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Too much tipping! |
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Vote!
RantRank: 132 - I guess so (62 votes)
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Submitted by bobblehead
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I love tipping for great service. It's really a good feeling, if I feel that the person in question really went above and beyond the call of duty and deserves an extra "thanks."
However, I hate having to tip for any other reason. Especially when it's one of those tips that you are expected to give someone just for getting out of bed that day and doing their job.
A few examples off the top of my head:
* Restaurants. Generally, the idea that a 15% minimum tip is a de facto requirement at a restaurant seems totally backwards to me. Of course, I tip, and I tip quite generously when deserved, because I know that servers rely on it for their income. But it is a sucky system. And the blame for this one lies squarely on the shoulders of management. After all, they are the ones who are ...
I love tipping for great service. It's really a good feeling, if I
feel that the person in question really went above and beyond the call
of duty and deserves an extra "thanks."
However, I hate having to tip for any other reason. Especially when
it's one of those tips that you are expected to give someone just for
getting out of bed that day and doing their job.
A few examples off the top of my head:
* Restaurants. Generally, the idea that a 15% minimum tip
is a de facto requirement at a restaurant seems totally backwards to
me. Of course, I tip, and I tip quite generously when deserved,
because I know that servers rely on it for their income. But it is a
sucky system. And the blame for this one lies squarely on the
shoulders of management. After all, they are the ones who are really
benefitting from my tip, because it serves as justification for their
paying their waitstaff well below minimum wage... while they pocket
the difference.
* Bartenders. If you make me a great Mohito or something, some
sort of drink that requires a modicum of skill to produce, then you
probably deserve a tip, and you will get one from me. But tipping the
barkeep a buck for opening a bottle of beer, or even pouring me a beer,
is really ludicrous. Unless this beer has some sort of magical powers,
it's just a beer, and that extremely basic level of service simply
doesn't warrant one of my hard-earned dollars. But, alas, I usually
end up tipping anyways; see above...
* Valet service. This one really bugs me for some reason. I
think it's because there's really no way to distinguish between normal
and great service here... Just get me my car. If it's in the same
condition as it was when I gave it to you, then you've done your job at
the minimum expected level, as you are paid to.. Why does that deserve
an additional gratuity? Is it a "thanks for not wrecking my car" tip?
I just don't get it.
* You are expected to tip the doorman at the hotel when he
hails you a cab. Just for standing on the curb and sticking his arm
out, you are expected to fork over a George Washington. I can see this
one evoking some controversy... But just let me hail the cab myself,
thanks.
* While we're on the subject of hotels, I read recently that you are supposed to tip the housekeepers.
Why? Does the hotel not pay them? Who on earth comes up with these
rules?? Again, if they do something exceptional, I'll tip them. But
for normal, typical service, no.
I'd love to live in a world where tipping is never required, but is a
gesture that you can show when someone really does something
exceptional for you. Otherwise, what does a tip do other than garner
resentment from customers who feel like they're getting stiffed
everytime they turn around?
Readers have left 6 comments.  1. TimGood rant... I think the key is in where the blame lies here (ie, usually not with the service people themselves). Don't stop tipping waitstaff, for instance. They really do rely on those tips (believe me I know). 2. paranor I agree.. tipping seems out of control. It really should be completely at the discretion of the customer. But I'd guess that most of us go along with it out of consideration for the staff and their low wages. 3. Guest User I'm not really sure if hailing a cab is in the doorman's job description. So, in my mind a tip is really justified there.
If he goes ahead and hails you a cab without asking you first, then maybe it's a little sketchy. 4. bones I don't shy away from tipping, but I will never tip when someone has forced their services upon me. I've had porters at the airport literally grab my bags from me and shove them on their cart. It's like thanks, but no thanks. Sure, take my bag if you want it that badly, but no tip for you. 5. DCB I've considered this before thinking perhaps we should just pay servers a living wage and tip when service is above-and-beyond. The hidden risk is that, if they're getting paid minimum wage and can pay their bills, they won't give a hoot if they smile and get you to like them. They'll earn the same either way at the end of the evening because, truth be told, most people wouldn't tip if it weren't expected no matter how great the service. So I just use a personal sliding scale for tips based on quality of service and accept that I'll be paying a certain percentage above and beyond the food/haircut/beer tab. What really burns me is when someone working at Starbucks or McD's puts a little "tips" jar or "college fund" jar on the counter. WTF?! No way am I paying you to sit at a register and hand me my order. 6. Lane I pretty much hate tipping and will try to avoid establishments that expect it. When eating out the food is overpriced and actually I hate being served in general. I'd rather get my own drink and I hate relying on them to do it. I don't want their flattery or "conversation" or anything either. In other words I want the food and not them and actually I'm more annoyed by their presence than anything else and at the end of the meal they want me to pay for that. I like buffets and stuff damn it. Don't give me "they work hard" bullshit, so do fast food employees and we don't tip them for giving us food. It's a crock especially at the 20% people are saying is now the typical tip expected |
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