Tips? Why should I tip YOU?

I'm not sure WHEN tipping started, but the word "TIPS" is an acronym for "To Insure Prompt Service." I agree that counter help/fast-food servers don't really qualify. The only time I tip those folks is if they remember my order before I even say anything. They really have to go that extra mile to get anything out of me. At restaurants I tip at least 15% and try for 20% -- but again, the longer I wait, the lower the tip goes. I'm also a lot more critical of the service I get if it's an expensive restaurant. For the prices these places charge, I'd almost want the server to cut my meat up FOR me! LOL!! Just kidding! But really, the coffee and donut people aren't schlepping heavy trays, or running back and forth from the kitchen to serve me, so I don't feel beholden to leave any tip at all.

I think it's sort of rude of you to say, "given the lousy service most of them provide" I don't think most people working fast-food and retail give lousy service. Once in awhile they do, but I'd say most do the best they can. If you don't want to tip, then don't tip. I don't see anything wrong with them having a tip jar out. If the service is good, I might tip. When I worked at a gelato shop we had a tip jar and at the end of the day everyone would just split up the tips. Sometimes we got a lot, especially if we were busy, because people appreciated the service they got and wanted to do something nice for us. It's not like they are implying you have to tip.

I too have noticed the increase in tip jars everywhere, from the bowling alley to gas stations to just about everywhere else. I do not mind tipping people that actually provide quality service to me, my friends and family but not those who do not provide a service or provide poor service. There should be some kind of restrictions on these jars. There are also more jars these days for donations.

I'm with ya all the way on this one! I worked too hard for too many year as a server and bartender. When I see tip jars places where I know people are making $6 and $7 an hour it makes me so mad. Especially when all those people do is hand you your coffee and take your money. What kind of service is that to deserve a tip? Tips are made for people that provide you full service and good service. Like you said these people make well under minimum wage because they count on these tips as their main salary. And you are so right about people tipping less because of these tip jars. People think that just because the people that set out these tips jars and accept loose change as tips because they make more an hour that servers and bartenders make more and hour and will take loose change as tips as well. One of my biggest pet peeves is always leaving a good tip to servers and bartenders when I go out to eat. Not enough people know that they make a living off of their tips and work their butts off. I could rant and rave about bad tippers all day long so I'll shut up now lol.

I really hate tipping and tip jars. Because I know that servers make less than minimum wage, I always trip 15-20% for servers though unless the service is really terrible or it's a buffet restaurant. But there are many times when I encounter situations where I'm not sure if I should tip, or how much is expected and I really just wish that these people were not exempt from minimum wage laws. My least favorite is the grocery store on military bases (the commissary). Baggers at theses grocery stores work for tips, and help you load the groceries into the car. This is a service I don't need, and after buying a load of groceries I hate to tack a few more dollars on the bill to tip people for a service I don't need. I actually switched to buying at a grocery store where you bag your own groceries because the prices are so low and I don't have the stress of decided what to tip. As far as tip jars go, occasionally I'll drop my change in the jar. I strongly feel that no jobs should be exempt from minimum wage laws whether or not they get tips. Waitressing is a difficult job, and they deserve a decent wage plus tips, especially in places where there are expected to tip out servers assistants and hostesses.

normally i don't give tips because there is already service charge included in the bill but if i'm a regular in a particular place and the service is good i leave a little extra.

