Tipping overload?

[GoingSince1990]

“20% minimum at a full-service restaurant”
I think of myself as a generous tipper but I have to disagree with this. A tip is a reward for good service, and if everything is fine I will happily pay 20%. But if the service is substandard, for example if we do not see the waiter between him taking our order and bringing the check, thaf 20% will be going down, possibly significantly. On the other hand if he goes “above and beyond” (extra friendly, complicated substitutions, etc.) then the 20% will be going up.

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

McDonalds pays way more than $20 here. And I did marry well, but my wife worked in TV too for the sale wage I made. We paid our bills, put two kids through college, and were able to retire at ages 64 and 63. The key to financial success isn't all income, it's spending wisely.

You live in CA right? There is no way McDonalds pays more than 20 hours. it's about 15 an hour and then you do get bumped after a few years to 18ish. That is not merely enough for a minimum living in CA and you know it.
lets not act like you are a young person in today's financial situation. It's not as easy as it used to be especially in high living areas, but I know you exaggerate a lot of what you are able to do.

 

[MIGrandma]

What clothing store? I’m assuming an Etsy-type store, in which case I wouldn’t be put off by a gratuity request whatsoever. Honestly, when it comes to tipping, I’m generally not upset by it & usually, unless the person provides an absolutely terrible, underserving job, I do it when requested with pleasure

Modlily

 

[disneychrista]

You live in CA right? There is no way McDonalds pays more than 20 hours. it's about 15 an hour and then you do get bumped after a few years to 18ish. That is not merely enough for a minimum living in CA and you know it.
lets not act like you are a young person in today's financial situation. It's not as easy as it used to be especially in high living areas, but I know you exaggerate a lot of what you are able to do.

I don’t know what my local McDonalds currently pays but the local Panda Express has a sign that starting wage is $18.

 

[tvguy]

You live in CA right? There is no way McDonalds pays more than 20 hours. it's about 15 an hour and then you do get bumped after a few years to 18ish. That is not merely enough for a minimum living in CA and you know it.
lets not act like you are a young person in today's financial situation. It's not as easy as it used to be especially in high living areas, but I know you exaggerate a lot of what you are able to do.

My McDonald's advertises a training wage of $23 an hour for the first 90 days probation, shifting to $25 after 90 days. Now, I've never opened an employees paycheck to verify that is what they are earning, but it seems in line with what other fast food places are paying.
But remember, I live in Sacramento, the city that made national news when Chick Fil A in 2018 started paying $17 an hour here. And $15 is the minimum wage in California, going to $15.50 January 1.
I have a 31 year old daughter who is in a "professional" job that pays in the range and she is by no means rich but earned enough with some smart financial planning to buy a car and a house. Some of her co-workers at the same pay scale are struggling, but they tend to drop in the neighborhood of $200 every weekend on social spending/entertainment.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/29/news/economy/chick-fil-a-sacramento-wage/index.html

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Mcdonalds-Restaurant-Salary-in-Sacramento,CA

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I have seen signs outside our local McDonlad’s paying $24/hr for “night help”. Heck, I thought about applying! I’d spend three hours less in the car every day and not have to worry about peoples’ lives. Throw in some tips and I’d be all set.

 

[RedAngie]

“20% minimum at a full-service restaurant”
I think of myself as a generous tipper but I have to disagree with this. A tip is a reward for good service, and if everything is fine I will happily pay 20%. But if the service is substandard, for example if we do not see the waiter between him taking our order and bringing the check, thaf 20% will be going down, possibly significantly. On the other hand if he goes “above and beyond” (extra friendly, complicated substitutions, etc.) then the 20% will be going up.

Yep, if service is substandard I’ll lower my 20% tip. Two or three times service was so bad we left no or very little tip. And no, I’m not going to speak to management about it, I just won’t return.

 

[shh]

I just went to a place where the bartender set the default tip to 30% I didn't even know that was a thing. This girl brought me two beers and sloppily placed them down, with beer going all down the sides of our glasses.

I put it down to 20% and got a scowl. An actual stare down.

We drank our beers (they were actually good) and left. I won't be going back.

Service is getting worse, in my opinion. And then to expect a 30% tip and get sullen when it's "only"20%?

I will say, when I have good service, I will give 40% at a bar and between 25% and 30% at a restaurant..well deserved in my opinion.

You should write an email to the manager. That is ridiculous. I tip 20-22 unless service is REALLY bad - which is - like never - and that used to be considered a good tip. I always supported tipping, but things are getting absurd. Food trucks and cashiers expecting tips for what? Handing you a bag or a plate? Nope. Servers thinking 30% is the default? Nope.

They won't bully or intimidate me. My money. My decision.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I seem to recall threads here in the past where people said it’s better to leave no tip at all for [really] bad service, than to leave less of a tip. I’ve never been able to bring myself to do that, but I do agree that tipping has largely become a chore.

We always tipped hair people but the barber DH and DS use has gone from $15 to $25 now. I used to remind DS, especially, to leave a tip, but now I’m not so sure. $30 or so every four weeks is a lot for him - and more than I pay. I don’t see that anything has changed with the service they’re getting - if anything, it’s harder to get an appt now, and they’ve been turned away several times even being long term customers.

