Counter service tip jars - tip or not?

[Patiod]

I'm a good tipper - overtip at breakfast, 18% for sit-down (20% if service is good), tip the hotel maid $2 a day even if I have to go to the front desk and change a $20 to do it.

But I won't put money in counter-top tip jars. My S.O. thinks I'm cheap.

What's next? Tip jars at Macy's?

What do you guys think?

[alarimer]

1. They have these sometimes at Subway

I think the workers there make considerably more per hour than waitstaff so I don't tip.

[pintobean]

2. Only at an open bar.

[MidwestMomma]

3. I think those jars are more for the regular customers

My daughter worked at Einstein Brothers and it was more of friendly gesture from people who came in regularly and liked the service they got.

I mean, if you're going to Einstein Brothers it probably doesn't make that big of deal in your service or food if you put money in the tip jar or not. And the servers do make at least minimum wage. But like I said, I think it's more of friendly gesture from the people who are regular customers.

And it's not like they're going to spit in your food if you don't put a buck in the jar. But they might give you extra froth on your cappiciono if you do. :)

[Scout1071]

4. No. Those jars piss me off. I'm supposed to tip you for ringing up my

sandwich? F*** OFF. I don't get a tip jar on my desk for doing the job I'm paid to do.

[mark414]

5. mr. pink? is that you?

[Scout1071]

7. What can I say? I just think it's a bit out of control. What exactly has

the cashier or sandwich maker done to deserve a tip? Rung up a sale correctly or made a sandwich correctly? That's doing their job.

I almost always tip 20-25% to servers, but these tip jars are outta control.

[Misunderestimator]

9. It's your choice to leave a tip, so really it's not "out of control"

Personally... I know that the people serving me do not make much money... a bit of change doesn't hurt me one bit, and hopefully helps them.

[driver8]

25. I've got four words for them: "Learn to fuckin' type." n/t

[Misunderestimator]

6. Yes I always make a point to leave a tip in the jar.

Not as much as 20%, because the service is not for a long period of time, but because I know that the people working there do not make much money.

[flamingyouth]

8. I always leave a tip in one

It's not an easy job, waiting on the public.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. What about buffets?

Where the wait staff just brings you a drink? I don't think they deserve 20% but I have friends who disagree.

[Misunderestimator]

11. If I am in a restaurant, be it a buffet or not, I always tip 20% or more..

unless the service is lousy. I know that these people work fucking hard in a job that I wouldn't want. What's it to me to drop a few bucks when I'm being given a service? Should I NOT pay for it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. I usually tip at least 20%

I worked as a waitress when I was in college. So I agree it is hard work.

But just bringing me a drink isn't worth 20%, IMO.

[Misunderestimator]

16. I agree... there's some latitude in situations like that... where you

get your own food... they do have to clean up after you and serve you drinks, so it's really up to the service you get. I wouldn't tip as much in that situation as in a traditional restaurant.

[driver8]

26. I don't think they deserve 20%...

but I usually leave something. If not for the wait staff than for the guys (and girls) that clean up the tables. They bust their asses at buffets.

[petronius]

32. 7%?

I've heard that the 'rule' for buffet-style restaurants is 7%, which sounds a bit low to me. I've really only been to one buffet-type place in the last decade, and it seemed to be very small-kid-oriented (we also had a spazzy/messy toddler in our party). Based on the mess and stress due to that, I tipped at my normal level, even though it was just drinks being delivered...

[mark414]

12. yer cheap

what's a handful of change or a spare buck to someone who obviously isn't making shit?

hell i make shit, i work one of those service jobs and i still always throw at least something in

[Shananigans]

37. That's a little harsh!

Just because someone doesn't throw change in a tip jar doesn't mean that they are cheap. I waitressed for years and always had a varying degree of tips. Being "cheap" wasn't always the reason for the bad ones. Sometimes people don't have the money, others just don't understand the concept of tipping.

