is good, bad, terrible, or wonderful. Other than that, I'll tip cab or shuttle drivers that help out with luggage (if they'll take it), and the folks who deliver a pizza.

Overall, I think that tipping is completely out of hand, and I'm tired of seeing people with their hands out, waiting for money. Tips should be a reward for extra or special service rendered -- not an expected income stream to bail out employers who are too cheap to pay a decent wage.

There. I'm done with the soap box. Your turn.

Standard tips are 18-20% all over the country and have been for quite some time. If you have just recently went from tipping 10% to tipping 15% and then lower your tip accordingly, then you are by definition a very bad tipper.

We don't have to talk. about. 20%. being. standard. BUT IT IS. The fact that you tip lower doesn't change the facts.

As for other services to tip. I tip wait staff, hair dressers, anybody who delivers or moves furniture for me, housekeepers at hotels, valets, bell hops, anybody who brings something to my hotel room that I requested, and we most definitely tip car hops at Sonic.

I would never leave a tip in a jar at a CS place where the employees make a normal wage and are just sticking their hand out wanting a tip for doing their job.

If I were on a guided tour and it was suggested to tip the bus driver and the tour guide I would definitely tip them the suggested amount or more if they were great at their job.

I have tattoos and already knew before I ever went in to get one that you tip the tattoo artist around 20%. They may very well be working for a shop where they have to split the money with the owners. But the shop I go get my tats at the guy who does my tats is the same guy who owns the place and I still tip him.

I also agree with a previous poster that ppl claiming to be confused about who to tip basically just want to claim confusion to keep from tipping ppl.

 

[summerblue]

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 haven't read through all posts but wanted to address this, the reason is because in most states ( not sure about all) but I do know in my state, where I worked my way through college as a waitress, you have to claim tips and pay taxes on those tips, restraunts automatically are supposed to report your sales amount for you to pay taxes on, when I was a waitress it was automatically 10% of our sales totals we had to pay taxes on, regardless if we actually made the 10% or not, the whole time I was a waitress I never once had a paycheck, just a stub because it all went to taxes. Also most the time waitresses are required to pay tip share to the bus boys, which is usually around 2-3%. So the reason for paying a percentage is because waitresses are taxed based on percentage of sales.

 

[sasywtch]

Standard tips are 18-20% all over the country and have been for quite some time. If you have just recently went from tipping 10% to tipping 15% and then lower your tip accordingly, then you are by definition a very bad tipper.

We don't have to talk. about. 20%. being. standard. BUT IT IS. The fact that you tip lower doesn't change the facts.

As for other services to tip. I tip wait staff, hair dressers, anybody who delivers or moves furniture for me, housekeepers at hotels, valets, bell hops, anybody who brings something to my hotel room that I requested, and we most definitely tip car hops at Sonic.

I would never leave a tip in a jar at a CS place where the employees make a normal wage and are just sticking their hand out wanting a tip for doing their job.

If I were on a guided tour and it was suggested to tip the bus driver and the tour guide I would definitely tip them the suggested amount or more if they were great at their job.

I have tattoos and already knew before I ever went in to get one that you tip the tattoo artist around 20%. They may very well be working for a shop where they have to split the money with the owners. But the shop I go get my tats at the guy who does my tats is the same guy who owns the place and I still tip him.

I also agree with a previous poster that ppl claiming to be confused about who to tip basically just want to claim confusion to keep from tipping ppl.

I have never claimed to be confused. I just refuse to join the bandwagon of everyone getting a tip. It has gotten so out of hand.

Our movers were paid $17 an hour. I asked. They are making $17 an hour for doing a good job and a service for me. I'm not tipping them because they did their job.
I also do not worry about if I should have bottles of water or soda for them as I figure, they can buy a small ice chest and bring it with them.

For TVguy, I would never have known the difference in garbage men/women if I hadn't moved to OK. Where I lived, the garbage was picked up by a private company with run down trucks and they got out and picked it up. I did give Christmas goodies but not cash. However, here they are government employees making an excellent wage and the only time they get out of the truck is to leave a "no no" note on your can.

I don't know if it's everywhere but I've seen job announcements for cable installers and they make very good money. Again, I am not tipping them for doing their job and that includes cleaning up their mess. If they don't clean up their mess, I'm out there asking him if he is going to and if not, I'm on the phone to the company. Mean? I don't think so. People have gotten so use to not finishing or doing their job completely that I am not tipping for it.

I do tip waitress/ers in a under min wage position. I do not tip those at counter service. After reading some of the responses on here it occured to me as my one daughtEver is a manager at McD's. The counter people don't just hand you your food, they also clean bathrooms, sweep, mop, clean tables, take trash out, clean up around the facility, etc. Every person at my daughter's store has additional jobs other than their main job. Cooks clean the back, scrub the grill, disinfect etc. Front do the front of the store, the bathrooms and the outside.

I was a maid for a short time out of high school. Cleaned a room for a few days for Buck Owens. We never expected tips, never got one because in those days, people did not tip cleaners. We did our job as we would do for anyone.

I'm from an old school that you are paid a wage to do a good job and I shouldn't have to or have a need to tip a person because they did a good job.

 

[clarkshel]

In FL, I believe the wage is $4 something an hour and I really doubt they clear 4 tables every hours they are working. I guess the bill would depend on the type of restaurant. At a steak place, a couple could spend 80 for dinner, but a a local diner or Mexican restaurant, maybe 20 or 25. I don't know any servers who make 26 an hour.

