Do you tip?

I always tip very well, waiters, skycaps, delivery guys, hairdressers, etc. I almost always get good service wherever I go, even if I haven't been to that place before. I think it's good to be generous and pay it forward in life. It makes the service person's life so much better, and there really is a wonderful joy in being generous and making someone's life easier. It's good karma. We can be cheerful, loving and generous in life, or grumpy, mean and stingy - it's in our power to choose which way to go.
 
Waterlily,
I think it's time to take a step back.

The poster who suggested you might be a troll just out to stir trouble is entitled to her opinion, too - just like you are. It's certainly not any more "ludicrous" for her to share her opinion than it is for you to share yours. If you are going to post your thoughts on an open forum, perhaps you should be prepared for every kind of answer. The fact that nearly every single person who responded *does* tip - whether or not they think it is their "responsibility" - should indicate to you that your opinion, in this case, is *not* the norm. You asked for it, and you got it.
 
I know that it is their opinion and I am not bashing anyone for their viewpoint. What I am really upset about is the postings that are just downright nasty. I don't beat up on anyone for their point of view and I don't think I should be.

What really irritated me is the poster/s who think that beause I voice an opinion I am stirring up trouble? That sinply is not the case. In my opinion, I just started an innocent post asking for the input of others. I didn't ask to be mistreated or "outed".

I also am very upset and that's why I posted in the open discussion. Too often people ask simple questions and then get turned on because others have different perspectives. Maybe my mind is pure, but when someone asks a question, I don't immediately think that someone is out to cause trouble. This forum is international with persons with different backgrounds and nationalities all bound together by Cathe. Cultures clash and opinions differ. If that's the case, why all the "outing" because of differences.
 
To all of us reading these threads...

It is like Deja Vu....all these "hot" threads play out in such a predictable manner, it is actually funny to watch the whole thing digress. Don'tcha agree?? LOL... Yet we all still seem to snatch up the bait....(rolling eyes)

Tip. Don't tip. Who cares? }( }( }( :9 :p :* ;-)
 
Geesh, you go away from the forums to watch a movie and enjoy a quiet Sunday evening and so much goes on:)

Seriously though, Waterlily, I was the "original" poster who you seem to have such a vehement reaction towards---saia11---my name's Mattea---and I was not attempting to "out" you as a troll and it was not my intention to be judgemental of the viewpoint expressed in your original post--although it was not my viewpoint. Nor was I simply trying to imply that your posts are only there to stir up trouble. As you say:

"What really irritated me is the poster/s who think that beause I voice an opinion I am stirring up trouble? That sinply is not the case. In my opinion, I just started an innocent post asking for the input of others. I didn't ask to be mistreated or 'outed'."

My intention was to offer to you and others the suggestion that this was a controversial topic, as quite a number of your other posts have been, and that, whether or not *you* meant them to be so inflammatory, by now you should have realized that they were going to have this effect (as your "humorous" disclaimers demonstrated you were aware). As well as to let others know that this has been a trend with your posts in the past, and as such, they might want to take a step back and evaluate the bigger picture before responding.

I'm sorry that you were upset by this, but I also felt badly for those that found this topic to be very personal. It was not my intention to offend you or to "out" you, but to let people know more about where they were directing their energy and to hopefully help us to put this current disagreement in perspective. The world is so much bigger than this I hate to see the good ladies on this board fall into dissention again and again over what someone offers as a harmless remark.


Peace,
Mattea
 
I would tip even if the service is bad since I know it is part of their paycheck.

If a non-tipped employee is rude to me they still get paid and I have the option of discussing it with the manager. The same is true with a tipped employee, I would leave them the "correct" amount (15% no extra) and have the option of discussing it with the manager, although like Jeanne Marie I have never been treated badly by a waiter or waitress.
 
