Stop Tipping

[COcheesehead]

Maybe the service and information you offer to the clientele in general has no particular value to them in particular.

Obviously, but keep in mind, what I offer is asked for by the customer.

 

[tulak]

It literally takes seconds. Less than the time to write it on a receipt and sign your name.

I edited my last post, but we crossed post so I’ll add it here instead:

“Edit to add: it might not sound that way from my responses, but I tip more often than not and since the pandemic, have been more generous. It’s not uncommon for me to tip 20% or more, especially at family run businesses or where there’s actually service. But if you’re bagging a pastry for me and prompting me for a big tip, then I’ll pass.”

It’s an annoyance. As I said, I tip generously when some sort of service is provided, but this jump in percentages for minimal services rendered is annoying. What irks me more is that most people won’t click the other options, so businesses get validation by specifying high default amounts.

 

[Chuckanut]

I guess I should add that I do tip when going to traditional tipped services such as restaurants and my barber. And I was more generous with many for a while since I know people in that industry who suffered. But, we are returning to normal. Over tipping my barber (say 35% instead of 20) is not normal. Besides the price of a haircut went up $4. So no, I no longer over tip. But, I still recognize that I live in a higher COL area and I can't expect a barista or restaurant server to make a descent living on just their hourly wage.

In regards to the establishments that recently handed me a pastry item over the counter and asked for a tip, I probably won't go there very often any more. And if I do I will stuff a buck in the tip jar, maybe.

I simply resent feeling pressured.

 

[pacergal]

Feeling pressured---that's what I don't like either, and we almost always tip! But I want it to be my choice, not theirs. And I don't want the folks behind me to see what I do on that big bright screen!
I know I shouldn't care, but i do.

 

[dmpi]

It is now getting more common in the Seattle area to have the restaurant make an out right claim that they pay well with benefits and add a mandatory 20% service fee. It takes all the fun out of tipping. Last time this happened I felt sorry they limited their tip by doing this, but it was stated up front.

However, I recently found it even worse. Daniels Broiler in Bellevue clearly stated this "we pay them well" claim and stated that they have included a 20% service fee which they keep. I even took a picture of the menu to share with folks how they clearly state it is included. So my wife and I went there for dinner and of course their menu is way overpriced, more so than pre-covid. A Wagu 8 ounce fillet was $180, but included a spud. The drinks were $18 to open. So I figured since the 20% was included it was at least no more.

Well as Gomer would say, su..prize su..prize, the bill came and they added the 11% sales tax, and then topped it all off with a 20% on top of everything including 20% on the tax. Needless to say, I was p#$$@* off and called over the manager. Nope they would not acknowledge the word "included" and said that is what we owed, period. We will not be going back, we have had Michelin star meals for far less and this was more like Outback standards.

BTW, we paid over $300 and only ordered one steak dinner and one beet salad with two overpriced drinks. We split the meal and walked out totally upset paying way too much for the food, drinks AND extra 20% for service.

We always tip 20% or more for good service. In this case the service was mediocre, they could care less they are paid very well AND get extra tip no matter what they do.

Man. That is just wrong. The wording on the menu is ambiguous and it should be reworded to clearly state that a 20% fee will be charged on top of your order and the 20% on top of the 11% sales tax (which is a joke all by itself) is also wrong.

For us we're done with the 'high end' restaurant nonsense. We only eat out at the casinos and a set of hole-in-the-wall strip mall places where we have a friendly relationship with the owners. We always tip well (in cash) because we want to, not because we're made to feel guilty or pressured.

 

[Music Lover]

I work part time, 4-5 days a month at a winery tasting room. We use Square, but there are other similar systems that people reference in this thread.
We average about 12% in tips on average bills of about $90. I get to keep 97% of the credit card tips. I work my butt off, on my feet running from table to table, pouring and explaining wines for 7 hours. Offering local dining tips, hiking options, answer real estate questions, winemaking questions, etc.
I can tell you 98% of the people tip. A few tip a lot, $50 -$100, some leave nothing. Everybody gets the same service, but every once in awhile I am tempted to ask the non tippers why, but I just move on.

So, you're averaging almost $11 in tips from 98% of your customers and you're annoyed about the non-tippers? If you're "running your butt off" for 7 hours, it sounds like you're making $100 or $200 per shift in tips.