You have to go to Fort McMurry Alberta for servers to make that much money. The last I heard they where making mid 20's for a wage, plus tips. McDonalds has to pay their employees over $15/hr. Even bus drivers, that drive workers to the oilsand plants, make $100,000 CAD per year.

 

[Carl]

We have a yogurt place where my parents live where you pay by the ounce. You walk in, grab a bowl, decide which yogurt you want, and fill you cup as full as you want. Then, you walk by the toppings and decide which toppings you want and how many. You put those on your yogurt. Then, you go to the cash register put your yogurt on the scale, the worker weighs it, tells you want you owe, and gives you your change. They have a tip jar. They don't even prepare my yogurt!

.

I go to that shop "Tootie Fruitie"

 

[Lionqueen2]

We have a yogurt place where my parents live where you pay by the ounce. You walk in, grab a bowl, decide which yogurt you want, and fill you cup as full as you want. Then, you walk by the toppings and decide which toppings you want and how many. You put those on your yogurt. Then, you go to the cash register put your yogurt on the scale, the worker weighs it, tells you want you owe, and gives you your change. They have a tip jar. They don't even prepare my yogurt!


Another place has the most amazing hamburgers! You walk up to the counter and order. They write your order down and take your name. Then, they turn around and clip your ticket to a wire for the kitchen staff to see. When your food is ready, the KITCHEN STAFF calls your name and places it at a separate window where you go to pick up your food. There is a tip jar for the ladies who take your order, though, and a sign on the jar that says, "Tipping isn't just for cows." Jeez. Whataburger doesn't have a tip jar and they at least bring me my food.

Makes you wonder why someone at a yogurt place would expect a tip when the clerk who rings up and bags your purchases at Seven-Eleven doesn't.

I don't have a problem tipping, but do agree that the rules for tipping don't always make sense.

 

[Disney Doll]

I tip people in jobs where we instinctively know that they are being paid a lower hourly wage and depend on tips (waitstaff or valets, for example). The amount I tip depends on service. That's easy.

Past that, I tip for excellent service, regardless of what that service is. I've tipped movers who were quick, efficient and friendly and who went above and beyond (helping put furniture together in the new apartment and vacuuming my stairs because they'd gotten dirt on them); I've tipped housekeeping in hotels who go the extra mile and reset the room so that it totally looks as though I haven't even been in it. I've tipped at the frozen yogurt place (we have one near me that is the same as JennaDeeDooDah has described) because the kids there are really nice and friendly and they keep the place spotless, and I've seen them show a GREAT deal of patience with difficult and rowdy customers.

I do often toss change in the tip jar if I pay with cash, but that's mostly so that I don't have to carry change around in my pockets. Right now, in my life, I'm lucky enough not to have to count every single dime to survive, so I'm pretty apt to toss something in the tip jar if I can. However, I specifically will NOT tip if I've gotten bad service. Even at places like the ice cream shop. If someone filled my order without once looking at me or saying thank you, and spent the entire transaction talking to someone else or checking their phone, those people aren't getting anything extra.

All of that to say ... I don't really know what the "rules" are or who you're supposed to or not supposed to tip. I tip people who do a good job. I don't tip people who don't. Simple.

This^

 

[sandynd]

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.

I wish you wouldn't make assumptions about what I do as an employer. In fact I do have bonus programs as well as other recognition in place. I don't make any more money or lose any money whether you tip or not. It's your opportunity to either monetize your appreciation directly to your servers, or not. Your choice. And if you're that angry about a tip jar, you're probably the type that is generally demanding and hard to deal with, that I need to make it up to them to have to deal with at a generally happy place. I am done defending my choices to you, and you can moodily go on your way, making hostile assumptions. Have a fabulous day, if you can!

Sent from my iPod touch using DISBoards

 

[skatalite]

I'm one of those who isn't afraid to leave nothing as a tip.

Yeah, OK, so you chose to be a server at this here restaurant I'm eating at. You chose to be in the hospitality industry, at least for now. And as a representative of that industry, and your employer, and yourself, you should conduct yourself appropriately.

If you are average, and give us the average experience, then you get roughly 16 percent, because I double the tax amount to get the tip amount.

If you're above average, you begin at 20 percent.

If you're below average, I'll tip you the amount we were taxed.

If you just plain suck, I will leave zero dollars and cents, and write an explanation on a napkin or the receipt.

I've met too many people in the industry who think they're entitled to tips because of the profession they chose. And that's just not true. You have to earn them.

With regards to Sonic: Oklahoma is HQ for the company and here the carhops all start at minimum wage. Because of such, I don't tip.

 

[Skywalker]

I wish you wouldn't make assumptions about what I do as an employer. In fact I do have bonus programs as well as other recognition in place. I don't make any more money or lose any money whether you tip or not. It's your opportunity to either monetize your appreciation directly to your servers, or not. Your choice. And if you're that angry about a tip jar, you're probably the type that is generally demanding and hard to deal with, that I need to make it up to them to have to deal with at a generally happy place. I am done defending my choices to you, and you can moodily go on your way, making hostile assumptions. Have a fabulous day, if you can!

Sent from my iPod touch using DISBoards

You say it is the customer's choice to "monetize their appreciation", but sometimes with a tip jar people feel obligated or feel like a jerk if they don't tip. There's a subtle pressure.

If you are paying your employees a good wage, customer appreciation does not have to be "monetized" and if someone DOES want to do that, they can still do it of their own accord.