On the other hand, I rarely ever put money in countertop tip jars. I think they it is outrageous and tacky to "ask" for or expect a tip from a customer. Can you imagine people's reactions if I carried around a tip jar to all of my tables? Seriously...

As a server, you work your ass off running back and forth making sure that people have perfect service. As a McDonald's cashier all you do is take my money. You don't deserve a tip. In my opinion, it is these tip jars that make tipping an act that is looked down upon in all situations.

Just my two cents..

[Dastard Stepchild]

13. I'll toss in a buck if I have a spare...

If I don't have any spare dollars, I don't sweat it. But, if I have a dollar bill, I'll throw it in there. Mostly at the places where I plan to be quasi-regular. I think it sets a good tone for my future visits. Not mandatory to do so, mind you... just a personal preference.

[Acryliccalico]

14. Tip the person not the jar

I recomend tipping the person that has waited on you and not the jar. You can never be sure of where the money in the jar will go. IMHO :kick:

[Scout1071]

18. I'll agree with that.

I definitely tip the person if I feel I'm getting great service, be it a tip jar or not. Having said that, I don't feel the need to tip every time I see a tip jar. Sorry, call me cheap all you want to, but I work hard for my money too and I'm not in the habit of giving it away just because somebody scribbled the words "tip jar" on an old mayo container.

If it is a place I frequent often or received exceptional service, I will throw a couple of bucks in. But I don't feel obligated to do it every time I see one.

That's all. Didn't mean to imply that I never contribute.

[Patiod]

39. I think you've nailed it`

If someone at a counter is particularly helpful, I'll just hand them a tip. And I do tip my regular guy at the local non-Starbucks coffee joint because he gets me my expresso in a china cup, God bless him. But a tip for ringing up my order steams me.

I've noticed that when my S.O. drops money in the tip jars, it's usually when there are cute young college girls scooping water ice or serving coffee.

[lapislzi]

17. Depends on the service provided

If they're just ringing up a purchase, no. But the guy at the smoothie place often makes me a salad to order, so I think he deserves something for that.

Attitude also counts. On the infrequent occasions that I visit Starbucks, the staff is so surly you couldn't pay me to put a crowbar in my change purse to tip them. I don't care if they picked the damn beans and roasted them themselves. There is no excuse for condescension. Sorry I don't know my lattes from my ventes. That's YOUR job.

(End of Starbucks rant)

[amazona]

19. they're a tax on naivete

Counter personnel make minimum wage or more, but people who don't know that they aren't grossly underpaid like real waiters will drop in some money, so I can't blame them for trying. It is ugly to see the hustle expanding into more and more reaches of life though.

The worst begging jar I've encountered in recent weeks was at the doctor's office asking for money for one of the nurses who had some health problem. Now think about this. She is a nurse. She has health insurance -- something I didn't have for 15 (!) years. And while she was working, she was making in the area of $12-20 an hour. So, er, yeah, she has a jar out begging money from sick people such as moi with my huge annual income in the high four figures? I don't think so.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Misunderestimator]

20. It's optional... so I guess it's up to the individual...

for me, I welcome the opportunity to help out a little for someone making minimum wage. Receiving minimum wage IS being grossly underpaid.

Obviously, the tip jar in the doctor's office is tremendously out of place.... and almost unethical to expect patients to contribute (though not for fellow employees).

[sandnsea]

21. What's their pay?

In my state, wait staff has to be paid minimum wage which is $7.00 an hour here. In alot of states, they don't. So I guess if I knew they were getting paid $2.00 an hour, I'd tip them. Anybody know?

[WindRavenX]

22. of course

Even if it's merely punching keys, dealing with the public is worth a tip on its own- I am sometimes appalled at how people treat food service people. And would it KILL you to say "please" or "I would like" instead of *demanding*?
Sorry, after working at Burger King, my campus dining hall, I have realized that people are really unnecessarily rude and cruel to people in the food industry.