 

[shh]

Last year I had Zerorez come clean my carpets. It was a few hundred dollars and when I paid at the end there was clearly a line to tip. I found that odd and awkward with the guy standing right there as I paid.

I had my car windshield tinted at an auto garage: 20% default tip on the bill! Are we seriously expected to tip auto garages/mechanics now- after the 80-150/hr labor charges, 30% parts markup, etc? Nope & Nope.

Can we take a guess at what's next? You arrive for your dr appt: nurse takes your blood pressure ...you throw a few bucks in the tip jar. Need lab work? Make sure you take some singles for the tech collecting your blood.

 

[disneychrista]

A lot of the tipping on credit cards has to do with the way the credit card processor has it set up. For the longest time one of our local pizza places didn't accept tips. You ordered & picked up at the counter, there was no real "service" being provided. Their credit cards still had the tip line, which the cashier would automatically write 0 and then the total before they handed it to you to sign. Because it was a "restaurant" the credit card company had the tip line as default.

 

[shh]

Just a public service announcement to everyone on this thread residing in CA, Canada, NE or other higher paying areas. If you visit Florida, please realize they just (grudgingly) raised the tipped minimum wage this past Sept from $6.98 to a whopping $7.98 per hour.

These folks are trying to survive in one of the highest COLs nationwide right now with rent, energy and car insurance costs spiraling up 30-50% or more. Unlike most high COL areas where wages are also higher to reflect it, that isn't the case here. Pay remains much lower than national avg, other than at the biggest employers. It's totally out of whack with reality.

I think tipping has become totally nuts, but for legit tipped positions like servers, I will rarely, if ever tip less than 20% and often 22-25% in Florida or other low paying SE states.

 

[Moliphino]

Fast food places are not designed to pay a 'living wage' which is why they mostly hire teenagers who are still living at home and seniors who just want to supplement their income. If they have to pay someone a 'living wage' get ready for the $20 burger at McDonalds.

Except that doesn't hold true when you look at McDonald's in other countries that do pay a living wage and provide benefits.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Except that doesn't hold true when you look at McDonald's in other countries that do pay a living wage and provide benefits.

Agreed, as well as the fact that during the day, Monday-Friday, for most of the year, those live-with-Mom & Dad teenagers that people point to when arguing against paying a living wage are actually in school for a majority of that time. Believe it or not, actual adults work many of those hours

 

[linzjane88]

I hired out window washing for the first time. They quoted 375 for my two story (indoor, outdoor, and screens). It seemed reasonable to me but they didn't do a job *that much* better than when I do it myself. He gave me the option to pay via card so I thought 'hey, sure, credit card points. Why not?' of course he then runs my card and hands the phone back to me so I can click the preselected tip box, 10 /15/20 percent. 20% on 375 really ups the total and I'm certain those that pay cash aren't prompted for a tip. I found it super annoying.

Since when are we expected to tip hired contractors and professionals? Just quote me what you want to be paid!

I'm a nurse, maybe I should start expecting a tip for getting your IV on the first try

 

[kymom99]

Agreed, as well as the fact that during the day, Monday-Friday, for most of the year, those live-with-Mom & Dad teenagers that people point to when arguing against paying a living wage are actually in school for a majority of that time. Believe it or not, actual adults work many of those hours

The McDonald’s I hit on the way to work in the mornings has mostly women between I would say 30-50. A few older people but truthfully I don’t think senior citizens could keep up with the pace they are expected to work at.

 

[disneychrista]

Fast food places are not designed to pay a 'living wage' which is why they mostly hire teenagers who are still living at home and seniors who just want to supplement their income. If they have to pay someone a 'living wage' get ready for the $20 burger at McDonalds.

I honestly haven't seen teenagers working at McDonald's or other fast food restaurants in years. It is those in their 20's mostly.

 

[tvguy]

Just a public service announcement to everyone on this thread residing in CA, Canada, NE or other higher paying areas. If you visit Florida, please realize they just (grudgingly) raised the tipped minimum wage this past Sept from $6.98 to a whopping $7.98 per hour.

These folks are trying to survive in one of the highest COLs nationwide right now with rent, energy and car insurance costs spiraling up 30-50% or more. Unlike most high COL areas where wages are also higher to reflect it, that isn't the case here. Pay remains much lower than national avg, other than at the biggest employers. It's totally out of whack with reality.

I think tipping has become totally nuts, but for legit tipped positions like servers, I will rarely, if ever tip less than 20% and often 22-25% in Florida or other low paying SE states.

That's huge compared to Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah where the tipped minimum was is $2.13 an hour.

 

[kymom99]

That's huge compared to Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah where the tipped minimum was is $2.13 an hour.

And Kentucky

 

[tvguy]

And Kentucky

Well, Kentucky is different in that the minimum tipped wage is $7.25 an hour but an employer can subtract tips from your pay if you make more than that.
https://www.minimum-wage.org/kentucky