Tipping Getting Out of Control

[Mike in Horseheads]

1 minute ago, Gugny said:

 

Are you saying that you don't tip bartenders when you get drinks?

Why in the world am I going to tip a guy for opening a beer? If they expect it then just give me the bottle to open

[Gugny]

1 minute ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Why in the world am I going to tip a guy for opening a beer? If they expect it then just give me the bottle to open

 

Now you're just being silly.  And if you go to bars, you've probably gotten more than you bargained for without even knowing it!

[716er]

If you can afford to go out you can afford to tip.

 

20% no matter how crappy the service

 

20% no matter how good the service

 

Makes life easy.

[Mike in Horseheads]

3 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

Now you're just being silly.  And if you go to bars, you've probably gotten more than you bargained for without even knowing it!

Whatever Mr Money bags

[716er]

8 minutes ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Why in the world am I going to tip a guy for opening a beer? If they expect it then just give me the bottle to open

 

You're also tipping the bar back who cleans up after you. And the door guy who let you in. And the cleaner who mopped up Karen's vomit.

 

Maybe even the owner too if he's a scumbag.

[Logic]

Mike in Horseheads sounding like Dwight Schrute up in here.

[Augie]

38 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

Are you saying that you don't tip bartenders when you get drinks?

 

My nephew’s wife was a bartender at a high end place in Manhattan forever. Expensive drinks!  Even she says a dollar is plenty for opening a beer for you. That’s less than 15% in many cases, but she asks “how much is that really worth?” Fair question, and I like her attitude. I usually start a tab and then aim for 20% at the end. Everybody was making plenty of money. In fact, she had discretion to give away up to like $500/shift. Family basically drank free, and everybody was cool with that. 

 

NOW, to talk about tipping being out of control - forget semi-fast food joints. Our ELECTRICIAN has the tipping options show up when he comes to the house. (We moved recently, and he practically lived with us for a couple weeks. The first couple times I actually went for it out of habit. I was an idiot! If you hand me a bill for $1,200 worth of electrical work, I think you’ve been paid already, but I admit the first few times I hit 15% or 20%. For an electrician! What’s next???

[ExiledInIllinois]

6 hours ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

it’s easy. 
 

just don’t tip anyone 

It's easy... Because like the Mexican place we went to on Tuesday, they just add 18% gratuity...

 

...NOW, do you add more? When you get the check... They ask if you wanna add: 3%, 5%, 10%, or customize more... 

 

...WWGD (WhatWouldGugnyDo)?

 

[One time I screwed up and forgot they added 18%... I added 20%... LoL... For a whopping 38% gratuity!]

[ExiledInIllinois]

3 hours ago, Augie said:

 

My nephew’s wife was a bartender at a high end place in Manhattan forever. Expensive drinks!  Even she says a dollar is plenty for opening a beer for you. That’s less than 15% in many cases, but she asks “how much is that really worth?” Fair question, and I like her attitude. I usually start a tab and then aim for 20% at the end. Everybody was making plenty of money. In fact, she had discretion to give away up to like $500/shift. Family basically drank free, and everybody was cool with that. 

 

NOW, to talk about tipping being out of control - forget semi-fast food joints. Our ELECTRICIAN has the tipping options show up when he comes to the house. (We moved recently, and he practically lived with us for a couple weeks. The first couple times I actually went for it out of habit. I was an idiot! If you hand me a bill for $1,200 worth of electrical work, I think you’ve been paid already, but I admit the first few times I hit 15% or 20%. For an electrician! What’s next???

In New Jersey, then yes... Isn't tipping the culture there?

 

Can you do yourself $1200 worth of of electrical work?

 

 

 

 

...If the answer is no, then how can you say what it's worth? They have training to pay for, insurance, tools, etc... It's a skilled trade. 

[The Dean]

I'm shocked by some of the posts in this thread.  I assume some here are just being sarcastic or breaking stones. It's hard to believe some are so oblivious to the established culture.

 

Unfortunately in the USA restaurant employees are not regularly paid even close to minimum wage. The reason is they are exempt is because tipping is assumed and expected. Many bartenders don't even get a salary. Some get "shift pay"---maybe $50 for a 6-8 hour shift. The price of your food/drinks reflect the fact that the employees are expected to be compensated primarily by tips. If the employees were paid appropriately, the price of your beer/drink/food would be much more expensive.d So, no, the bartender "doesn't deserve" a $1 tip for opening your beer. She/he deserves it for actually being behind the bar to you the beer. Because otherwise he/she is working for free, basically.  So, if you are in a place where they bartender/server comes to you tipping is required, IMO. If you can't afford to tip, don't go to that place.  15% is sort of a minimal level for average service. But I can't remember leaving less than a 20-25% tip, as I tend to get pretty darn good service. (One reason is I'm known for tipping well.)  But at a bar I'd say $1 per drink is a good MINIMAL level.   Basically, if you don't tip your server or bartender, you are SCUM. Plain and simple. Just garbage.

 

Now for takeout and counter service, obviously it's a bit different. If the person is a dedicated take-out person, chances are they aren't being paid minimum wage either. But many are.  Still, "minimum wage"?  Really. Do you want a minimum wage employee, with no prospect of enhancing their income via a tip, serving you your food? Don't think for even one second after repeated visits, they don't realize you are a stiff. I prefer my food without boogers and spit, thank you. A couple of bucks isn't going to kill you, and it will likely help not on the employee, but your experience going forward.

 

When in doubt, follow this advice:  Tip EVERYONE. OVERTIP EVERYONE.