>I know that it is their opinion and I am not bashing anyone
>for their viewpoint. What I am really upset about is the
>postings that are just downright nasty. I don't beat up on
>anyone for their point of view and I don't think I should be.
>
>What really irritated me is the poster/s who think that beause
>I voice an opinion I am stirring up trouble? That sinply is
>not the case. In my opinion, I just started an innocent post
>asking for the input of others. I didn't ask to be mistreated
>or "outed".
>
>I also am very upset and that's why I posted in the open
>discussion. Too often people ask simple questions and then get
>turned on because others have different perspectives. Maybe my
>mind is pure, but when someone asks a question, I don't
>immediately think that someone is out to cause trouble. This
>forum is international with persons with different backgrounds
>and nationalities all bound together by Cathe. Cultures clash
>and opinions differ. If that's the case, why all the "outing"
>because of differences.

I don't think I have ever posted to any of your other threads before so I won't speak to those. My advice moving forward to you--even though you didn't ask for it--is maybe you should consider how you phrase these topics. If you really wanted to understand tipping in this culture, I would say:

"I live in ________. In my country we don't tip for these services. Everyone in the US seems to tip and I don't understand it. Can someone please explain this to me."

I think if you had said something like this instead of 'tipping is ridiculous." You would have had a much different response. JMO
 
>Regarding the idea that you shouldn't have to tip if the
>service is bad... I have to ask.. where are people eating
>where they get bad service? I can't ever remember getting bad
>service.

JeanneMarie- I just recalled a time that my DH and I were out eating at a rather nice restaurant. Our waitress was HORRIBLE!!! She forgot our drink orders, then, when we reminded her, she argued with us just what the drink orders were! DH and I looked at each other and knew that it wasn't going to be a good experience when the manager of the restaurant visited the table next to ours (her table also) before their drink orders were even delivered!!! When DH got his meal, it was cold and when he informed her of it, she responded, "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" Okay, WRONG ANSWER!! As a nurse, I have to excell in customer service and I where I was trained, you didn't argue with the customer (I was a waitress as well in college) when they had a complaint, you apologized and said, "I will take care of." That cured us of eating at that restaurant for a long time! About 6 months later, we decided to take another stab at the place and had a GREAT time. We had casually mentioned the previous experience and that this server had MORE than made up for it! We were shocked that the manager visited us this time (she hadn't when we were having the issues!!!) and the dessert was even taken off our tab!!
 
Well said Jennifer.

How a post is taken can change ALOT just because of how you phrase a question that you ask or a statement that you make.:)
 
Elainee
Thank you!!!!!

I am a waitress.. I make $3.27 an hour There are some days i do wonderful in tips and i might make 100 a day then there are days when i make 35 a day without the tips i would have made nothing though
We are taxed on our tips as well,
I understand there are those who say if we work we should be paid by the employer But thats not the case. So if you want that changed, you will have to find a higher court.
When you go into a restaurant, you are seated according to rotation, so that the server gets a fair share of tables to work on.
If you take her table and sit for anywhere from half hour to 2 hours depending on the restaurant and the meal, and then leave without tipping she has lost a large percentage of her salary for the day.

Please, keep in mind, The server did not decide the system, it was determined long before she became a server.

I remember my son, when he was a YOUNG teenager, he and a few of his buddies used to wake early on a Sat morning and walk 2 miles to a local diner. (we lived upstate rural NY) After eating the kids would either not tip or leave maybe a nickel... Laughing My son, would say
Hey! Come on, you got good service, cough it up. My mom raised us on tips and this lady might be raising her kids on tips.....
Cute
 
I would disagree with you. Many of the people I tip do not earn a minimum wage, thus they accept tips. I do not find 20% of the bill a tough thing to come up with, although we rarely eat out.

After closely looking at this thread, I know regret posting anything at all. But I decided to add that I tip based on the service as well. I just don't throw out a tip on the table willy nilly. :)
 
I don't tip just because it's the socially accepted thing to do. I tip comensurate to the service I receive!

I think that if people choose to work in the service industry knowing they are going to make squat, that's their choice. I would not use that as a reason to tip! Tipping just because a person doesn't make money where they are working is not logical to me.

