Comments on: My two cents on tipping

By: george.w

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:36:16 +0000

Tipping places a terrible burden of records-keeping and taxation on the waitperson, while relieving the owner of many obligations. I’d love to see abolished and proper wages and benefits standardized.

But I tip anyway. When I am placed in charge of every aspect of our culture, I’ll fix the problem but until then both the waitperson and I are trapped in the system that exists.

By: Last Hussar

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:41:34 +0000

It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one. My wife tells me I’m mean. My counter-arguement is ‘Put it in the price, and pay the staff.’

Here in the UK I tip in restaurents depending purely on service. It isnt going to be masses, or an exact percentage (I tend to round the bill up, so if it is £37.90, I leave £40). If I take my wife out to a dinner, and spend say £100 (which I have done a couple of times) that is 2 days pay for me. Why would I give you £15-£20, probably 2 hours waiters wages for the 15 minutes you spent attending me?

It’s not just me- even some BBC reporters question it

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7927983.stm

By: Dana Hunter

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:44:09 +0000

I share your confusion regarding delivery, etc. And it’s annoying.

As far as ponying up 15% for lousy service – forget it. It’s all right to expect 15-20% for good to outstanding service (considering what these poor folks get paid), but bugger gratuities if someone can’t do their job. That’s really the only thing I like about tipping – the ability to refrain as an expression of displeasure.

By: Scepticon

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:01:37 +0000

As a resident of a country where tipping is not part of the culture (NZ), I find it quite intimidating when travelling and experience much of the anxiety that you describe, have I tipped too much ripping myself off or too little offending the person. I must say it is reasuring to see these thoughts reflected in you, and I agree with your sentiments 100%.
I’m usually glad to get home where no-one expects a tip. Although the mentality is starting to creep in at the edges which worries me.

By: Z

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:55:06 +0000

Mike: Ooh, the 1 penny thing is really clever. Clearly only for very extreme circumstances, but clever!

W.M. Irwin: Yeah, tip jars are often pretty ridiculous like that. Worth a try, I suppose, but comes off pretty desperate.

Reminds me, I’ve been to several places where I would normally never think of tipping anyone (fast food places and a bowling alley immediately come to mind, but I’m sure there are others) but where they print out receipts for you that have a blank line labeled “TIP.” It must be something in the equipment or the software putting that in by default, but I still wonder if I’m missing something when I draw a line across that blank and rewrite the subtotal as total.

By: W.M. Irwin

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:40:25 +0000

I go to my local Starbucks, where I must stand in line to give my order and pay for it. Then, I must stand around and wait for it. Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll find a table to sit down and drink it at. But they have two conspicuous containers marked “Tips” on each side of the register.

They have to be kidding. Now if they sat me down somewhere and took and served my order, then I surely would be glad to tip them. But nowadays it seems that people expect tips for nothing!

By: Mike at The Big Stick

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:35:53 +0000

I try to take into account what the problem is. If the food is bad I tell the server. If they try to fix the situation, i’m not going to punish them for the restaurant having a lousy chef in the kitchen. Likewise, if the food is slow a good server will still keep our drinks filled, offer an appetizer, give us updates, whatever. Basically, let us know they are on the ball and the kitchen is slow that night. Again, i’m not going to punish them for the problem.

Now the other night we were waiting and waiting for our food at a local restaurant but rather than seeing our waiter, he disappeared for awhile. I happened to catch a look at him coming out of the kitchen finally and he was chewing some food. He was probably back there eating dinner, which is a perk in restaurants, but he dropped the ball while doing it. We gave him 10%.

My grandfather gave 1 penny when the service was really bad because he said if he gave less than 15% they would think he was just cheap and if he left nothing they would think he forgot. The penny was his way of saying, “Your service sucked’. I only saw him do it a couple of times, but it was effective.