Perhaps I'm out of line, but you sound greedy and entitled.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

I work part time, 4-5 days a month at a winery tasting room. We use Square, but there are other similar systems that people reference in this thread.
We average about 12% in tips on average bills of about $90. I get to keep 97% of the credit card tips. I work my butt off, on my feet running from table to table, pouring and explaining wines for 7 hours. Offering local dining tips, hiking options, answer real estate questions, winemaking questions, etc.
I can tell you 98% of the people tip. A few tip a lot, $50 -$100, some leave nothing. Everybody gets the same service, but every once in awhile I am tempted to ask the non tippers why, but I just move on.

Are you making an hourly wage as well or existing only on tips?

I'm fine with tipping for good service when I get it but I don't feel obligated to tip especially when that monster tablet gets handed to me with 20% Tip selected when I simply walked into the business and placed a to go order. Even Drive Thru's now think it's acceptable to put a tip jar outside, it's so irritating.
In my younger days, I was a waitress in a bar and considered tips an unexpected bonus but never ever did I feel that anyone was obligated to tip me. After all I was being paid to do the job.

 

[tmm99]

Man. That is just wrong. The wording on the menu is ambiguous and it should be reworded to clearly state that a 20% fee will be charged on top of your order and the 20% on top of the 11% sales tax (which is a joke all by itself) is also wrong.

.

I have to agree. I think it's Yelp/Google-review worthy so other people will be forewarned.

 

[Happyras]

I have to agree. I think it's Yelp/Google-review worthy so other people will be forewarned.

I agree, but have to be careful how to show this. I have heard of folks posting bad reviews and getting into legal battles for posting what they believe to be true.

 

[tmm99]

I do Chinese takeouts from a small family restaurant. The place gives their customers discounts on their bills if they pay using their debit cards, so I pay using my debit card. (Example - $38 with VISA vs $33 with debit) And debit transactions don't make you go through any tip options! So one way to avoid paying tips may be to use your debit card. I don't know if it will work for you the same way it worked for me, but it's worth a try. I actually forgot to tip them the first time because of it. The second time, I just told them to add so many extra dollars to my bill and they charged me that much.

 

[tmm99]

I agree, but have to be careful how to show this. I have heard of folks posting bad reviews and getting into legal battles for posting what they believe to be true.

Maybe you can state what their policies were when you visited the place without giving any personal opinions. I've done that in the past. I dropped off my cardigan and they told me how much, but they tacked on some extra $ for removing some lint balls from my cardigan without my consent. That's a fact. How I felt about what they did is just my opinion.

 

[tmm99]

I would not want to see a tip option if someone just bagged me a donut (although I wouldn't mind it if it had a 0% tip option)... A friend of mine got tired of giving his change when he went to Starbucks (He did go at least twice a day) and he switched it to the phone app and no more issues... (Maybe they now have tip options for that too, I don't know.)

 

[GenXguy]

I always accepted the whole tipping practice when dining out at a restaurant where waiting staff takes care of you, but then the 15% normal tip suddenly became an expected 20%, regardless of service. Then it moved to bars, to deliveries, to haircuts, to doughnut shops, etc. Everyone seems to expect a big tip for anything they do that is part of their job when it involves the public. I went to a dispensary for the first time recently in looking for something to help with my insomnia, and even they have a tip jar out there, and you're already paying $30 for a candy bar plus 35% tax on top of that. Craziness.

 

[COcheesehead]

So, you're averaging almost $11 in tips from 98% of your customers and you're annoyed about the non-tippers? If you're "running your butt off" for 7 hours, it sounds like you're making $100 or $200 per shift in tips.

Perhaps I'm out of line, but you sound greedy and entitled.

Judge much? Comments like this are way out of line here.

 

[COcheesehead]

Are you making an hourly wage as well or existing only on tips?

I'm fine with tipping for good service when I get it but I don't feel obligated to tip especially when that monster tablet gets handed to me with 20% Tip selected when I simply walked into the business and placed a to go order. Even Drive Thru's now think it's acceptable to put a tip jar outside, it's so irritating.
In my younger days, I was a waitress in a bar and considered tips an unexpected bonus but never ever did I feel that anyone was obligated to tip me. After all I was being paid to do the job.

I get paid a small wage, below market for restaurant/bar workers.

I think folks misunderstand my post. I am not expecting 100% of the people to tip me. I look more at myself and wonder what I did wrong to the 2% that don’t. It’s more directed at me more than them.

 

[Alan]

Thanks for the interesting discussion.