This tipping thing is really out of hand

[Dani784]

Yes, I have noticed waiters and waitresses getting much more bolder in their rudeness. I left a 15.00 tip on a 100.00 check with mediocre at BEST service. The waitress actually ran to catch up with me in the parking lot to give it back to me. Told me I left my change on the table. I immediately went back in and reported her to the manager and he fired her on the spot.

Before anyone asks, she was being a jerk. She was just pissed off she didn't get a 20% or better tip.

THIS^^ this generation of people not only expecting it but they also get snarky and rude if it's not enough because apparently they have a set number in their mind of what their "services" are worth.

It's like expecting pixie dust at WDW. You expect it, you don't deserve it.

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[cfriend416]

Am I supposed to tip the dog groomer?

We've had a dog for only 10 months, so this is a new thing for me. And we're trying out different groomers, to see who we like the best. Today the woman pointed out to me where to write in a tip on the charge slip I was signing. Honestly, after $40 to groom my dog (which only took an hour, so that's a pretty decent wage!), she wanted MORE money????

I begrudgingly wrote in $5, and crossed her off my list. This woman works out of her home. It's not like she works for a bigger business and they take a cut of her pay.

I'm a teacher, grossly underpaid in a small, rural district. Maybe I should put a tip jar on my desk.

I'm someone who leans towards only tipping waitstaff, etc. but my dog groomer is someone I tip. My dog is 80 lbs and very high energy and the groomers are great with her. Their prices are very reasonable and they do not expect tips. But I feel they go above and beyond and I know my dog is handful, so I always tip them something. For example, they take walk-ins for nail clippings and only charge $5 so I always give them $10. But that's just me. If you don't feel your groomer is doing an extraordinary job, don't tip. Because for anyone making above minimum wage, tips are a reward for exceptional service, not an expectation.

And I hear you on the teacher thing! I'm just entering the field. Wish me luck!

 

[Ember]

I have to say, one of my very favourite things about living in Australia is that they don't tip. Everyone makes at least minimum wage, currently $16.37 per hour or $622.20 per week. I will still occasionally tip for very good service in a restaurant, but it's rare and not expected in any way. (Though there is a higher expectation that large groups leave a tip, usually 10%.)

You can tell when you're in a tourist area as it's the ONLY place you'll see a tip line on the bill. They're used to North American tourists who want to tip. I now find those places uncomfortable, as I know full well they're taking advantage.

I much, much prefer a system like this, where employees are paid by their employer and nothing else is expected for doing their jobs.

 

[sasywtch]

I'm someone who leans towards only tipping waitstaff, etc. but my dog groomer is someone I tip. My dog is 80 lbs and very high energy and the groomers are great with her. Their prices are very reasonable and they do not expect tips. But I feel they go above and beyond and I know my dog is handful, so I always tip them something. For example, they take walk-ins for nail clippings and only charge $5 so I always give them $10. But that's just me. If you don't feel your groomer is doing an extraordinary job, don't tip. Because for anyone making above minimum wage, tips are a reward for exceptional service, not an expectation.

And I hear you on the teacher thing! I'm just entering the field. Wish me luck!

There lies the problem. Why shouldn't they be doing an extraordinary job anyway? Years ago before everyone got tipped, people did an excellent job just to get you to come back.

 

[lolainkent]

Preface this with: I'm Canadian, living in the UK.

Tipping here is becoming a bit more common in restaurants with tip lines and gratuities added to your bill automatically. I don't know that there's a 20% expectation like in North America. With taxi drivers in London, I normally round up to the next £ (or the following one if my ride cost, say, £8.90 - I'd go to £10). I ordered from Domino's last night - the man came to my door, asked me to sign a slip, handed me the pizza and walked away. No expectation of a tip at all. My hairdresser was shocked, and almost a bit embarrassed when I handed her a tip the first time I went to her - almost as if she thought it would be unfair to accept because it was unlikely any of her co-workers would receive a tip from anyone.

I think it's the difference between minimum wages.

I was at Bubba Gumps in San Francisco a few years ago and they had a guide to tipping in their menu for all the tourists. And it wasn't a demand for 20%. It was along the lines of 15% means we did okay, 18% is about standard, 20% means we were awesome. That seemed like a smart idea for foreigners who weren't sure what to do.

 

[IDoDis]

And that's automatically MY fault and I should be required to make up the difference because he's too lazy to do his taxes right? Give me a break.

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They don't itemize not because they are "lazy" but rather because it makes absolutely no sense and would not be beneficial for a minimum wage worker to itemize his/her taxes when the standard deduction would be MUCH higher.

