Tired of Tipping

[rockundergirl]

I grew up with my mother as a waitress.
I waitress for 3 years.

With that said, I'm tired of companies under paying employees to the point that huge tips are needed in order the the employee to survive. Here are examples of the type tipping that upsets me.

- forced valet, when no parking is available that I can do myself

- when I go to dunk'in donuts and the person behind the counter holds my change in thr hand instead of giving it to me expecting me to say , " just put it in your tip jar.

- when a company provides a discount on an already outrageously over priced service for example I get an hour massage for 75.00 dollars and then the clerk points to a sign that says " Please tip on the actual price of your service not the discounted price, 20% is customary" well the actual price is 175.00 ..... yeah no , not doing that.

- housekeeping ( I'm going to get flamed for this one. ) I do tip , I give 25 for the week. I don't think I should have to, what exactly am I paying 200.00 dollars a night for if things like cleaning the room are not included?


I could go on and on.

I think we all want to be part of the " doing the right thing' club when it comes to tipping, but I think often companies underpay people for the work they do to keep more of the profit from the product/ service we are buying. How do I show someone they went the extra mile? 100% tip?

 

[zurgswife]

I grew up with my mother as a waitress.
I waitress for 3 years.

With that said, I'm tired of companies under paying employees to the point that huge tips are needed in order the the employee to survive. Here are examples of the type tipping that upsets me.

- forced valet, when no parking is available that I can do myself

- when I go to dunk'in donuts and the person behind the counter holds my change in thr hand instead of giving it to me expecting me to say , " just put it in your tip jar.

- when a company provides a discount on an already outrageously over priced service for example I get an hour massage for 75.00 dollars and then the clerk points to a sign that says " Please tip on the actual price of your service not the discounted price, 20% is customary" well the actual price is 175.00 ..... yeah no , not doing that.

- housekeeping ( I'm going to get flamed for this one. ) I do tip , I give 25 for the week. I don't think I should have to, what exactly am I paying 200.00 dollars a night for if things like cleaning the room are not included?


I could go on and on.

I think we all want to be part of the " doing the right thing' club when it comes to tipping, but I think often companies underpay people for the work they do to keep more of the profit from the product/ service we are buying. How do I show someone they went the extra mile? 100% tip?

Forced valet..yeah this one is irritating but I would tip here.

Dunkin Donuts or similar places no way no how...they get paid at minimum or above I just have never seen service that warrants me to tip at an establishment like this.

If I couldn't tip on the full amount of a discounted service I would tip what I could afford and feel bad for a few minutes and that is it..$175 at 20% would be $30 tip....no way could I afford that....so I'd make it for the $15 which is 26% on $75. Probably would do my best to stay way from these gifts that require so much extra money on my part or I'd just regift.

Housekeeping - sorry typically don't ever tip unless something special is done. They are paid above minimum wage and are not considered tipped employees.

I tip when I feel the person truly is a tipped position. Then I tipped based on what I feel is proper...

 

[JB2K]

- forced valet, when no parking is available that I can do myself

If it's forced on me, no tip...

- when I go to dunk'in donuts and the person behind the counter holds my change in thr hand instead of giving it to me expecting me to say , " just put it in your tip jar.

Dunkin Donuts? Really?? I have never known them (as a chain operation) to have a tip jar on the premesis.

- when a company provides a discount on an already outrageously over priced service for example I get an hour massage for 75.00 dollars and then the clerk points to a sign that says " Please tip on the actual price of your service not the discounted price, 20% is customary" well the actual price is 175.00 ..... yeah no , not doing that.

Typcially, in the "art" of tipping, one is supposed to tip based on the full, non-discounted price.

- housekeeping ( I'm going to get flamed for this one. ) I do tip , I give 25 for the week. I don't think I should have to, what exactly am I paying 200.00 dollars a night for if things like cleaning the room are not included?

How dare you?? Just kidding -- if you are talking Disney, I do not tip there, as the housekeeping staff are union employees earning a far better wage than someone working off-property at a small operation like the "Golden Link Motel"...

I said on another thread I think it's more of a cultural (North vs. South) thing...

 

[bedogged]

If you are talking about a discount using Groupon, they make it quite clear that you should leave a tip based on the ORIGINAL price?

