Tipflation

[tx911]

We are going out to eat a lot less these days too.

But we do get takeout quite a bit.

Do you all tip when you get takeout? I find myself doing it nowadays, although I feel like pre-Covid I did not.

 

[Crescent_Lake]

I got a better paying, untipped job.

EDIT: Thinking about, I don't recall having any male friends who worked as servers, only female when I was in High School in the early 1970's. Guys all got the untipped jobs. I do remember a couple of the girls in High School complaining that they didn't get a lot hours as servers where as most of my male classmates got as many hours as we could legally work as High Schoolers. The pay with tips, probably was similar though in total.

I'm glad it worked out.

To your edit: Since you're talking about early 1970s (I'm not quite that old), I imagine some of what you reference had to do with disparity in expectations between genders. The high school aged females were likely expected to use their earnings on frivolous "girl" stuff, whereas the males would have been saving up to get their first cars and to work toward financial independence post graduation. Maybe the guys were taken more seriously? I doubt the tipped females made in a few hours what the minimum wage earning males made working the maximum allowed hours. I'm guessing there was an attitude that the females had less need for earnings. I graduated from HS in the mid 80s and even then there were more males working jobs after school and on weekends, whereas females seemed to have more chores around the home such as housework, looking after younger siblings, making dinner, etc. I don't even remember any girls having cars.

Sorry for going off topic but I wanted to answer @tvguy

 

[RedAngie]

A report claimed a visitor to the Super Bowl paid $9 for a Gatorade and $8 for a Pepsi. There was an automatic “service charge” and gratuity, plus tax, added to the prices bringing the grand total to about $22. No way to opt out of the extra fees.

 

[Crescent_Lake]

Tipping 15 or 18% on an ever increasing priced meal isn’t taking anything out on the server. If the cost of the meal went up from $20 to $25, the server is already getting more with that 18% tip. There’s no reason for anyone to be offended by 15 or 18% or expect 22 or 25%. If someone thinks they were worth that & want to give it, good for them. But if I choose to tip 15 or 18%, that’s fine too.

Some people like to say, if you can’t afford or don’t want to tip, don’t go out. By the same token, if you don’t like the pay or can’t afford to work for what people are willing to tip, don’t work that job.

I have to say that this post and others like it really put the whole thing in perspective for me. Many years ago I tipped a pretty standard 15%, then as we became a bit better off I upped it to 18%, eventually 20%. After staying home for most of 2020, all of 2021, and part of 2022, when we finally reemerged I started tipping a minimum of 22% and more often 25% on the premise that everyone in the service industry went through so much during the pandemic, inflation is crazy, and so many are struggling. But you're right! A percentage is just that and if the prices are higher the tip is automatically higher without increasing the percent. I'm honesty going to dial it back a bit.
Lately I've also felt bullied into doing the carry out and self serve tipping thing seemingly everywhere. I'm going to start pressing the "no tip" option in some cases.
When I started reading this I thought some posters where being stingy but I've changed my mind.

 

[tvguy]

I'm glad it worked out.

To your edit: Since you're talking about early 1970s (I'm not quite that old), I imagine some of what you reference had to do with disparity in expectations between genders. The high school aged females were likely expected to use their earnings on frivolous "girl" stuff, whereas the males would have been saving up to get their first cars and to work toward financial independence post graduation. Maybe the guys were taken more seriously? I doubt the tipped females made in a few hours what the minimum wage earning males made working the maximum allowed hours. I'm guessing there was an attitude that the females had less need for earnings. I graduated from HS in the mid 80s and even then there were more males working jobs after school and on weekends, whereas females seemed to have more chores around the home such as housework, looking after younger siblings, making dinner, etc. I don't even remember any girls having cars.

Sorry for going off topic but I wanted to answer @tvguy

I was discussing this thread with my wife. She worked in a movie theater snack bar at the same time. Minimum wage making and selling personal pizzas, hot dogs and hamburgers. No tip jar on the counter in those days. So the servers in the restaurant in the parking lot were getting the same pay plus tips. But my wife got to see movies for free! And she doesn't recall any of her male friends in high school working in tipped jobs back then either. Yes, there was a disparity between the genders then.

 

[Crescent_Lake]

A report claimed a visitor to the Super Bowl paid $9 for a Gatorade and $8 for a Pepsi. There was an automatic “service charge” and gratuity, plus tax, added to the prices bringing the grand total to about $22. No way to opt out of the extra fees.

I read somewhere that the average ticket to the Super Bowl was $9500. I just finished writing a post above agreeing with everyone saying tipping is out of control, but if what I read is true, I'm not sure anyone attending the Super Bowl would care about another $5.

 

[ronandannette]

We certainly don’t go out as often as we did before but when we do we continue to tip the same way we did before.

