Another reason why I only tip waitstaff

[Akasa]

This thread at Customers Suck is a prime example of why I only tip waitstaff:

http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...ad.php?t=80474

You go get coffee at coffee shop, something is wrong with coffee but you already tipped. They don't want to fix it. You can't take back your tip out of the tip jar without looking like a complete and total ass. Hell they may call the police on you for stealing. You're stuck with coffee that tastes like ass, and pissed that you paid for and that you tipped.

[lupo pazzesco]

Yeah, I've refrained from commenting on that thread. >.>

However, when/if I go to coffee places, my pattern is to order drink and pay, wait for drink, try drink, THEN tip (I always make sure I have cash on me when I plan to go to coffee places for just such reasons)

I've had issues in the past with similar staff, and I calmly point out that if I ordered Drink A, with Exception B, then I clearly WANT drink A with exception B. End of story. And if someone called me an idiot? well, clearly ONE of us is an idiot, and it's not the chick on the other side of the counter, may I have your corporate number, as well as your boss' number, please?

Guh, assholes run amok. Hate it.

[Hyena Dandy]

I tip everyone, on the basis of the idea that, well, they probably could use the money. But I only tip AFTER I eat/drink at least a bit. I mean, you don't tip a waiter the moment they bring out the meal.

[Andara Bledin]

I throw change in my local Subway's tip jar when I have any on me. But only because their service has been so unfailingly awesome that even if they might have messed something up this time, there have been a dozen where the didn't that I didn't have change to throw in.

^-.-^

[Rageaholic]

Yeah, I never use tip jars (unless I just want to drop a quarter in), especially since I don't know who that money is going to. At least when I tip at restaurants, I know the money is going to the server.

[Akasa]

Yeah, I never use tip jars (unless I just want to drop a quarter in), especially since I don't know who that money is going to. At least when I tip at restaurants, I know the money is going to the server.

Another reason I don't use tip jars. You don't know who's getting the money. How many people are splitting it, when it gets split, etc. Does it get split at the end of the day or at the end of each shift? Suppose you tip a dollar for good service and then some really sucky people come on shift and nobody tips, that effects the tip of the person that you tipped if its split at the end of the day.

[AdminAssistant]

How many people are splitting it, when it gets split, etc. Does it get split at the end of the day or at the end of each shift?

That also happens at restaurants. Sometimes tips are divided among waiters, hosts, and busboys.

[Akasa]

That I can see. The bus boys make sure your tables are cleaned in a timely manner, the hosts seat you as quickly as possible and are hopefully polite and friendly. I don't mind them getting a percentage.

[Gravekeeper]

That also happens at restaurants. Sometimes tips are divided among waiters, hosts, and busboys.

Yeah, when I was a bus boy the wait staff would split some of their tips with me. Which was quite nice of them. I don't think they were required too, they just thought it was fair.

But yeah, I never use tip jars.

[jackfaire]

I have often heard been told, "you should tip your newspaper/mail/ delivery of anything person every Christmas and Thanksgiving"

Uhm except most of those people like the Postal worker for example makes twice the amount of money I do. So your saying I should take money that could be going towards the little bit of fun I can afford and giving it to the guy who lives in a better neighborhood than I do in a house he owns with a two car garage?

My tipping policy is simple if you make about the same amount as me sure I will tip but if your income is twice my annual income then thanks buddy but no money for you.


Question though how do you handle tipping when you pay at the register?

Often times I don't have small change to tip with so I pay and then leave the tip with some or all of the change. Sometimes though you have to go to the register to tip. In these cases there doesn't seem to be a "section" for each waitress so much as whoever has a moment will take your order and someone else deliver the food and they keep trading off. Then the table is bussed by the time your done paying and if there is no tip jar you end up feeling like an ass not knowing who or how to tip.

Suggestions?

[blas87]

I don't tip anyone but servers, delivery folk, hairdressers, and bartenders.

