When did tipping become a way a life?

"Well, when I was in customer service I never worked off tips.. does that mean I would of worked harder if I did? So maybe i'm not expected to please the customer just because they aren't tipping me"

Uhmm . . . Jfall, do you realise that your statement actually acts counterproductive to your argument? It rather favours the other argument. Perhaps it is because there's no tip that customer service reps don't give a **** how they treat customers. Alternatively, sales reps and fitness trainers, for instance, are paid by commision, so there's the incentive to do well in order to win customers.

 

[jfall]

I'd have to say that a lot of the times it comes down to the amount of money you get paid. If I were getting paid $20/hour I sure as hell would of did a better job then if I were getting paid $10 an hour.. but I guess thats the way things work

 

[Windogg]

Yea, here in Massachuestts people who receive tips only make about $2/hour. They also get taxed on assumed tips and not actual tips received. So if a person leaves nothing, they still get taxed as if they received something. Many of these people depend on tips to earn a living. The whole "the food costs alot so they are making lots of money" argument doesn't work. The company or owners then have to pay rent and other expenses. The people that serve you don't get a share.

I tip well and its amazing who remembers. Almost everywhere I go, there are "mistakes" where half the meal doesn't get charged, the bartender "accidently" poured a few extra drinks, or we suddenly jump ahead of everyone in line. More than makes up for the couple of extra dollars.

 

[SuperTool]

If you don't like it, don't tip.
I usually tip 15% only when I am eating with somebody. If I am just getting lunch from work, I either don't tip or tip a buck or less.
For me to tip 15%, it has to be full service. You have to bring me more water, bring my food, bring the check, everything.
A lot of places here, they bring you food, but then you have to go to the counter to pay. They get very little or no tip from me.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: luvly
"Well, when I was in customer service I never worked off tips.. does that mean I would of worked harder if I did? So maybe i'm not expected to please the customer just because they aren't tipping me"

Uhmm . . . Jfall, do you realise that your statement actually acts counterproductive to your argument? It rather favours the other argument. Perhaps it is because there's no tip that customer service reps don't give a **** how they treat customers. Alternatively, sales reps and fitness trainers, for instance, are paid by commision, so there's the incentive to do well in order to win customers.

Perhaps it is because there's no tip that customer service reps don't give a **** how they treat customers.

Some of us who are in customer service may take offense to that statement. Even at $6.25/hr (and no tips), I treat customers well (IMHO)..

 

[kaiotes]

attn everyone:
i'm also against tipping 😛

 

[T2T III]

Tipping has gotten a little silly as you've described. However, here's some more input based on my tipping practices:

Starbucks: I only get a Grandé sized decaf coffee whenever I go in there. A simple process, but I tip them about 40 cents for 15 seconds of their time.

UPS: I've had the same UPS driver for a couple of years now. He visits my home at least once per week. A few weeks back, I tried to tip him for all of his hard work - and he declined. He said UPS pays him for what he needs to do and he wouldn't accept my tip. I thought this was honorable of him.

Lumber yard: I usually tip the guy a few bucks when they make a cut or two for me and help me load the wood onto the car. These guys are usually hustling - and I wouldn't anticipate that they're making more than $8.00 an hour.

Barber: I only pay $10.00 for a regular haircut, but I tip $3.00 because I really think my barber works hard for the money.

Pizza delivery: I usually pick it up, so tips don't apply.

Furniture deliveries: Usually have $5.00 ready for the driver and $5.00 ready for the assistant.

Dining out: 15% - 20% of total check.

Everyone else can KMA! 😉 Actually, I've started not tipping at Starbucks because they're slackers anyway. 😀 😀

However, you're right. Too many people expect tips for being a slacker. I think tipping is good - when the individual is doing a great job at what they're doing. However, I'm sure many people are making out well based on their tips alone.

 

[amnesiac]

Goddamit you cheapasses, if you hate tipping, DON'T EAT OUT. Stay at home and make your own fricking food, or buy a premade entree from your grocery store. You won't have to tip anyone that way.

