"non" tippers are a zero sum in society

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Freeloaders should be sent to Australia?
I'm freeloading from now on.

originally posted by: TNMockingbird
Freeloaders should be sent to Australia?

Yup. Enjoy the giant beers and grilled crustaceans.

I guess we're another pair in the sea of "over-tippers". We've never had any reason to refuse to tip. We operate by the motto of "Everyone else is a selfish, cheap, entitled prick, tip in abundance", too. I've never tipped any less than 15% of the bill personally -- I'm not psychic and cannot determine in absolutes whether or not someone is simply having a bad day or is a s#ty waiter/waitress. I will tip regardless.
My husband NEVER leaves less than a 20% tip on the table.
It's basic manners to show gratitude for being tended to where tipping is allowed in the establishment. If you cannot show gratitude for low-paid people being at your beck & call alongside god knows how many other self-centered people they're responsible for juggling at the same time, then go get your s# yourself, or don't eat out in the first place.

When we eat breakfast out at our favorite diner, we always, without fail, end up with the same waitress who remembers our preferred orders & personalization preferences to a T, no matter how long it's been between visits. She's a flawless waitress with an impeccable memory and perfect timing, and a perky, mood-boosting personality, we leave no less than a 30% tip every single time, with the occasional 50%. Our usual breakfast runs about $20 for the two of us, a $6-$10 tip is not that outrageous for a meal with excellent service. She deserves it because she goes well above & beyond for us.

The same goes for our mom & pop pizza place, we tip a flat 30%. They make us feel very welcome & at home while we wait if we order walk-in (playing tic-tac-toe with my kids while taking a phone order? Bonus points, you rock)
And they take their time on the phone if we call in no matter how rushed they are, and most importantly, the pies are utterly perfect, both in amount proportions and quality. This is the kind of neighborhood community oriented kind of business we need more of, and I'll tip higher than most to show just how appreciated their business, and they themselves, are around here.

Cheap non-tippers in America deserve to sit in the corner with dry Ramen noodles. You reap what you sow.

originally posted by: BELIEVERpriest
a reply to: tadaman

I've played the customer service game before, so I try to find a reason to give a baseline tip, but on rare occasion, I can't justify giving a tip. Personally, I try to avoid going to restaurants and such, as I feel completely humiliated being served by strangers. I guess its just something that you learn from personal experience in retail.

Yeah it's weird, I have this feeling to. After working in restaurants and other service jobs, it just somehow feels degrading to be served food by other people. I just get really uncomfortable about it.

originally posted by: Talorc

originally posted by: BELIEVERpriest
a reply to: tadaman

I've played the customer service game before, so I try to find a reason to give a baseline tip, but on rare occasion, I can't justify giving a tip. Personally, I try to avoid going to restaurants and such, as I feel completely humiliated being served by strangers. I guess its just something that you learn from personal experience in retail.

Yeah it's weird, I have this feeling to. After working in restaurants and other service jobs, it just somehow feels degrading to be served food by other people. I just get really uncomfortable about it.

It pays to really stick with the mom&pop/dive joints (or even some independent fancy places). I make a rule to not go to any place where the staff has to wear a uniform and look miserable. I like places where the staff is wearing interesting clothes and look like they're having fun. Nothing degrading about being served by somebody genuinely happy to be there.

originally posted by: Abysha

originally posted by: Vector99
a reply to: Abysha

So tips are obligatory?

why not just call them fees?

**Oh, to add, maybe all tipped employees should start claiming ALL of their income.

It's as obligatory as saying thank you when somebody feeds you in their home. Decent folks will do it, period. Like I said, it is a pretty accurate judgement of character that hasn't yet steered me wrong. And I most certainly won't involve myself in any professional way with people that don't tip. Almost always, bad tippers come with other traits that are impossible for me to work with.

I guess you don't associate with the poor or seniors who have limited $$.

originally posted by: TNMockingbird
It's a shame that here in the US, some places, don't pay enough base pay for someone to live in a non service industry much less the service industry. I think in Tennessee it's around 2.13-2.15/hr so of course I tip. I am honest enough to say that the amount certainly depends somewhat on the service but never below 15-20 %.
Of course I believe it's proper to tip the delivery person or hairdresser as well. I live in a small town though so I like being remembered and treated well and I like to think that my tip may have put them over the top of what they were expecting and can now get something or pay something that they may have been putting off or unable to.
After all, they are bringing my lazy butt food that I could've just made at home (not always I'm not that good of a cook!) and waiting on me, checking on me and helping to make sure that I am having a good experience while out so, the least that I can do, IMO, is tip them well.
Same at a bar or club although I don't go as often as I used to, I like my drinks the way that I like them and if you find a bartender who can do that consistently then it's worth paying for.

Tennessee 7.25 for 2018
www.laborlawcenter.com...

originally posted by: SeaWorthy

originally posted by: Abysha

originally posted by: Vector99
a reply to: Abysha

So tips are obligatory?

why not just call them fees?

**Oh, to add, maybe all tipped employees should start claiming ALL of their income.

It's as obligatory as saying thank you when somebody feeds you in their home. Decent folks will do it, period. Like I said, it is a pretty accurate judgement of character that hasn't yet steered me wrong. And I most certainly won't involve myself in any professional way with people that don't tip. Almost always, bad tippers come with other traits that are impossible for me to work with.

