When you read a really great blog do you feel inspired to leave a tip? How 'bout if your checker at Albertsons does a fabulous job, do you tip? But if a server does a mediocre job do you still feel like you need to tip?
Last night I had a hot date with a beautiful woman and our waitress was tolerable at best (really a C- performance) but I still felt like I had to tip. Why is this? I did a quick survey with some of my friends and the resounding answer was Yes you have to tip. Odd, I thought. Servers accept the job knowing the wage. If the pay is too low they should negotiate it. Why should I be guilted in to leaving a substantial tip to cover the employee's inability to negotiate an appropriate pay? And why is it only expected to tip servers?
I can count on one hand the number of times I got a tip (thanks Brooke and Jason)- and I do important work- I mean come on, what is more tip worthy a great home loan (arguably the most important financial investment most people make) or the delivery person who brings out plate of spaghetti and random offerings of beverages? I mean come on, the server doesn't even cook it! Pssshhh.
I got to talking with some kids at the office and we decided it is more appropriate to tip for services that we couldn't / don't want to provide ourselves. Example-the doctor who delivered my babies-without them we would have been in a real rough spot... yet no tip. The guy who fixes our cars... or repairs my racing bike, again important work that I can't do, but no tip. However, the teenage gal who walks back and forth 30 feet to a kitchen... TIP.
Crazy, I tell you. My little brain just doesn't understand. What are your thoughts? Let's weigh in here. . . Tip or no tip- and when!?
Friday, May 4, 2007
To Tip or NOT to Tip...
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6 comments:
Tim, I totally agree with you. I don't get tipped working with Patients and providing them with beautiful feet or applying tapings. So Unless they are absolutely the great and on top of it. I'm like Shauna I round up. =)
Ok....So I'm quilty!! I need to take a lesson from Tim. I tip the waitress, my hairdresser, the maids in Mexico, the airport shuttle and probably many others just because.....hummm I do! You had a good point, I need to think again on my tipping...and the next time you pick me up at the airport I'll tip you a good one. Because that's one well worth it! Thanks for sharing!
hmmm... I don't tip anymore, I always used to tip like mom deb but no more. An occasional waitress will get a tip, why you ask I have no idea the norm I guess!
I NEED A TIP :) hehe I think I am a FAR toooo generous tipper....I tip the van drivers at the hotels (who sometimes load my lovely little rollerbag into the van for me), the servers, hairdressers, coffee shop people, and just about anyone else I run into it seems. However....as a flight attendant, I am not ALLOWED to accept tips (not that many people even try)! What gives? LOL! I too will be re-evaluating my tipping practices.....thanks Tim!!!! :)
So I am thinking there could be revolution in the way we think about tipping. If you think there is a person you would like to tip no matter the position or job they hold, than you should tip. Because your example will go so much further than words. No one should feel entitled to a tip but should strive to go the extra mile and set the example in the way they work and the way they tip and wait for the residuals of their example.
Tips at a restaurant are your ability to express YOUR opinion about the meal and the service (try that at your dentist's office.) People who take jobs for tips are paid a much lower wage and they usually have to work much harder than you or I to please the cheap arse public and make up the difference in tips. If you want to give up the priviledge to comment on the service or the meal the restaurant will simply add 15% to everything on the menu and pay their staff a "standard" wage. If you think you get bad service sometimes now... just think about a waitress who doesn't give a rip how you feel about your service or the meal. It's simple, if the service or meal was lousy YOU get to express yourself (5-10%.. they get the idea.) If it was pretty good 15%. If it was outstanding... you decide. We had a great brunch the other morning in a small eatery in Olympia. The waitress was cheerful and happy. She made suggestions. She let us add and change things on the menu. She was fun and cheerful and she brightened our whole day. She made sure we were happy from beginning to end. She got a 30%+ tip... and I was happy to give it... she made the meal very pleasant. Everytime you got to the restaurant some poor waitress or waiter is trying to make you and you spouse and your whining, food throwing kids as happy as they can, so maybe you'll think they were wonderful and give them a good tip. They are trying to make each individual at your table happy and another 4-5 tables as well. Additionally, they don't keep the whole tip for those of you doing the math. They have to share it with the bus boys, the hostesses and the cooks! They have to put up with your indecision about the menu, explaining the size of each steak, providing you with the extras you just have to have (could I have a side of ranch with that?...etc.) She trys to get the whole party the food at the same time, while it is still warm and tasty. If their feet are any indication, they are some of the hardest working people on the planet. If you're not working for tips your base pay is way higher than those who do. Look, it's simple. If you don't want to tip the waitress, stay home and prepare your own meal and clean up the kitchen when you're done. If you don't want to tip the bell boy, or driver, carry your own bags; if you don't want to tip your hairdresser, cut and curl your own mop. When you go to Mexico, make your own bed and clean your own room (but be prepared for that pic on your camera with your toothbrush up some maid's arse when you check your camera at home.) But if you're gunna use these services be kind to those who cheerfully provide them expecting a tip. Think about it. When is the last time some salaried sales clerk growled at you? When is the last time someone working for tips didn't smile and turn on the charm and provide a relatively good service for you, hoping for a good tip. I think if more service business allowed tipping you would see more employees busting their humps to make you happy. Try standing around Verizon for an afternoon with your phone problem. Or try telling your attorney he's not worth $300 an hour sitting in his car in the driveway. Let's face it, $$$ is a motivator and if there are discreationary $$ people will try harder. So, if you don't want to tip, don't ask for service where it is expected. And don't skimp on tipping to save money, it makes you look like a cheap arse and it reflects badly on me!
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