You understand that whether or not you agree with the process of tipping, it's customary and expected, so if you don't believe in it expect to get treated rudely.
If it bothers you that much, move to europe where it's automatically added to part of the bill, or like I said, don't eat out.

Unlike a political agenda, people will NOT follow your lead and attempt to eliminate this practice from our society, so refusing to give gratuities will do nothing more than make you a jerk. If you blow $50 on a meal, I don't see why you wouldn't expect to give at least SOME compensation for the unfortunate soul who has to wait on your cheap ass hand and foot.

In several states servers get paid around $2 / hour -- not even minimum wage. You expect them to live on that?

 

[TranceNation]

Originally posted by: stev0

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
not this again.

yea pretty much.

i thought of this again last night when i ordered up a college special (large (18") pan pizza for 9.95) from pizza patrol. the guy comes to the door, i give him a 10, he stares at me for a minuet, says thanks and walks away... what? is he not getting his paycheck? why should i have to pay their employee's? i don't get a tip when i fix computers at work, why should he, a pizza delivery person, get a tip for.. delivering pizzas? dosen't make sence.

resturants are a different story, i can understand a tip there... but for delivering a pizza? no.

huh? if the guys delivered the pizza to your door then a tip is definitely the normal.

 

[TranceNation]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
A lot of places here, they bring you food, but then you have to go to the counter to pay. They get very little or no tip from me.

should still tip in that case. It's the restaurant process, not your waiter's fault.

 

[LH]

If we didnt tip wait staff, and the companies paid them, food prices would be ALOT more. As it is, profit margins are thin. Wait staff make their money on tips. If there was no tipping the companies would have to raise prices in order to pay their wait staff. Its as simple as that.

 

[agnitrate]

Originally posted by: wje
Tipping has gotten a little silly as you've described. However, here's some more input based on my tipping practices:

Starbucks: I only get a Grandé sized decaf coffee whenever I go in there. A simple process, but I tip them about 40 cents for 15 seconds of their time.

UPS: I've had the same UPS driver for a couple of years now. He visits my home at least once per week. A few weeks back, I tried to tip him for all of his hard work - and he declined. He said UPS pays him for what he needs to do and he wouldn't accept my tip. I thought this was honorable of him.

Lumber yard: I usually tip the guy a few bucks when they make a cut or two for me and help me load the wood onto the car. These guys are usually hustling - and I wouldn't anticipate that they're making more than $8.00 an hour.

Barber: I only pay $10.00 for a regular haircut, but I tip $3.00 because I really think my barber works hard for the money.

Pizza delivery: I usually pick it up, so tips don't apply.

Furniture deliveries: Usually have $5.00 ready for the driver and $5.00 ready for the assistant.

Dining out: 15% - 20% of total check.

Everyone else can KMA! 😉 Actually, I've started not tipping at Starbucks because they're slackers anyway. 😀 😀

However, you're right. Too many people expect tips for being a slacker. I think tipping is good - when the individual is doing a great job at what they're doing. However, I'm sure many people are making out well based on their tips alone.

Very well put. I always feel that if a person is doing their job well and puts forth a good effort, I always tip at least 15%. Waiters/Waitresses have a hard job and I definitely think that if they give you a really positive experience, they must have been busting their asses to do so and for that they deserve a good tip.

I will always leave a tip unless the person waiting on me was extremely rude because I know if you don't tip them, it comes out of their pay. You are most certainly correct that people remember when you tip well and that they return the favor. Why take the chance of screwing somebody over and them remembering you as the bad guy?

When I work customer service at my store, I always try to be the person that people remember as the friendly guy that helped me out and not the jerk who wouldn't give me a refund. On the other side of things, many customers come up to me with a very positive attitude and treat me very nicely and I guarantee that I make a mental note of who they are and how nice they are to me. I've had several incidents where I've specifically helped people out because they were nice to me or I didn't hassel them about something when I might have questioned somebody that wasn't as nice to me.