 

 

[Augie]

3 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

In New Jersey, then yes... Isn't tipping the culture there?

 

Can you do yourself $1200 worth of of electrical work?

 

 

 

 

...If the answer is no, then how can you say what it's worth? They have training to pay for, insurance, tools, etc... It's a skilled trade. 

 

They DID get paid……about $1,200 on any given day. I could have had any number of qualified people at that rate. I don’t see why I should pay some guy $250 above what I already paid him, just to do what he did over the course of a few hours. I thought the tip alone should have covered what he did! 

[The Dean]

7 hours ago, Augie said:

 

NOW, to talk about tipping being out of control - forget semi-fast food joints. Our ELECTRICIAN has the tipping options show up when he comes to the house. (We moved recently, and he practically lived with us for a couple weeks. The first couple times I actually went for it out of habit. I was an idiot! If you hand me a bill for $1,200 worth of electrical work, I think you’ve been paid already, but I admit the first few times I hit 15% or 20%. For an electrician! What’s next???

 

 

IMO in this case, your electrician is a beggar. I find that repulsive, to be honest.

 

Not I have plenty of clients to pay me more than I charge (I charge way too little for what I do). But I make it clear to them, I'm only charging them a certain amount. If they insist I take extra, I take it. But I'd never suggest or try to force it. Wow. That kind of thing is shocking to me.

[Gugny]

12 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

It's easy... Because like the Mexican place we went to on Tuesday, they just add 18% gratuity...

 

...NOW, do you add more? When you get the check... They ask if you wanna add: 3%, 5%, 10%, or customize more... 

 

...WWGD (WhatWouldGugnyDo)?

 

[One time I screwed up and forgot they added 18%... I added 20%... LoL... For a whopping 38% gratuity!]

 

If I know about the automatic 18%, I'm not opposed to adding to it to make it above 20%.

 

I did, however, have this sprung on me once and it pissed me off.  I told the waiter to let his boss know that their little trickery/*****ery cost him money because we would have tipped more than 18%.  But I left it there.  This was many years ago.  I still kind of regret it to this day.  But not much.

 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Just now, Gugny said:

 

If I know about the automatic 18%, I'm not opposed to adding to it to make it above 20%.

 

I did, however, have this sprung on me once and it pissed me off.  I told the waiter to let his boss know that their little trickery/*****ery cost him money because we would have tipped more than 18%.  But I left it there.  This was many years ago.  I still kind of regret it to this day.  But not much.

 

Yeah... They have the policy plastered all over the doors, hostess station, menu, etc... Hard to miss... But I did! 😆 Totally forgot. 

I understand why they do it... Probably get horrible tips or no tips at all.  Some customers are bruuuutal. 

[Golden*Wheels]

On 10/14/2019 at 12:27 PM, teef said:

pull a harvey weinstein and show up to the door wearing nothing but a robe with the front untied.

In college my friends had a big box of porno VHS and they would offer tapes to the D.P. Dough delivery drivers as tips. I think they only got took up on it a few times...but was always the same guy who would take them. XD

 

We also had a friend who was very...proud of himself, let's say...and would be letting something JUST hang out of his shorts to see if he could make the guy uncomfortable.

 

Totally aside, I have a very wealthy family member...he overtips to ridiculous degrees just to see the look on people's faces. He thinks it's great but it gets kind of old.

[GoBills808]

20 hours ago, 716er said:

If you can afford to go out you can afford to tip.

 

20% no matter how crappy the service

 

20% no matter how good the service

 

Makes life easy.

25%

[Draconator]

Often my band has a lower set fee, and a tip jar while we are playing. So like if we are being paid $300 by a bar, we'll put out a tip jar. On the gigs we're paid $600, the tip jar stays home. 

[The Dean]

2 hours ago, Golden*Wheels said:

In college my friends had a big box of porno VHS and they would offer tapes to the D.P. Dough delivery drivers as tips. I think they only got took up on it a few times...but was always the same guy who would take them. XD

 

We also had a friend who was very...proud of himself, let's say...and would be letting something JUST hang out of his shorts to see if he could make the guy uncomfortable.

 

Totally aside, I have a very wealthy family member...he overtips to ridiculous degrees just to see the look on people's faces. He thinks it's great but it gets kind of old.

 

 

It makes sense a person working for a place named "DP Dough" would take the porn. BTW, does their pizza have two dill doughs?

 

I also know a few huge overtippers. With most it is actually embarrassing.  But a couple people pull it off successfully.  But yes, it can get old

[Gugny]

2 hours ago, Draconator said:

Often my band has a lower set fee, and a tip jar while we are playing. So like if we are being paid $300 by a bar, we'll put out a tip jar. On the gigs we're paid $600, the tip jar stays home. 

 

When my band first started, we played our first gig at my cousin's bar (actually opened by my great uncle in 1929) and the agreement was we'd get a minimum of $100, but if the bar did well, we'd get more.  Plus we drank (a lot) all night for free.

 

Fast forward a few years and we were pretty highly in demand and making decent money.

 

Once/year, we'd play my cousin's bar out of appreciation for him letting us cut our teeth.  And we kept the same agreement in place.

 

[TBBills]

When I used to go to bars if I knew I was getting ***** faced i would tip in the beginning of the night. It would allow me to open up a $500 tab but since I tipped $200 I would get more than that in drinks. I would also always get served first no matter how many people were there.

 

I also need to tip a respectable amount b.c I just self consciously feel uncomfortable if I don't.