I guess you don't associate with the poor or seniors who have limited $$.

Yes, I do. And they tip.

originally posted by: SeaWorthy

originally posted by: TNMockingbird
It's a shame that here in the US, some places, don't pay enough base pay for someone to live in a non service industry much less the service industry. I think in Tennessee it's around 2.13-2.15/hr so of course I tip. I am honest enough to say that the amount certainly depends somewhat on the service but never below 15-20 %.
Of course I believe it's proper to tip the delivery person or hairdresser as well. I live in a small town though so I like being remembered and treated well and I like to think that my tip may have put them over the top of what they were expecting and can now get something or pay something that they may have been putting off or unable to.
After all, they are bringing my lazy butt food that I could've just made at home (not always I'm not that good of a cook!) and waiting on me, checking on me and helping to make sure that I am having a good experience while out so, the least that I can do, IMO, is tip them well.
Same at a bar or club although I don't go as often as I used to, I like my drinks the way that I like them and if you find a bartender who can do that consistently then it's worth paying for.

Tennessee 7.25 for 2018
www.laborlawcenter.com...

Not for tipped positions. That's what many of you aren't understanding. Employers can pay servers less than minimum wage in most states.

a reply to: SeaWorthy
But other members here are asserting that minimum wage law doesn't apply to servers who work in a tipped environment? I'm confused now.
EDIT
Just seen your reply above.
So is it any job which attracts tips? Servers, pizza delivery, taxi drivers, barbers, removal workers?
It just seems harsh on servers to me if a cab driver can get full minimum wage and tips on top?

a reply to: Abysha
What 'other traits' do bad tippers have in your opinion?

a reply to: Sheye

It’s when you know you’ve gone above and beyond to give excellent service, and they just don’t seem to care about the time or effort you put in, which stings.

The reason for this is they no longer feel it is appreciated but expected. The tips in many places go to be divided so a one on one gesture is not even being made by a large tip.
The .Gov and people who think this system is all ok are responsible for better workers not being treated better.

originally posted by: Abysha

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: Abysha
People who don't tip are near the lowest rung of society. Right next to people who litter.

Would it be wrong to toss non-tippers out like litter? Hmmmm.

Well everybody can "reserve the right to refuse service" but non-tippers are like house guests that pee the bed; you don't even find out until they are already leaving.

Servers don't own the Restaurant, you are lucky of course to have a job there with this type of attitude toward the customers.

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
a reply to: Abysha
What 'other traits' do bad tippers have in your opinion?

Projectile flatulence.

originally posted by: CornishCeltGuy
a reply to: SeaWorthy
But other members here are asserting that minimum wage law doesn't apply to servers who work in a tipped environment? I'm confused now.
EDIT
Just seen your reply above.
So is it any job which attracts tips? Servers, pizza delivery, taxi drivers, barbers, removal workers?
It just seems harsh on servers to me if a cab driver can get full minimum wage and tips on top?

www.dol.gov...
Purple - State requires employers to pay workers full state minimum wage before tips
State requires employers to pay tipped employees full state minimum wage before tips.

It depends on where you are but the whole thing is because of tips being required and not a true gratuity.
Our Restaurant paid double the min wage to start with raises.

a reply to: SeaWorthy

Ah thanks for that
I think the states not marked purple should be ashamed about how they treat tipped employees.

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
a reply to: Abysha
What 'other traits' do bad tippers have in your opinion?

Character normally falls into two ends of a spectrum. Bad character is doing harm to others because it doesn't affect yourself negatively (or even benefits you) while good character is doing something beneficial for others at the cost of inconveniencing yourself.

Tipping is considered "good character" since, the more you tip, the more inconvenient it is for you. And in America, not tipping at all harms the other person while you benefit (from having the server subsidize 10% of your meal with their taxes).

From my experience, people who fall into the bad character category in regards to tipping are normally very rude from the very beginning of the transaction, are often the neediest and most time-consuming, and will sometimes bicker over the check. And almost always, they drive nice cars.

Strangely enough, the best tippers are groups of men and smokers. If somebody steps out to smoke, I'm assuming they will tip well. Likewise when it's a bachelor party or just a "guys night" table filled with drinking.

originally posted by: Abysha
And in America, not tipping at all harms the other person while you benefit (from having the server subsidize 10% of your meal with their taxes).

But to be sure, we've now established not in all states yes? Some treat their employees with greater respect and financial reward than others.
EDIT
In states marked purple on the map it does no financial harm regarding the tax thing, so if I visited there would you still expect a 25%-30% tip as well? Seems to me servers are screwed over in the states that tax and pay low because tips fill the gap.

originally posted by: CornishCeltGuy

originally posted by: Abysha
And in America, not tipping at all harms the other person while you benefit (from having the server subsidize 10% of your meal with their taxes).

But to be sure, we've now established not in all states yes? Some treat their employees with greater respect and financial reward than others.

No, all states tax a server's sales and, with few exceptions, pay less than minimum wage.

a reply to: Abysha

Taxing tips and income is a different argument, it's why I give servers cash every time in their own hand.
Do you disagree with the info at the link another member posted:
www.dol.gov...