This is a society we are living in people. What goes around comes around. You never know when a good deed might turn around and save your ass and you can bet that a bad deed will turn around and bite you in it eventually. Go ahead and try to philosophize it but you'll just end up the fool in the end.

-silver

 

[Lithium381]

I get about $2-5 tips per night.....working at a pizza place......the drivers pull in maybe 20/25. . . . it's always appreciated, but i dont' expect it...i get paid to serve the customers, that's my job description, i make 7.00 an hour(min is 6.75) so i geuss i should be thankful....that i even have a job. something i've noticed though, the more stuff someone orders, and the more i have to bring out to them the less they seem to tip.....😕 and actually yes, i do remember who tips alot, some of our regular customers happen to get discounts and such.....*whistle* they come in at least once a week, sometimes more for pizza.....*shrug* tip if you want, if not, don't....not sure when people started the tip thing...

 

[Zebo]

And I thought you said when did tiptoeing become a way of life. Sheez some pepole can't even express thier opinion without being called everyname in the book.

Don't tip if you don't like the service or leave just a buck they'll get the idea.. Service is bad because the wait staff has grown to expect it. (at least out west).

 

[ndee]

On ATOT, there are either Car, Girls, pro/con-Bush or Tipping Threads. Wondering why I subscribe.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: jfall
they are already making a killing off the food they are selling you.. so don't give me that. They would still be making a lot of money, I don't think they'd have to raise the prices. Listen, I don't have a problem with giving the people the money.. I just want to know how this came to be such a part of life.. like how were we all of a sudden expected to tip everyone that serves us something. I guess I shouldn't say all of a sudden.. because it has been going on for a long time.. but how was this all introduced. It's a business, they have to pay their employees for whatever they are working for.. how do they get away with paying them low wages and expecting the customer to pay the rest.. just doesn't make sense to me. And it just gets worse, now a tip is just expected.. your lucky to even get a thanks out of it.. and if it's not as much of a tip as the person was expecting.. then they turn mean pretty quickly.

The key phrase in this is "I don't think..."

Thats obvious.

 

[SoylentGreen]

Originally posted by: jfall
they are already making a killing off the food they are selling you.. so don't give me that. They would still be making a lot of money, I don't think they'd have to raise the prices. Listen, I don't have a problem with giving the people the money.. I just want to know how this came to be such a part of life.. like how were we all of a sudden expected to tip everyone that serves us something. I guess I shouldn't say all of a sudden.. because it has been going on for a long time.. but how was this all introduced. It's a business, they have to pay their employees for whatever they are working for.. how do they get away with paying them low wages and expecting the customer to pay the rest.. just doesn't make sense to me. And it just gets worse, now a tip is just expected.. your lucky to even get a thanks out of it.. and if it's not as much of a tip as the person was expecting.. then they turn mean pretty quickly.

Already obviously misinformed. A restaurants margin is already some of the lowest in retail. Be informed before spewing your diatribe all over the place.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Kiyup

Originally posted by: jfall
they are already making a killing off the food they are selling you.. so don't give me that. They would still be making a lot of money, I don't think they'd have to raise the prices. Listen, I don't have a problem with giving the people the money.. I just want to know how this came to be such a part of life.. like how were we all of a sudden expected to tip everyone that serves us something. I guess I shouldn't say all of a sudden.. because it has been going on for a long time.. but how was this all introduced. It's a business, they have to pay their employees for whatever they are working for.. how do they get away with paying them low wages and expecting the customer to pay the rest.. just doesn't make sense to me. And it just gets worse, now a tip is just expected.. your lucky to even get a thanks out of it.. and if it's not as much of a tip as the person was expecting.. then they turn mean pretty quickly.

Already obviously misinformed. A restaurants margin is already some of the lowest in retail. Be informed before spewing your diatribe all over the place.