 

[snickerharley]

Does anyone tip their dog groomers? Everytime, or just at the holidays?

 

[ZellyB]

Does anyone tip their dog groomers? Everytime, or just at the holidays?

I don't tip the dog groomer, but we go to a big place and it's a different groomer every time. If I had one person who I went to consistently and they did a good job then I might tip.

I do think tipping has gone overboard. I tip people who provide me a service based upon the quality of that service. I don't consider handing me food over a counter to be providing me a service.

 

[Marionnette]

Does anyone tip their dog groomers? Everytime, or just at the holidays?

We no longer own dogs that need a groomer but when we did, I tipped at every visit. Plus I gave a larger tip at the holidays.

 

[taylor3297]

Does anyone tip their dog groomers? Everytime, or just at the holidays?

I do tip every time I have my dogs groomed. The same person grooms my dogs every time.

 

[Marionnette]

As for the OP...

I always tip valets even when I have no choice of self parking.

I never tip at Dunkin Donuts. I have yet to receive any kind of service from them that would merit a tip.

If I can't tip on the full price of a service, I don't use it even with a hefty discount. It is not the worker's fault if management sells a bunch of discount gift certificates in order to increase traffic. That one hour massage took them just as much time and effort that they would have spent on a full paying customer. Do you think that it's okay to only tip on the adult meal when the restaurant advertises free kids' meals? Same thing!

And tipping housekeeping is at your discretion. Don't do it if you don't want to. The housekeepers are paid above minimum wage. Waitresses are paid less than minimum but are expected to pay taxes on a certain amount based on the restaurant's income. That's whether they get tipped or not. Housekeeping doesn't have to declare any of their tips as income.

 

[C.Ann]

I agree.. I tip when I feel that someone has earned it - not because someone wants to force it on me.. And when I do tip, I tip very well..

 

[zurgswife]

As for the OP...

If I can't tip on the full price of a service, I don't use it even with a hefty discount. It is not the worker's fault if management sells a bunch of discount gift certificates in order to increase traffic. That one hour massage took them just as much time and effort that they would have spent on a full paying customer. Do you think that it's okay to only tip on the adult meal when the restaurant advertises free kids' meals? Same thing!

OK I've changed my thoughts I agree with this comment.

 

[mistysue]

My take on tipping is that % tipping is one of the silliest ideas I've ever heard of. Seriously, if I am in a restaurant the server's level of work is not at all directly related to the cost of what I got. Also a server at a place charging $1 for my toast does no less work than down the street where it is $5- so why does she get 20 cents for every $1 the other server does?
I use % because it is the standard society pushes on us, but I think a server should be tipped by how much work they do and how many people you have. I have a toddler and baby, I tip because they have to deal with them even though they don't order food.

 

[burnurcomputer]

I am going to get flamed by this..... but. My nails and hair; its part of the service I am paying you for, ie: to not screw up my nails or hair cut. (I still tip, even though I think its stupid) If you did a bad job, I wouldn't pay what I pay, to go see my stylist. I only had my nails done once becaue the idea of paying someone to dremel my nails to adhere fake nails so they look nice just didn't work for "me".

I feel the same way about baristas, and other counter type service. I come to you because I am paying for a product to be made correctly, neatly and well.

I tip, and I tip well when: you treat my 4 kids like humans, bring them the milk refill within a 5 minute period, and don't grimace when they pile stuff on the floor as they eat (i get on all 4's and pick it up as best i can), do your best and appologize when you forgot something.

 

[BBandDisney]

 

[csummerlin55]

I don't think anyone is off base here. I hate it when I get "the look" at Pizza Hut or Papa Murphy's when I didn't tip them. If you deliver it to me, I'll tip you, if I'm picking it fat chance. It seems that everyone is jumping on the tip bandwagon. Just because you "did it right" doesn't mean you should be tipped.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

Just for fun...

Do you tip your mechanic? They provide a service and making sure a vehicle is safe is more important (IMHO) than how your hair or nails look. Perhaps they need tips too...

 

[carebee21]

If I can't tip on the full price of a service, I don't use it even with a hefty discount. It is not the worker's fault if management sells a bunch of discount gift certificates in order to increase traffic. That one hour massage took them just as much time and effort that they would have spent on a full paying customer. Do you think that it's okay to only tip on the adult meal when the restaurant advertises free kids' meals? Same thing!