People can come up with excuses all day long not to tip when it's justified. While I agree that it's not right that the patron ends up paying a salary to an underpaid worker, making the worker suffer is not the answer. People who can't dig deep enough to give a tip to a pizza guy needs to just cook his/her own food or go pick up the pizza themselves.

 

[cfriend416]

There lies the problem. Why shouldn't they be doing an extraordinary job anyway? Years ago before everyone got tipped, people did an excellent job just to get you to come back.

It is unfair and unrealistic to expect all service to be extraordinary. I'm fine with ordinary service. Ordinary service is still good service. Extraordinary is going above and beyond, which is great, but not expected.

 

[sam_gordon]

They don't itemize not because they are "lazy" but rather because it makes absolutely no sense and would not be beneficial for a minimum wage worker to itemize his/her taxes when the standard deduction would be MUCH higher.

People can come up with excuses all day long not to tip when it's justified. While I agree that it's not right that the patron ends up paying a salary to an underpaid worker, making the worker suffer is not the answer. People who can't dig deep enough to give a tip to a pizza guy needs to just cook his/her own food or go pick up the pizza themselves.

Maybe people who EXPECT tips for just doing their job should find a job where they get paid at least minimum wage.

It is unfair and unrealistic to expect all service to be extraordinary. I'm fine with ordinary service. Ordinary service is still good service. Extraordinary is going above and beyond, which is great, but not expected.

It is unfair and unrealistic to expect all tips to be extraordinary. Why have tip percentages changed over time? Assuming prices have gone up over time, shouldn't the tips then get larger?

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I tip wait staff in full service restaurants, my hairdresser, my daughter's cello teacher, pizza delivery people and the maid if I stay in a hotel. I usually just leave a couple of dollars per night for the maid.

We move a lot and I never tip the movers. We have always had movers contracted through the military and they are usually pretty bad. We always provide drinks and usually lunch, but no tip.

I tip the Sonic carhop. I've lived in four states with a Sonic and I've never had a carhop turn down a tip.

If I go to Starbucks, it's usually at Target and there isn't a tip jar.

I agree that the tipping thing has gotten out of hand. It seems like once the tip jars started appearing everyone jumped on the bandwagon. The produce stand I went to on Friday actually had a tip jar.

 

[LisaR]

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.

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.

I have to say, one of my very favourite things about living in Australia is that they don't tip.

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!"

 

[mjkacmom]

So what about those who can't afford to tip. I find it funny that even at a haircut place they expect a tip. And before you say that those who can't afford to tip should not eat out or use those services, remember that if people don't come in then the waitstaff receives less and less hours until finally they are let go due to lack of business.

What planet are you from that you are surprised that everyone tips on a haircut?

 

[SarahBeth79]

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.

I hope you made a phone call to his manager and reported that, that driver should be fired for that.

I don't hold delivery drivers to the same standards as a waitress, so therefore I don't tip them a full 18-20%. They are getting paid by their employee and are getting paid to use their own vehicle and receive a tip on top of that. You bring me a pizza, but you don't continually come back and fill up my drink and clear my table, therefore they get a couple of bucks from me.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Yes, I have noticed waiters and waitresses getting much more bolder in their rudeness. I left a 15.00 tip on a 100.00 check with mediocre at BEST service. The waitress actually ran to catch up with me in the parking lot to give it back to me. Told me I left my change on the table. I immediately went back in and reported her to the manager and he fired her on the spot.

Before anyone asks, she was being a jerk. She was just pissed off she didn't get a 20% or better tip.

A few years ago while I was still in college, some friends and I stopped by a restaurant on the way back to school. I was a poor college student, but between the amount of cash I had on me and in my checking account I had enough for my meal and the tip. We settled our bill, i left some of my tip on my debit card and then left a couple of bucks more in cash on the table. As we were walking out our car our waitress came running out and handed me back my cash and said "thanks but no thanks". I was shocked, we got in the car and headed back to school, the more and more I thought about it, the madder I got. So I called the restaurant and spoke to the manager, he took down my information and said he would get back to me. He called me back about 10 minutes later to inform me the waitress had been fired and the next time I was there that dinner would be on him.

 

[Jeafl]

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!"

I thought that about Starbucks too! I was really surprised when she told me what they were paying her. It is still a great company to work for though. She got benefits like a retirement plan even as a part-timer.