Yes, and restaurants could get slammed even more. Florida is tying to pass a law where restaurants would be held liable if an employee didn't report all of the tips that they have earned to the IRS. Imagine the database that the Feds would require to track all of this information - Company x has 50 employees; 50 employees only report $20,000 in total tips for the year. The Feds look at the gross sales of the restaurant and determine that the tips, based on 15% of these sales should equal $150,000; the restaurant then gets slammed with a bill for $130,000 + fees + interest. Ouch! 🙁

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: stev0

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
not this again.

yea pretty much.

i thought of this again last night when i ordered up a college special (large (18") pan pizza for 9.95) from pizza patrol. the guy comes to the door, i give him a 10, he stares at me for a minuet, says thanks and walks away... what? is he not getting his paycheck? why should i have to pay their employee's? i don't get a tip when i fix computers at work, why should he, a pizza delivery person, get a tip for.. delivering pizzas? dosen't make sence.

resturants are a different story, i can understand a tip there... but for delivering a pizza? no.

Just so you know years ago when I hauled pizzas, There was a frat house and 3 others places that were known for not tipping.
All I am going to say is they got a extra topping on their pizzas everytime I hauled them. After I quit I found out other drivers were doing some stuff to there food also. So remember that the driver will also remember YOU and YOUR address 😉

Don't like tipping then Pick up your food from where ever and eat it at home. Problem solved, but you do lose out on some Free extra toppings

 

[NewSc2]

It's just a measure of rewarding. If your waitress took forever, forgot orders, didn't bring something, does she expect a large tip? No.

I usually tip 12-15% to regular waiters, up to 20-25% for good waiters, and you'll be lucky to hit the 10% mark if you're not a goot waiter. Pizza boys is just a buck or two, and that saved me the gas for going to the place, and everything else just saves a bit here and there.

If you're generous with your money, people will be nicer to you, not because you're giving them money, but also because it's an admirable quality.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: TranceNation

Originally posted by: SuperTool
A lot of places here, they bring you food, but then you have to go to the counter to pay. They get very little or no tip from me.

should still tip in that case. It's the restaurant process, not your waiter's fault.

Not my problem. I tip for service. If the restaurant is stopping the waiter from providing service, that's between them.

 

[huey1124]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: stev0

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
not this again.

yea pretty much.

i thought of this again last night when i ordered up a college special (large (18") pan pizza for 9.95) from pizza patrol. the guy comes to the door, i give him a 10, he stares at me for a minuet, says thanks and walks away... what? is he not getting his paycheck? why should i have to pay their employee's? i don't get a tip when i fix computers at work, why should he, a pizza delivery person, get a tip for.. delivering pizzas? dosen't make sence.

resturants are a different story, i can understand a tip there... but for delivering a pizza? no.

Just so you know years ago when I hauled pizzas, There was a frat house and 3 others places that were known for not tipping.
All I am going to say is they got a extra topping on their pizzas everytime I hauled them. After I quit I found out other drivers were doing some stuff to there food also. So remember that the driver will also remember YOU and YOUR address 😉

Don't like tipping then Pick up your food from where ever and eat it at home. Problem solved, but you do lose out on some Free extra toppings

hahahaha.... hey stev0, how did you like the extra cheese on your pizza?

Goddamit you cheapasses, if you hate tipping, DON'T EAT OUT. Stay at home and make your own fricking food, or buy a premade entree from your grocery store. You won't have to tip anyone that way.

You understand that whether or not you agree with the process of tipping, it's customary and expected, so if you don't believe in it expect to get treated rudely.
If it bothers you that much, move to europe where it's automatically added to part of the bill, or like I said, don't eat out.

Unlike a political agenda, people will NOT follow your lead and attempt to eliminate this practice from our society, so refusing to give gratuities will do nothing more than make you a jerk. If you blow $50 on a meal, I don't see why you wouldn't expect to give at least SOME compensation for the unfortunate soul who has to wait on your cheap ass hand and foot.

