tipping

The safest rule to follow in all tipping situations is "assume 15-20% or $1/unit" (the latter being for instances like buying drinks at the bar; $1/drink)

I'd say you're overtipping by the baseline rules, but if that's the amount you want to leave then leave it; the reason your SIL is talking about those specific tips is because they are extravagant and ridiculous (and, in the case of the plane tickets, potentially gross; is the client expecting to fly with her???? ew)

No no no I'd probably tip like $10 on that, Abb, if that gives you any perspective. Might tip $20 if the cut was over...$60? Or thereabouts.

this is still really the main thing isn't it

― call all destroyer, Thursday, 28 April 2011 17:54 (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

i mean honestly a friendly demeanor regardless of cuteness is the biggest thing, buuuuuut yeah this too

the reason your SIL is talking about those specific tips is because they are extravagant and ridiculous (and, in the case of the plane tickets, potentially gross; is the client expecting to fly with her???? ew)

haha Dan it is a wonder I ever figure anything out. This makes perfect sense. I think the person who tipped her plane tickets had a cheap hookup (worked for an airline) & just knew she would appreciate it, no crepe.
I am always an overtipper. Tipping just makes me nervous!

Also, man, that extra dollar (or I guess $10 extra dollars for my stylist!), that makes a person so happy. Really no big deal to throw down $1 extra and that person hooks you up forever.

My reasoning actually on that styling tip – the first time I saw her I tipped $10 ($10 plus an extra dollar). But then Jenny upthread said $10 was the proper tip for a free bang trim that literally took less time to do than any song from "Double Nickels on the Dime." So why should that, and something that takes an hour, get the same tip? It made no sense to me.

Well that's really the thing about tipping; you should tip what you feel comfortable leaving. The "rules" are really guidelines.

I'm never sure what to tip at a place with counter service, where you order and pay at the counter but then they bring the food to your table. And per the immediate above, I'm not sure what to tip the stylist when I bring my daughter in for her free bang trim. I mean, the haircut itself only costs $10!

OTOH $10 for the bang trim made no sense to me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU9lv_WqK6k

Yeah in general if you tip well at a bar and are friendly to the bartenders they really do hook you up

I played bar dice numerous times with bartenders who would intentionally tank the game, great times

I have never actually gotten anything back form bartenders. But we always tip way too nicely at the pizza place down the street & last night the owner gave us a p deluxe pizza & two beers for about $15 less than he should have. Very nice.

I meant I tip a buck or so for pick-up food, not coffee.

servers still often have to tip out on to-go orders, which i get most ppl dont really realize, but its always fun to lose money on an order

I meant I tip a buck or so for pick-up food, not coffee.

servers still often have to tip out on to-go orders, which i get most ppl dont really realize, but its always fun to lose money on an order

But then Jenny upthread said $10 was the proper tip for a free bang trim that literally took less time to do than any song from "Double Nickels on the Dime." So why should that, and something that takes an hour, get the same tip?

Because the trim is free.

(My stylist charges $40 for a haircut; I leave her $50.)

servers still often have to tip out on to-go orders, which i get most ppl dont really realize, but its always fun to lose money on an order

― dearth of the hipster (Lamp), Thursday, April 28, 2011 2:40 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

really? i did not know this.

servers still often have to tip out on to-go orders, which i get most ppl dont really realize, but its always fun to lose money on an order

― dearth of the hipster (Lamp), Thursday, April 28, 2011 2:40 PM Bookmark

this can't get stated enough. One of my MANAGERS actually remarked that "hey, the whole reason I *order* food to-go is so I don't have to tip! Ha ha!" and I just about stabbed the guy. People who go to sit-down restaurants and order to-go food HAVE TO TIP at least a couple bucks. It's like, yeah, you're not sitting down and getting refills and as much checking-in, but the server (who has actual tables, who they are trying to GIVE attention to) is taking time away from that to run around and get your to-go order together, including all the behind-the-scenes service (making sure it's made right, arguing with the cook when it's not, including the condiments you might want, putting the ice cream in a separate styrofoam thing so it doesn't melt as fast etc etc) - - c'mon!

sorry, sore spot, carry on y'all.

also, would like to add that I think most people are basically decent tippers, and that the reason tipping conversations spin rapidly out of control is that servers of course are hyper-aware of the bad tippers, who, while not a majority, are way more numerous than the good tippers realize. So you get into the conversation and a server's going on and on about these bad tippers and you figure they have to be talking about you, but it's really about the two different tables they had last night that tipped them $4 on a $50 check or what have you.

I don't know if the tipping out on to-go orders is the same everywhere. For instance, where I worked, the bartender did all to-go orders, but they got paid minimum wage in addition to their bar tips. and even being a former server, I think it's pretty lame to tip someone for just handing you a bag.

but you are right, bad tippers that think "oh who gives a fuck, other people will make up for my bad tip" don't realize many many people operate under the same assumption and there are nights people can get heavily screwed.

