Tipping Etiquette

Miller wrote:

Region Philbis wrote:
i would rather tip for take-out than give it to a homeless person sitting on the sidewalk with hand out-stretched...

Not me! I'd help the homeless person first. Isn't he a child of God?

Isn't the person working in the take-out place?

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The take out person is just putting your food in a bag and taking your money. But they're working for minimum wage, so I guess you could reward them for actually working, although why anyone should be rewarded for working (by a stranger) is beyond me.

In BC in the 80's several mental facilities (as they were then known) closed down and hundreds of mentally ill people found themselves on the street. They are the one group I donate to so if the homeless person was a mentally ill person, I'd give to them.

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That was an observation of both people being God's children Mame....I think we're past the specifics of take-out.

You ask "Why should I"? Well, no one has to give you a reason. Do it or not...it's up to you.

everyone has their own set of priorities.

Back to the homeless...I struggle with that...so many people standing there with signs...who's really in need, and who is just looking to buy a six pack.

that's a hard one for me.

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"Why would I" was rhetorical, Chai... wasn't it obvious?

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Mame wrote:

If people want to serve, that's their choice, but I don't think they should be rewarded for doing their job.

Nobody tips me.

Bravo!

I might add, meter readers aren't tipped either. Laughing

I always provided on time and accurate billing, too. :wink:

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Mame wrote:

Reyn: I was just on the Employment Standards website the other day due to a question about the Remembrance Day being a statutory holiday and it said $8.50 - knock me over with a feather - who knew? (Not that we pay minimum wage in our company anyway, but...)

Hey, thanks for that.

I'm going to be looking for a part time job soon. So, $8.50 sounds better than $8.00! Laughing

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Mame wrote:

"Why would I" was rhetorical, Chai... wasn't it obvious?

Actually no, it wasn't obvious at all.

I thought the idea of sharing why some tip, or not in various situations, and how others relate to that, was one of the more important themes of this thread.

Some of the things said so far have made me think a little more deeply as to why I do, or don't do something, possibly/probably to the point of changing my mind.

To ask a rhetorical question is quite simply, just voicing your opinion with no interest as to why others do what they do. Conversely, if you say you're waiting for someone to say something that might change your opinion, then you're question wasn't rhetorical

We've all gotten your message here mame....you don't tip...let's move forward....please.

and upon moving forward, I'm not going to address any more comments of this vein, as you're just being argumentative. It takes two, so, sorry, you're left by yourself.

finis

Walter, I have a question for you...In Europe when they add a gratuity onto the check, what % is it normally?
Taking into consideration that part of it is also going to the people in the back, is it a little bit higher percentage?

Yeah...I'll bet they love seeing Americans come in who don't know this Laughing

As a matter of fact, I've been caught, or almost caught in that situation. When dining with a large group, like a dozen or more, quite a few restaurants here will automatically add of a 15% gratuity. You've really got to remember to look at your bill for that.

Yeah, I bet waiters really get shafted on a large group sometimes. Especially when everyone is chipping in themselves. Makes me remember that thread of material girls where she didn't drink or order anything extravegant, was the others split up the bill as if she was drinking along with them. If someone feels they're being shorted, they might tend to undertip the waiter to make up for it.

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Tai Chi wrote:

I understand what Mame is saying about the disconnect between restaurant servers and other minimum wage earners but I do see a difference. Some minimum wage earners provide a personal service.

I don't buy that argument. A job is a job.

If such and such customer wanted to do something at Christmas time (or whatever) that may be more appropriate.

Otherwise.....nada from me.....

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jpinMilwaukee wrote:

Walter Hinteler wrote:
Well, you see, I - as a customer - don't pay their wages, that's what their employer does.

Sure you do... just not directly.

Yeah, but then you could apply that to any retail situation, right?

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Reyn, I agree - a job is a job. Good luck with the job hunt!

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So Mame, whadya spend my $20 on ?

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here's a 'tipping tip' :
when we came to canada in the mid-fifties , it was the custom to leave a small tip for the diswasher in addition to the tip for the wait-people .
the custom was to put a minimum of a nickel (if you just ordered a cup of coffee) on the saucer/under the cup .
the waitress/waiter would always make sure that this tip would go to the dishwasher .
sometime during the last fifty years that custom seems to have died out .

we don't eat out very often , but when we do , we meke sure that we leave a decent tip - usually between 17 and 20 % - if there is waiter service ; at a buffett we usually give at least 10 % .
in germany we usually 'round up' - if the check is EURO 45 , i would give the waiter EURO 50 and say that no change is required .
before we went to italy about ten years ago , i read that if eating in one of those little restaurants where one picks up the food at the counter and eats along the wall perched on a stool , giving a tip when ordering would bring good service . that sure worked ! i'd put down the equivalent of a dollar when pointing at the food ... and presto ! always good and friendly service (and usually the LARGEST slice of pizza would be on my plate ) Very Happy

.
hbg

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Reyn wrote:

jpinMilwaukee wrote:
Walter Hinteler wrote:
Well, you see, I - as a customer - don't pay their wages, that's what their employer does.

Sure you do... just not directly.

Yeah, but then you could apply that to any retail situation, right?

No you couldn't and here is why. Normal retail staff get paid, at least, minimum wage (often times more). Most servers are paid under minimum wage and make most of their living off of tips. Not tipping a retail person does not affect their pay in the negative. Not tipping a server who makes a living off of tips, is seriously affecting their livelihood. I understand that there may be some cultural/regional differences in pay and tipping procedure, but anyone in the US that does not tip a server is a cheap bastard... plain and simple.

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Counter server/service?

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What?

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you're are correct sir....and I hate farging cheap bastards.

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I don't normally tip for take out is what I meant by "counter" service. Anytime I sit down and am served I tip, whether sitting at a "counter" or at a table. I usually tip less for alcohol/bar than for food, simply for the reason that they charge too f--king much for booze.

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jpinMilwaukee wrote:

No you couldn't and here is why. Normal retail staff get paid, at least, minimum wage (often times more). Most servers are paid under minimum wage and make most of their living off of tips. Not tipping a retail person does not affect their pay in the negative. Not tipping a server who makes a living off of tips, is seriously affecting their livelihood. I understand that there may be some cultural/regional differences in pay and tipping procedure, but anyone in the US that does not tip a server is a cheap bastard... plain and simple.

That's why I focused on the situation in Europe; here, in most countries I am aware of at least, waiters get normal, regular wages. (The service charge on the bill might be part of it - depends on the tariff.)

That's why e.g. tips in Germany are not taxed.

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cjhsa wrote:

I don't normally tip for take out is what I meant by "counter" service. Anytime I sit down and am served I tip, whether sitting at a "counter" or at a table. I usually tip less for alcohol/bar than for food, simply for the reason that they charge too f--king much for booze.

Well, I suppose, 'counter swervice' is a self-service at a counter, buffet-style, very popular in Europe. (You just have waitresses/waiters - sometimes - who take the dirty dishes away.)

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cjhsa wrote:

I don't normally tip for take out is what I meant by "counter" service. Anytime I sit down and am served I tip, whether sitting at a "counter" or at a table. I usually tip less for alcohol/bar than for food, simply for the reason that they charge too f--king much for booze.

yeah that is basically how I do it too. Anytime i sit down and someone waits on me I tip.

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Tipping Etiquette

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