Quite frankly, those stupid tip jars at Subway, Cold Stone, Starbucks wherever, are presumptuous and rude. You don't deserve tips if you make a standard hourly wage and are not considered a tipped profession. Put that stupid jar away and quit begging.

[Greenday]

It's funny, when I used to do concession, people used to berate me every so often for having a tip jar. All these claims that I make so much more money than waitstaff who make less than minimum wage. Etc. etc.

I worked for less than minimum wage because I received tips. After taxes I made $37.50 a day, regardless of however many hours I worked (Somewhere between 7-9 hours a day).

[Racket_Man]

Another reason I don't use tip jars. You don't know who's getting the money. How many people are splitting it, when it gets split, etc. Does it get split at the end of the day or at the end of each shift? Suppose you tip a dollar for good service and then some really sucky people come on shift and nobody tips, that effects the tip of the person that you tipped if its split at the end of the day.

I don't tip anyone but servers, delivery folk, hairdressers, and bartenders.

Quite frankly, those stupid tip jars at Subway, Cold Stone, Starbucks wherever, are presumptuous and rude. You don't deserve tips if you make a standard hourly wage and are not considered a tipped profession. Put that stupid jar away and quit begging.

^^^ both of these.

the current problem is is that "tipping" is being "forced" or guilted upon the customer by more and more employees/companies/managers/whoever who just a few years ago were just considered regular workers. most of those tip jars are at establishments that DO PAY at least minimum wage BUT (and this is a big BUT) by Federal Labor LAWs if you make more than $30 a month (or maybe a 4 week period) in tips, those TIPS MUST be reported as taxable income irreguardless if you are paid tipped wages or not. yeah I have a very long bridge over a big wide bay to sell you if people ACTUALLY DO report that income.

what pisses me off the most is that I am watched like a hawk when claiming my tips. if the IRS feels I did not report enough tips they can alien probe me and fine me and charge me interest and tack on penelties (and add more interest to boot) and and cost me vast amounts of my own money to defend myself and there is little I can do.

such was the case of a Seattle hairstylist 2 years ago. now a hairstylist is, in some instances, considered a tipped profession. single mom with 2 kids living with her parents.

http://www.newworldorderreport.com/N...tle-money.aspx

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Tax/w...ory?id=9270893

in short the IRS claims she claimed too little income for the city she was living in. it cost her over $10,000 to defend herself and she STILL had to pay $1600 (down from $16,000) in back taxes, interest, and penelties AND she could not continue to LEGALLY claim her children as dependants nor could her parents (and the parents were alien probed as well) claim them either.

for the reasons Blas stated above I hate those jars esp since I am a tipped employee making sub-sub-minimum wage (not quite server minimum but right above it esp since most of my expenses come out of my own pocket/income).

most of those jars just water down what a tip is supposed to be by just being so prominante these days. it seems everyone has their hand out for a "tip" these days.

YEAH FREEEEEEE MONEY

[blas87]

I know it's not a popular opinion, but I'm willing to take that risk. It makes me almost upset when I see people making at least minimum wage with a stupid jar by the cash register that says "Tips" or "Tips Please". There's even one at the GYM at the smoothie bar.

It's like, so let me get this straight.....you want me to pay you an extra dollar or so, for doing your JOB? Your job that you already make at least standard wage for? NO. I'm already paying $6 for a smoothie, $5.28 for a sandwich at Subway, $4.something for a frappuccino at Starfucks. Absolutely not.

That argument is different when going out to eat at, say, Applebees. If you want to dismiss tipping because of prices or your own financial woes, eat at home. But I feel that in fast food or take out, you should not feel guilted into tipping.

[Andara Bledin]

Have any of you considered that they have a jar there because they don't have any other way to accept tips that some people actually want to give them?

If you don't want to give them anything extra, just don't give it.

Although, anyone who puts up a "tips please" sign for a fully-paid job has crossed the line.

^-.-^