That's JMHO :)
 
I also do not tip just because it is the socially accepted thing to do. If the service is bad - no tip. If the service is good - tip. It is just that simple. I don't reward bad behaviour with my children and definitely will not do it with a stranger. What kind of example would I be setting for my children, if after bad/rude, etc. service I went ahead and rewarded that kind of service?

For example: I went out to a particular restaurant with my family which I have been too many times. We ordered and then when the food came - they did not deliver my daughter's food. After about 5 minutes of waiting, I had to go searching for the waitress and ask where the food was.. She forgot and eventually she brought it. While I was in the middle of my food (half a plate still left), literally with fork to mouth - as the waitress walked by, she swooped my plate up and continued to the kitchen.. I shouted - HEY, I am not finished with that!!! She brought it back. It is funny now to think about it but not at the time..lol There were other instances with the waitress, eg. no ketchup, not around to refill drinks, etc. but the outcome.. No Tip.

I believe that when the government set the minimum wage and the taxing on waitress, etc. they took in to consideration, great tips, good tips, small tips and no tips. I chose my profession and waitresses, etc. chose their profession knowing full well that there will be great tips, good tips, small tips and no tips.

This is just my opinion and MY way of life.
 
I ALWAYS tip - and the 15% tip is the minimum I will tip. 15% is just "meeting expectations". If I feel they exceeded expectations I will do 20% - 25%. They work hard for their money. They don't typically get annual raises for performance -- their performance based pay is their tip.

If I cannot afford to tip then I eat at home. It is part of the price of eating out in America.

I also tip my hairdresser and nail tech. I tip taxi drivers. If someone does yard work for me and they do a great job I will tip them as well. I don't do it because it is socially accepted -- I do it because I feel the person doing the work deserves it. I don't feel anyone should work their butt of for $3.27 / hour.

Monica
 
I would also like to add -- I know for a fact that some of the places I frequent remember that I tip well and that I receive better service because of it. Especially at bars -- there is one bar I go to occasionally where I sometimes tip 50%. My drinks are never watered down and I always get fast and friendly service. They are happy to work hard for you when they know it is appreciated. I agree with the other poster -- if you don't tip I hope that you are not going back twice.

Monica
 
I don't frequent bars and don't eat out a lot so not tipping is not an issue for me. But, if I did go out and receive lousy service, no tip and a note as to why is in order.

I tip my nail person and hair person at least 25% because they always do a fabulous job.
 
Also bear in mind many people who work in the service industry don't necessarily do it by choice. I waitressed during college to pay my way thru school. I also drove a beverage cart on a golf course (not complaining here--it was one of the funnest jobs I ever had!) over the summer so I COULD pay expenses during school.

So please don't assume people are waitressing or whatever by choice.

Anyway, I had some very unpleasant experiences being "stiffed" by customers b/c they were angry at one thing or another that I couldn't control. For example, I once had a group come in & buy lemonade by the glass but wanted to be charged the pitcher rate. I told them I'd be happy to charge them that rate if they BOUGHT A PITCHER!!!!! They refused & after about 30 glasses of lemonade left a 75 cents tip. Ridiculous, no?

In any case, I don't tip over 20%. 20% is my standard if the service is good. It goes down bit by bit as the quality of service deteriorates. But I don't believe I've ever not left a tip.
 
Well, by the posts here it looks like some people don't tip, some people have a standard tip and others tip a lot. So, it appears that it all averages out in the end! :)

We all have out tipping philosophies. I never worked in the service industry so I don't feel the same empathy as some others. I was, however, married to a man for several years that only worked when it was convenient so tipping was a luxury I did not feel compelled to undertake. And, I recognize that it was my choice to marry him. I take full responsibility for that stupid decision :)
 
>
>"I agree with the other poster --
>if you don't tip I hope that you are not going back twice."
>
>Monica


If a waitress, etc. did not receive a tip for whatever reason and the person did return to the Restaurant, what kinds of things would/could happen?
 

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