In several states servers get paid around $2 / hour -- not even minimum wage. You expect them to live on that?

while i do not agree with Amnesiac on a lot of the things he posts, i couldn't agree with him more on this. all you cheapasses do not know how tough it is for the waiters/waitresses to do the work they do. i never worked as a waiter, but i have worked at a restaurant as a cook while i was in high school. i've seen how they get so tired at the end of the night, often massaging the heels of their feet after a busy night. you expect them to make a living on $2/hour? you really must be stupid. jfall, God forbid you or any of your offsprings ever have to work as a waiter. i'm certain you'll do a 180 degree.
i always tip well. 15 to 25%, depending on level of service. if you don't want to tip, stay the hell away from restaurants. you're keeping waiters from providing great service to rest of us appreciative customers.

 

[huey1124]

and while on the subject, i hate cheap ass asians who leave little or no tip, even if there are like 10+ people in the party. i have a friend who used to work at a restaurant, and she said it has gotten so bad with asian customers that the waiters expect no tip from them when they're seated. i have received sub-par service from restaurants before, simply because i'm an asian. i still leave at least 15% tip, hoping my actions can change their thinking just a bit.

 

[Tominator]

Originally posted by: jfall
This really bothers me.. everyone is now expected to tip.. your paper boy, any waiter/waitress, bartender..when does it stop.. why are we paying a companies employees? The business owners get away with paying their employees very low wages because they expect the customer to tip a certian percentage. I don't mind tipping because I know that the person who is bringing me my food etc.. is just doing their job and they don't get much money from their employer.. but I just have a problem with the whole tipping thing on the business side of things.. I just don't like how business owners just expect all their customers to pay their employees.. it just doesn't seem right to me. And heaven forbid if you forget to leave a tip or don't tip enough, they'll bitch at ya for sure. What do you guys think?

From Tominator"s Wife....


"I'm a server at Steak n Shake and I agree that tipping is getting to be too much. I feel that if you choose this line of work, you should enjoy what you are doing! Which I do! Good service, friendliness and politness is just being respectful. And you are very correct when you say employers should pay their people a livable wage. Thanks, Teresa."

She should know! She makes a good living on tips I'm here to tell you! She gives the very best service she can and has a regular crowd that thinks the world of her. She does not do it for the money, she does it because that is what her customers deserve. They, intern, give her the tips she deserves, NOT what she expects!

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Tominator

Originally posted by: jfall
This really bothers me.. everyone is now expected to tip.. your paper boy, any waiter/waitress, bartender..when does it stop.. why are we paying a companies employees? The business owners get away with paying their employees very low wages because they expect the customer to tip a certian percentage. I don't mind tipping because I know that the person who is bringing me my food etc.. is just doing their job and they don't get much money from their employer.. but I just have a problem with the whole tipping thing on the business side of things.. I just don't like how business owners just expect all their customers to pay their employees.. it just doesn't seem right to me. And heaven forbid if you forget to leave a tip or don't tip enough, they'll bitch at ya for sure. What do you guys think?

From Tominator"s Wife....


"I'm a server at Steak n Shake and I agree that tipping is getting to be too much. I feel that if you choose this line of work, you should enjoy what you are doing! Which I do! Good service, friendliness and politness is just being respectful. And you are very correct when you say employers should pay their people a livable wage. Thanks, Teresa."

She should know! She makes a good living on tips I'm here to tell you! She gives the very best service she can and has a regular crowd that thinks the world of her. She does not do it for the money, she does it because that is what her customers deserve. They, intern, give her the tips she deserves, NOT what she expects!

As I customer I disagree with your wife. First off, WTH is a "living wage?" Secondly, I WANT the wait staff to be paid mainly through tips. Why? Because that makes ME their boss and they are accountable mainly to ME. What does that accomplish? Well, it insures my service wont be like that at McDonalds or Best Buy. Hourly employees with no opportunity for any real advancment are the least motivated folks out there. This is the very reason the commission and tipping system was developed.