Just playing devil's advocate here, but perhaps if the companies didn't offer the discount gift certificates or discount services, it would be empty and there would be no customers, therefore no tips or jobs for the employees.

Companies offer the discounts because they have to to compete in this market, not because they want to. If they could charge $175 for every hour massage and be booked solid, they would. But the market won't bear that in this economy, so instead of permanently lowering their prices, they offer discount coupons or discount gift certificates or discount buy a massage, get a facial free....And at most of these places, these discounts may as well be permanent because they offer them everyday. But they keep the original price so high so people have the false sense of getting a great deal. Well that's nice, but why should I have to tip more, for a price that the market won't sustain and that NO ONE is paying, since the specials are offered every single day?

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

My take on tipping is that % tipping is one of the silliest ideas I've ever heard of. Seriously, if I am in a restaurant the server's level of work is not at all directly related to the cost of what I got. Also a server at a place charging $1 for my toast does no less work than down the street where it is $5- so why does she get 20 cents for every $1 the other server does?
I use % because it is the standard society pushes on us, but I think a server should be tipped by how much work they do and how many people you have. I have a toddler and baby, I tip because they have to deal with them even though they don't order food.

Exactly! A $30 plate of food does not require more work to be served than a $10 one. If I order a $30 bottle of wine that is less work for the server (as I would be the one usually filling my glass) than refilling my free glass of water 2-3 times during my meal but I am required to leave a much bigger tip.

 

[rockundergirl]

As for the OP...

I always tip valets even when I have no choice of self parking.

I never tip at Dunkin Donuts. I have yet to receive any kind of service from them that would merit a tip.

If I can't tip on the full price of a service, I don't use it even with a hefty discount. It is not the worker's fault if management sells a bunch of discount gift certificates in order to increase traffic. That one hour massage took them just as much time and effort that they would have spent on a full paying customer. Do you think that it's okay to only tip on the adult meal when the restaurant advertises free kids' meals? Same thing! Its really not the same thing. Supply and demand .. if you lower the price of your service ( for any reason and even if only temp), that is now the value of that service. Also we are not talking about an extra dollar or two, we are talking about me giving more than double what i was expecting. I consider myself a fair person, for a 75 dollar massage I would give an even 100.00. I didn't choose to buy a 175.00 dollar massage, if i did I would tip on that amount.

And tipping housekeeping is at your discretion. Don't do it if you don't want to. The housekeepers are paid above minimum wage. Waitresses are paid less than minimum but are expected to pay taxes on a certain amount based on the restaurant's income. That's whether they get tipped or not. Housekeeping doesn't have to declare any of their tips as income.

then i should tip the massage person ? they are getting more than min wage also.

If you are talking about a discount using Groupon, they make it quite clear that you should leave a tip based on the ORIGINAL price?

yes, I agree with this , but i happen to be talking about "intro specials" this particular event happened at a place called hand and stone massage, they sent me an email inviting me to try the service for 75.00

My take on tipping is that % tipping is one of the silliest ideas I've ever heard of. Seriously, if I am in a restaurant the server's level of work is not at all directly related to the cost of what I got. Also a server at a place charging $1 for my toast does no less work than down the street where it is $5- so why does she get 20 cents for every $1 the other server does?
I use % because it is the standard society pushes on us, but I think a server should be tipped by how much work they do and how many people you have. I have a toddler and baby, I tip because they have to deal with them even though they don't order food.

I 100% agree, I go as far as not tipping % a lot, I have sat chatting for 2 hours with coffee only and left 20.00 on a 3 dollar bill, and also have grabbed a 14 dollar soup and salad bar for lunch and left 2 dollars. Its all about space you take up ( if you are at a table where someone else could be sitting to eat, and amount of work IMO

 

[living20057]

Yes, I definitely agree.

I went to Pei Wei restaurant. You order at the counter, and they give you a number. You get your own drink, but someone drops the food off at your table. They don't check on you, but people were still leaving tips.

At the airport, the shuttle driver and baggage person for the airline. I do always tip, but I am getting tired of it. I have been a server, so I understand the restaurant business. I do agree that companies are getting over by making there consumers pay more.