[DainBramaged]

23. It's the state of the economy forcing this tidal change

If the place is owned by a family or they don't hire locals and they have a tip jar, pound salt. Example, the 7-11 near me is simply a turnstile for Pakastani's who are the rudest people I've ever met, but the Subway next door hires kids from the high school.

Guess who gets a tip when I go in?

[Misunderestimator]

24. Are you making a blanket statement against Pakistanis like it sounds...

or just those you have met at that 7-11?

(On edit... I've met rude Pakistanis, and rude Canadians, and rude Germans, and EXTREMELY rude white Americans. I wouldn't generalize and put one group in the "rudest people I know" category though.)

[DainBramaged]

27. Let's review, should I tip the kids, or rude ass people at the 7-11

who are the rudest Paki's I've ever met.

Since you've decided to disect it, decide for your self. The locals come first.

[Misunderestimator]

31. The "locals?" Now you change it from "Paki's" being the rudest people you

know to those people being the "rudest Paki's" you've ever met. That reads a bit differently, just so you know. But the "locals" thing brings it right back in focus. :eyes:

[DainBramaged]

36. Do you go to my 7-11?

If you did, you'd never see a local of any other race working there, so quit breaking my balls. As a matter of fact, is that OK with you? The local white, Asian, Central American, South American, French, German, Slavic, CITIZEN has never worked there, and in my small blue collar mostly Liberal town, it doesn't sit well but it's the ONLY place like it. That OK with you? Is it OK with you that the money they make leaves the country? Is it OK with you that we can't go there and do the same, but our jobs are outsourced to them. Ask AOL, AT&T, Microsoft and Dell where their help desk jobs have gone. Thanks to the Thuglies, they're gone, and we can't even get our kids jobs at the 7-11. And where do many of those trained folks work now? Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Best Buy, with never a chance of affording their own franchise like a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts.

You're so race sensitive that you think it's OK to sacrifice the well being of our own citizens of all races just to justify your sensitivity. When my kid can't get a job at a local business because she isn't their race, that's reverse discrimination. Is that OK with you too? They don't participate in my community,I won't participate in enriching them further.

I'm done here today.

[Misunderestimator]

38. You are SO not getting my point. It was YOUR wording, not mine.

You made a statement that was racist.

And YES it is OK with me that immigrants in this country can open their own businesses... equal opportunity, the american dream and all. If those particular people are rude, fine... don't tip them or don't go there. But coming here and saying that Pakistani's are the rudest people you know and that your children can't find jobs because of them is racist and xenophobic.

Though outsourcing has nothing to do with a small proprietorship in the United States, you talk about outsourcing as if it is the individuals from those countries at fault. It is our own government's fault that we've outsourced so many jobs, not theirs.

[driver8]

29. Extremely Rude White Americans??

How can that be? We are perfect!

Seriously, I have seen some people in restaurants, etc...that I just want to smack upside the head and tell them what an asshole they are being. Why do people think they can be rude to other people just because they are serving them food??

[DainBramaged]

30. It goes both ways

http://www.badtipper.com/index.html

http://www.bitterwaitress.com/index.html

[mac56]

28. Did you mean that the way it came out?

What if the high school kid working at Subway is Pakistani?

[Pithlet]

33. I usually put my coin change in.

A little more if I made a special request, or the helped me out in some other way. I actually appreciate not having to carry more change around.

[MirrorAshes]

34. I'll throw a buck in the jar if service was friendly.

I know you may not think those jobs are hard, but putting a few extra dollars in your pocket at the end of the night can really turn your day around. Having worked in food&bev has definately given me a whole new outlook on it all.

[sendero]

35. It totally depends..

... in general I agree with you, yet there are a couple instances where I tip anyway.

It all comes down to this: if I feel like I'm getting a good deal or great service from people who are probably not getting paid well to provide it, I'll tip.