The you phrased your previous post it certainly sounded like you never needed to work while you were perusing your education. If it was truly an entry level position that would be on equal footing of a server. The exception would be your pay was predetermined my a corporation whereas servers pay rate is variable as it relies so heavily on tips.

Not here it isn't. They are paid provincial minimum wage by law; currently $15.00 per hour. Same as (some) retail clerks, car wash attendants, order pickers, and heck, even some child care providers. And FWIW, my initial post was in response to the idea that servers earn tips because the job is hard. That I still dispute, considering some of the other minimum wage jobs that can be mentioned.

 

[RedAngie]

I read somewhere that the average ticket to the Super Bowl was $9500. I just finished writing a post above agreeing with everyone saying tipping is out of control, but if what I read is true, I'm not sure anyone attending the Super Bowl would care about another $5.

The person complaining about the added fees for Super Bowl beverages probably got in on someone else’s dime but had to pay out of pocket for drinks.

Or it could be the principle. Even the uber wealthy might look askance at ridiculous added fees.

 

[Crescent_Lake]

The person complaining about the added fees for Super Bowl beverages probably got in on someone else’s dime but had to pay out of pocket for drinks.

Or it could be the principle. Even the uber wealthy might look askance at ridiculous added fees.

I don't disagree with you. I was just stunned at those ticket prices. You're also probably right that a lot of the tickets are comps.

 

[tvguy]

Not here it isn't. They are paid provincial minimum wage by law; currently $15.00 per hour. Same as (some) retail clerks, car wash attendants, order pickers, and heck, even some child care providers. And FWIW, my initial post was in response to the idea that servers earn tips because the job is hard. That I still dispute, considering some of the other minimum wage jobs that can be mentioned.

Some states do have a subminimum wage for tipped jobs. As low as $2.13 an hour. And I think some states can count tips towards the minimum wage they pay.
In California, tipped workers must be paid at least $16 and tips can not be counted against that. Tips are the workers money to share as they see fit with back end staff.
Fast food workers starting April 1 in California can be paid no less than $20 an hour. If there is a tip jar, that also does not count against the minimum wage.

 

[ronandannette]

Some states do have a subminimum wage for tipped jobs. As low as $2.13 an hour. And I think some states can count tips towards the minimum wage they pay.
In California, tipped workers must be paid at least $16 and tips can not be counted against that. Tips are the workers money to share as they see fit with back end staff.
Fast food workers starting April 1 in California can be paid no less than $20 an hour. If there is a tip jar, that also does not count against the minimum wage.

Yes - here also; tips are NOT used to account for the required hourly wage.

 

[Kestryl]

I'd love to try cooking a lobster tail at home but I don't trust my skills. I envy those of you who have much better cooking ability than I do.

I’m very lucky to have a spouse who loves cooking and is game for everything- because I definitely am not a chef! But I will say that lobster (at least the tails) is easier than you think!

 

[greeneyedchick]

We are going out to eat a lot less these days too.

But we do get takeout quite a bit.

Do you all tip when you get takeout? I find myself doing it nowadays, although I feel like pre-Covid I did not.

I don't tip on take out.

 

[barkley]

I was discussing this thread with my wife. She worked in a movie theater snack bar at the same time. Minimum wage making and selling personal pizzas, hot dogs and hamburgers. No tip jar on the counter in those days. So the servers in the restaurant in the parking lot were getting the same pay plus tips. But my wife got to see movies for free! And she doesn't recall any of her male friends in high school working in tipped jobs back then either. Yes, there was a disparity between the genders then.

agree to disagree.

from your posts i believe your wife is close to my age. we grew up in the same region.

i knew PLENTY of my high school male peers who opted to work in tipped jobs-and there were tipped jobs that females knew only hired males. in the 70's despite any laws about equal hiring requirements, no females in our region, no matter how qualified, would apply for certain highly paid tipped positions (incredibly high as compared to low/midrange dining and other jobs). to name a few-

catering server
bell man
valet
caddy
WAITER/busBOY (higher end restaurants only wanted males).



where did your wife work in a movie theater and get no tips vs. her parking lot drive in co-workers? she got to watch movies while her co-workers did not?


i worked in the same area for a company that owned 2 enclosed movie theaters/1 drive in. no one ever was tipped-on site or at the drive in. i also worked for a second (MUCH higher end) enclosed movie theater-no enclosed theater employee EVER got to watch movies for free more than the drive-in employees if they were actually doing the job they were paid for. enclosed theaters had closed theater doors and unless an employee was going on their off time (which the drive in movie employees had the same ability to do) the only way they were seeing more 'free movies' was b/c they were in there watching instead of doing their job (i was able to watch/hear many more movies while doing my duties at a drive vs when i worked in an enclosed theater).