I understand exactly what you say here Sweets and although the system is different here in the uk I know where you are coming from! I will tip people if I feel they have tried hard and been pleasant and helpful! If you ever came intop the pub I work you would tip me - either cos you loved my attention, sense of humor and service or cos you would be scared not too! lol xxx

Wonderful topic you started :-) I am not a rich person or even well off, however my husband and I like to eat out on occassion and sometimes if we have the extra money, maybe more than the occassional time. I have tipped from nothing to near $30 for the 2 of us to eat out. If the service is good, we tip. If the service is beyond good, we tip more. If a waitress/waiter cannot even seem to fill drinks or do a little pre-bus on the table, then granted, they are getting nothing or very close to it. I used to tip just because it was the thing to do--it was customary. However as I got older, and got my own job waitressing and being tour guide, I realized just how hard you had to work for that tip and for that matter, you HAD to so you could off-set what you weren't getting in wages. Tour guides are the exception to the rule (or used to be) about minimum wage as well. I don't particularly care for seeing 'tip jars' at the counter of a Burger King (for example). Sorry...those cashiers provide minimal service at best and they are making a decent wage---$7 an hour compared to what a waitperson makes is a definite difference. I also don't like how some resteraunts are going to 'gratuity included' uuummmmm excuse me but I will tip if it is deserved. To me, if a tip is included, then many will not work as hard to provide good service. Lousy service equals no tip from me. Very seldom have I not tipped at all but there have been several where I haven't tipped much.

I don't mind tipping people that have gone out of their way to provide good service. I refuse to drop money into a tip jar for some yahoo that has poured a cup of coffee and handed it over the counter and I still have to put the condiments in it and put the lid on myself. No tip for them. I think everyone should be paid at least minimum wage and that tips should be for good service period. I am not the one who should be responsible for paying an employee, it is the employers responsibility. I work in the service industry and don't expect a tip when I provide lousy service.

To be honest, I feel that hairdressers and waitresses should be paid at least min. wage if not more! I have friends that waitress while trying to support a family single handedly. On some nights they bring home a decent amount of money. Other days, they work their little butts of and come home with next to nothing. It is not fair that the owners of these establishments are not required to pay fair wages just like everyone else! Yes, these people should be tipped even if they are earning fair wages. The good ones not only work very hard but they serve us with a smile and brighten our day. I have no problem throwing a small tip into a tip jar for an excellent waitress or other person that serves the public. What I don't like is having to pay their wages!! That should be the employers position...not mine! It is costly to eat out. We are paying the employer who should be paying his workers!

I work in the food service industry, however all tips we collect we put in the box for charity. I don't mind dropping a couple cents into a jar for someone who was exceptionally courteous or went out of their way for me. I don't usually leave a large tip, however I know how hard it is to deal with customers who are not very reasonable. Sometimes getting a little tip here or there can boost someones morale and improve their mood. It isn't a surefire way, and it usually isn't enough to buy anything, but if there is a little something I can do to improve someones day, why not try it.

I am a UK citizen but have lived in the states for a while and I have to say that I find your tipping culture in general totally alien to me although there is plenty of it in the UK itself it is not 'required' that you tip. For example everyone is entitled to the minimum wage so the things you talk about don't really apply to the UK but I do object to having to feel like I have to tip otherwise my waiter whether they be good or bad may starve! I personally believe that wholesale tipping is wrong and just means that the proprieter of the restaurant etc can give you waitresses/waiters a worse wage. If there was no tipping then the average wage for you guys would be better and that leaves the door open for reasonable tipping if the customer thinks that you've done an amazing job rather than almost a quarter of the bill so you can show them that they've done a better job than the average 10% tip. In Eastern Europe it is almost illegal to tip as they view it as a class thing....the customer thinks they are better than the waiter/ress if they think they can tip them. Just a few thoughts!

Well, a server gets paid less then minimum wage cause they expect them to be tipped.Anytime a person gives a server a tip is not throwing your money away, it is giving your part in the american dream. Its your choice if you give them a tip or not.But if someone goes out there way to make sure i am comfortable in their store or restaurant then it makes me feel welcomed and they deserve to be tipped. I find that when i tip a person or even give money to a homeless person, i feel like i am contributing to society and i feel good about it. You never know what a person needs are.there has been a time in my life when i wished i had a few dollars to buy something i needed like food or gas and i would be happy if someone helped me out cause that's what being human is about. So, i believe that when you give you will receive ten times that amount in return especially those who have little to give but because of their big heart they give anyway.