To Tip or Not To Tip
Before we begin, let’s get something clear – I am pro-tipping. I have the built-in guilt that comes with having worked in the service industry, the guilt that makes me tip because I know the “struggle.” However, I do believe there are some gray areas when it comes to tipping – some instances that I don’t necessarily believe are automatic.
- Sonic Drive-In: This one has haunted me for years. Do you tip at Sonic? I know people do, and I know I have tipped plenty of times in the past. But, more and more, I don’t get it. I understand tipping in a real restaurant. You’re tipping because this person has, in theory, invested time in making your experience top-notch. At Sonic some guy/gal just walks your sack of sick food out to your car. Logic tells me no on this one.
- The Pizza Guy: I always tip the pizza delivery guy, but really isn’t his job solely to take pizzas and drive them to your door? I mean, its exemplary that he didn’t get in a wreck or anything – but is it tip worthy? That’s doubtable. However, I gotta go with a definite yes on this instance, less for the work they do, more for the fact that pizza guys are usually pretty rough. I’d hate to get my ass kicked because I didn’t throw in an extra dollar for my P’zone.
- Beer Guy at the Ballgame: This one is easy. Yes. These guys are always soaking wet and tired – they work their asses off. Their job sucks too. I hate anytime I have to walk up stairs. I have to psyche myself up for it. Not to mention, I have to think, “Ok, am I gonna two-step it or just stick with the one-at-a-time philosophy?” Not these guys. Their job is to carry some heavy cooler up a ton of steps and serve assholes like me cold beer. You’ve earned my tip.
- Hairdresser: If all I’m doing is getting my neck cleaned up do I have to tip? Actually, lets play devil’s advocate. I’m a guy, I don’t have a hairdresser – my hair could be done by a Flowbee – so I don’t really need to worry about tipping do I? Tipping the hairdresser is about maintaining a relationship, but if I’m never gonna have that relationship, do I really need to tip? Probably. Dammit.
- If Someone You Know Serves You: Is it demeaning to tip a bunch of money to your friend, the server? Do you go above and beyond? On this one, I’m gonna say just don’t tip at all – you can always use the excuse that your friend, more than anyone, should know you can’t afford to be tipping.
Ok those are some instances I could think of them, but there are definitely other times when tipping shouldn’t be automatic. Let me know about some.
*** UPDATE***
Below, Dan made a great point that deserves to be in this post – the Tip Line Con. I always feel like an asshole because a credit card reciept has a tip line and I generally ignore it. Then, you hand it back to the cashier, you watch as they give a quick glance and see as the disappointment flashes across their face. But, I have to think that for the most part, people ignore the tip line – or is it just us and Dan?
-When you order anything and pay at a register (Ie carry out at jack stack); they always try to con you into it with the tip line on your credit card reciept
-When gratuity has already been included
-When some creep in Piazza Navona grabs your arm, weaves a rudimentary friendship bracelet and asks you for 30 euros
-When the street musician possesses negligible talent
-THIS IS ONE OF MY BIGGEST PET PEEVES when school kids or little league teams just stand around on the corners with buckets and a sign that says “Send us to nationals in Florida!” DO SOMETHING kid, at least pretend to do the tiniest bit of work and i will gladly reward your efforts and your general cuteness with a contribution. Give quickie car washes, sell candy, charge 5 bucks for an awful glass of powdered lemonade, offer to rake my yard; but do not stand around like a bum trying to scrap together a down payment on a hamburger.
Question: what if the pizza place charges you a delivery charge? At that point, not only have you paid for the pizza, but you’ve paid for the delivery of it to your door. Adding a tip for the delivery guy is giving them income for something they’ve already charged you for, right? What is the tip for in that situation? Holding the pizza box and knocking on the door simultaneously?! Not sure if I’m tipping when there’s a delivery charge …
Sonic – Heck no.
Pizza Guy – Yes, because I am afraid he is going to spit on my pizza if I order with a credit card and don’t leave a decent tip with it. So this is really an issue of self preservation. Much like your fear of getting your ass kicked.
Hair dresser – Definitely. I am a girl; hair is important. If I can find someone who gives me a great haircut time after time then I am for sure going to keep her happy. Now if it was a horrible haircut then this does not apply.
Friend Server – Yeah, a good tip. I am a sucker.
As for the tip line on the credit card receipt – When presented with one at the register or after I have stopped by the restaurant to get carry, out I stick a big slash through that line. Seriously? You think you’re getting a tip for ringing up my order that I am paying you for? Yeah. Not going to happen.
First let me state that I am a self-loathing tipper. I do it, I do it often, and I feel instantly sick about right after I do it. It’s also important to note this an American phenomenon. People in Europe look at you like an asshole if you try to tip. Leave it to American ingenuity to trick people into paying you more for doing your job (two exceptions: restaurant workers, they make slave wages, and bartenders, they serve me booze).
But you know what really chaps my ass? Curb side check-in at the airport. Not only is their only job to check you in for your flight and make sure your baggage gets the correct tag, but they expect a tip for it. These people get a full salary, plus it’s a union job. Not to mention the poor jerk inside the airport doing the exact same thing never gets a tip. And what’s worse is you can’t snub the curb side check-in person because they are in full control of a major aspect of your vacation.
(Note: I am aware that certain airlines are now charging a flat fee per bag, which only infuriates me further. Now I have to pay a mandatory fee, plus and extra buck or two so my bags don’t end up in Boise, ID. God I hate the airlines.)
It’s weird to tip in Europe because gratuity is already included in the price of your food…
What’s protocol on pizza delivery? 20%? That’s what I tip.
I always tip my barber, never tip Sonic (never crossed my mind!), I tip valet drivers, and bartenders ($1 per drink or if I’m buying rounds $1 per 3 drinks).
You forgot the biggest tip/no tip/when to tip ever: Valet guys. These guys are tricky because they have your car. but at the same time, when do you tip them? You never seem to tip them when you take your car, and frankly, that is when you feel like you SHOULD tip them since… well they have your car.
This is especially annoying if at a hotel or in an area where valet is pretty much the only option, and they charge. Grr.
And lets not forget the random tip jars people throw out everywhere. Seems like everyone has em now. The WORST is at a sandwich place, where you know the guy who rang me up is not going to share the tip with the guy that made my amazing sandwich, yet there the jar sits. Grocery baggers, barristas, all seem to guilt you with that little tip jar.
Oh, and you have to tip your friends when they serve you. ALWAYS.