 

[sasywtch]

Some states do have a subminimum wage for tipped jobs. As low as $2.13 an hour. And I think some states can count tips towards the minimum wage they pay.
In California, tipped workers must be paid at least $16 and tips can not be counted against that. Tips are the workers money to share as they see fit with back end staff.
Fast food workers starting April 1 in California can be paid no less than $20 an hour. If there is a tip jar, that also does not count against the minimum wage.

It's making CNA's and In Home Support workers angry. We still get $16.50 an hour here doing medical care for people. HOWEVER, Having worked in management in my young years in fast food/retail, I can guarantee you that many had their hours cut and they are making less than they did before. My two McD's next to me just installed ordering kiosks so I'm assuming at least one job was eliminated. Back to tipping: I usually tip very well unless someone just doesn't come back, doesn't offer more coffee, find out if everything is good (unless I can see that they are short handed and the waiter/ress is running around). I do not tip at places like Subway, McD's etc. I do tip the person cutting my hair. I do not tip my mail person, garbage person etc even on holidays because they make good money. They are city/federal/government jobs with excellent retirement benefits.

 

[tony67]

It's making CNA's and In Home Support workers angry. We still get $16.50 an hour here doing medical care for people. HOWEVER, Having worked in management in my young years in fast food/retail, I can guarantee you that many had their hours cut and they are making less than they did before. My two McD's next to me just installed ordering kiosks so I'm assuming at least one job was eliminated. Back to tipping: I usually tip very well unless someone just doesn't come back, doesn't offer more coffee, find out if everything is good (unless I can see that they are short handed and the waiter/ress is running around). I do not tip at places like Subway, McD's etc. I do tip the person cutting my hair. I do not tip my mail person, garbage person etc even on holidays because they make good money. They are city/federal/government jobs with excellent retirement benefits.

Yeah - agree for the most part, the fight for $20 will lead to less jobs\hours in fast food and is a factor in other issues, like inflation.

I always tip the letter carrier - but you are right they are paid well and have better benefits than most of us.

Of course I talk to the mail man just about every day, and he gives treats to the dog, etc...
He just retired to Florida where he already had a house he owned for years and was selling his house here for a big profit, but I still I gave him a retirement tip as well.

The new mail man seems really good as well. Came around and introduced himself and how glad he was to be here etc.. had been working in a really bad neighborhood before this.

So it depends on the level of service, many people never see the letter carrier or the trash collector. The trach collector doesn't even get out of the truck for the most part. And if they have to they get really angry.

I don't tip UPS or Amazon either, I know how much the UPS folks make, its its a lot more than you would think, even for part timers. They also have a pension and a golden health insurance plan - even for part timers.

Amazon drivers, I don't tip them, but they are always different people. If it was always the same person I probable would - they don't get paid a fair wage as far as I know.

 

[barkley]

I always tip the letter carrier - but you are right they are paid well and have better benefits than most of us.

if you talking about the u.s.p.s. and a cash or gift card that can be exchanged for cash (visa or mastercard) tip then your carrier accepting it is was in violation of federal law. a violation that could have resulted in their termination.

 

[eticketplease]

if you talking about the u.s.p.s. and a cash or gift card that can be exchanged for cash (visa or mastercard) tip then your carrier accepting it is was in violation of federal law. a violation that could have resulted in their termination.

No you can tip them but I think the limit is $20.

 

[dpswift]

We are going out to eat a lot less these days too.

But we do get takeout quite a bit.

Do you all tip when you get takeout? I find myself doing it nowadays, although I feel like pre-Covid I did not.

That is a question I asked myself too. Several years ago I was told by a minimum wage worker that you should tip the same for takeout as sit down. About a year ago I asked the question on my Facebook page. Only one person tipped a full 20%. Everyone else tipped somewhere between nothing and $5 for a family sized order.

 

[eticketplease]

Not here it isn't. They are paid provincial minimum wage by law; currently $15.00 per hour. Same as (some) retail clerks, car wash attendants, order pickers, and heck, even some child care providers. And FWIW, my initial post was in response to the idea that servers earn tips because the job is hard. That I still dispute, considering some of the other minimum wage jobs that can be mentioned.

My apologies as that is not at all how I read your response.

When I was attending college you were paid a minimum serving wage plus tips.

That minimum serving wage + tips had to be greater than or equal to the minimum wage for the area.
If enough tips were not made the restaurant would have to pay the server more to get them to the actual minimum wage.

Restaurants love servers as they make them do extra work without having to pay them for all of the extras as in the end the customer ends up paying them. It is rare that a server does not meet the official minimum wage for their area.

Obviously times have changed as @tvguy pointed out in CA they must make a minimum of $16 PLUS tips.