Too funny about the London thing. My daughter has been living there since September, and we just got back on Tuesday from visiting her there. We too tipped all the cab drivers, but none of them seem surprised, and they all accepted it gladly. It's so hard to know what to do in a foreign country.

I hope you made a phone call to his manager and reported that, that driver should be fired for that.

I don't hold delivery drivers to the same standards as a waitress, so therefore I don't tip them a full 18-20%. They are getting paid by their employee and are getting paid to use their own vehicle and receive a tip on top of that. You bring me a pizza, but you don't continually come back and fill up my drink and clear my table, therefore they get a couple of bucks from me.

I was going to call the manager after we finished our pizza, but then I forgot. If I ever order from them again though I will mention it.

 

[mmackeymouse]

I hope you made a phone call to his manager and reported that, that driver should be fired for that.

I don't hold delivery drivers to the same standards as a waitress, so therefore I don't tip them a full 18-20%. They are getting paid by their employee and are getting paid to use their own vehicle and receive a tip on top of that. You bring me a pizza, but you don't continually come back and fill up my drink and clear my table, therefore they get a couple of bucks from me.

I totally agree. That's completely uncalled for. I mean $2.50 on a $12.50 pizza is 20% which is more than fair.

Like you said, (and I mean no offense to pizza drivers) but I don't think their workload is exactly the same as someone who actually waits on tables. I completely respect them and their work. But much of what waiters/waitresses are tipped for involve a lot of little extra work.

Plus, for one pizza, I think $2.50 is very generous. If the guy is bringing three pizzas and a couple of sides of breadsticks, and it's on time, and the guy seems decent enough, yeah, maybe more would be deserved. PS Don't you wish you could open your pizza box to inspect before you tip? If you do, though, you come across as a jerk. But, I cannot tell you how many pizzas we have gotten where the cheese or toppings are falling off the pizza, and half the pizza is nothing but crust and sauce. It's one of those things that if I checked it, I would have blatantly refused it, then called and asked for my money back or a new pizza, and definitely not tipped. But again, you hate to come across as a butt.

I was going to call the manager after we finished our pizza, but then I forgot. If I ever order from them again though I will mention it.

I hope you got the driver's name. I would hate for you to order again, and that guy remembers you, gets sent out again, and he does something rude to your pizza. I hate to think that, but with that kind of attitude he showed you, I would not be surprised.

 

[luvsJack]

And that's automatically MY fault and I should be required to make up the difference because he's too lazy to do his taxes right? Give me a break.

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Being lazy has nothing to do with it. Most pizza deliverers do not have enough deductions to itemize. And many don't make enough to even file.

DS delivered pizza for a very short time. They don't make nearly enough to pay for their gas much less the wear and tear on their car.

If you don't want to tip them, get up and go get your pizza. Its an extra service that you don't have to have.

Comparing tipping an employed person to serving dinner to your kids is the dumbest thing I have read on here in a long time.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

What planet are you from that you are surprised that everyone tips on a haircut?

I'm surprised by that also. Why tip a barber?

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[mjkacmom]

I'm surprised by that also. Why tip a barber?

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Really? Who doesn't tip the barber?

http://changingminds.org/techniques/tipping/articles/tip_job.htm

 

[Goofcoaster]

DS delivered pizza for a very short time. They don't make nearly enough to pay for their gas much less the wear and tear on their car.

That really doesn't have anything to do with the tip, but more so the employer was not paying correctly.

Honestly sounds like the employer is stiffing their employees.

I delivered pizza for awhile when I was younger, I made above minimum wage, was paid for usage of my car, and received tips. With the amount of money I made, I had no problem paying for gas for my car.

 

[mmackeymouse]

I am curious what people think about tipping in situations where services are not requested...

The story I gave before of the baseball stadium usher is an example.

A few weeks ago, I was getting groceries, and the bagboy took my cart and started heading for the door. As I always do, I said, "No, I can get it; it's fine." But, he simply responded. "I'll take it for you, no problem."

Now, I had no cash other than change and a $20. I felt really awkward, because he helped me load up my cart, and all that. But, it was kind of presumptuous to just take off with my cart like that. And, I didn't ask him to help me to the car. He just did it.

Luckily, when he was done, he just took my cart and left, he didn't stand around waiting for a tip. I couldn't figure out what would be more awkward...giving him nothing or giving him 75 cents worth of dimes, nickels, and pennies.

I am sure we have all been in a situation, where we pull up to a hotel, and an overeager bellhop starts getting luggage situated before you can even take a breath, when really, we just want to get it ourselves.

What do you think of tipping in the case of unwanted services?