In regards to the question way upthread about why I tip even if the server is a dick, my reason has nothing to do with them tipping out, it's really just like I try to understand that nobody's perfect, and everyone can have an off night. however, if the server is so rude to the point where I'm offended to never wanting to set foot in the building again, that's a different story, but I'd likely be getting a manager at that point (note: never had to do this in my entire life as of yet).

as far as 'reforming' the tip system (in an earlier thread...sorry, can't post from work), I don't think it needs reform. Servers probably would make less under a new system.

and honestly, I think they deserve what they make. It's not a 'hard' job in that you don't have to know complex mathematical equations, have an MBA, or be a rocket scientist, but it is a difficult job because you have to multitask nonstop for a long shift, often with little to no stoppage. And often you're sacrificing your nights and weekends. It's mentally taxing and a job I could never do again.

seriously my customer service jobs were way harder than what i'm doing now making twice the pay, and i was always well above minimum & never had to split tips. that labor law allows people to get away with paying what they do for service work is not fucking right.

meant to say 'more difficult,' a good distinction

true. to clarify what I meant when I said "deserve what they make", i was referring to the servers that make 12-20$ an hour or more off their tips, of which they're a lot of them.

in struggling restaurants, though, like I worked in...it sucks

$10 for the bang trim takes into account the freeness of the service, yeah. But I think it's reasonable to adjust the bang trim tip to the cost of the haircut, although I would still tip $5 on a bang trim when the hair cut is $10, because it's a nice thing that stylists do for free.

I tip 20% on a haircut/color, but that is because I pay fancy-salon-in-the-big-city prices (ie out the wazoo) for the services, so 20% is a hefty tip. $50 for a $40 haircut is more than 20%, but that is logical and also a nice round number.

I don't know. This all makes sense to me!

And I always tip on take out orders. Every restaurant where I've worked, servers were responsible for packing up take out orders, which means stopping what you're doing (ie waiting on seated tables who are going to pay you based on your perceived worth and skill as a tableside server) to fart around with bags and plastic forks and little fucking styrofoam ramekins of salad dressing and arrrrrrrrgggggggg. So yeah, that definitely deserves a tip in my book.

There is no way in sweet fuck I would ever ever tip a hairdresser. They must get paid well - they charge minimum $60 for a wash/cut where I go and it can extend well above $140 for colouring and cut. Tipping them!? Why.

Local custom, really.

tip a few dollars, also depends on the ethnicity of the buffet

????

― The New Dirty Vicar, Friday, April 29, 2011 12:33 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

re. the ethnicity thing.

― The New Dirty Vicar, Friday, April 29, 2011 12:33 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark

haha sorry for the crypto-racist remark. but uh, if it's a chinese buffet and all the waitstaff are chinese, I pretty much assume that anything I tip is going straight into the pockets of management, that the waitstaff are probably getting paid a fixed rate under the table, and that chinese people don't expect you to tip anyway. sooooooooo

I tipped my stylist here after the 2nd haircut I got from him, but I think it made him uncomfortable because after my 3rd and 4th haircuts by him he immediately disappears when it's time to pay the cashier

you do see how there's more work in a latte than a beer though, right?

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, April 29, 2011 1:23 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark

yeah but it's been made clear that tipping is not about giving money in proportion to work done, it's about giving money to compensate for fucked up wage laws. do you tip your airplane pilot?

^ if s/he's the pilot of a regional airline, I'd sure like to. They make around $14k/year.

Airline pilots are hideously underpaid - http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/06/16/pilot-pay-want-to-know-how-much-your-captain-earns/.

xp

Yeah tbh the poor-pay thing is why the only people I do tip are taxi drivers. Sure a lot of them are shit and dont know where they're going but when they do, and the cab is clean and theyre friendly and knowledgeable I'll tip em, because I know they get ripped off hardcore by the taxi directorate (something horrible like they only end up making $7 an hour after all the money's skimmed off for the directorate, their cab manager, petrol/maintenance etc)

well I did not know that! I'll have the flight attendant bring a 20 to the cockpit

I was pretty shocked to learn how much flight attendants at cathay pacific, a well known and respected international airline, make. but they get a lot of free comps and perks.

but still, shifting the burden of proper compensation onto the consumer is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled. those fatcats are laughing all the way to the bank

xp Not every hairdresser makes that kind of money--I've never paid more than $20 (US) for a haircut.

I would never go to a $20 haircut place.

(its the one thing I'm snobby about - my hair is... difficult)

Ehhh, this whole discussion, when it becomes inter-national, gets weird. I've lived in NY for 10 years, used to tipping, fine, 'most everything gets 20%, no thought involved.

Weird thing is going to Australia and paying fucking $11 for a sandwich (vs $6) or $4 for a coffee (vs $2). Tres expensive, but also fine UNTIL Australians come to the US and wonder why American sandwiches and coffee are cheap!? Cos the cost of labor isn't factored in! So just pay proper tips and shut up.

I always assumed that was a big part of it, sure.

But where the frick are you buying $11 sandwiches from!?

When you calculate your tip at the end of a meal do you just do it re the total amount or the amount pre-tax and any other additions? I dunno if it even makes much difference but just wondered.

I calculate before tax

yeah but it's been made clear that tipping is not about giving money in proportion to work done, it's about giving money to compensate for fucked up wage laws. do you tip your airplane pilot?

― br8080 (dayo), Friday, April 29, 2011 12:19 AM (5 hours ago) Bookmark

this is not an either/or proposition. it's primarily to compensate for fucked up wage laws and partially to reward for extra work well done--this is why there's a social 'standard' of 15%--to compensate for wage laws--while plenty of people tip more to reward a job well done.

*tips you 5% for that post*

do you tip your library circ counter worker when they track down a particularly hard volume to find for you

do you tip your subway sandwich artist

ill tip fast food workers sure

dudes have p much the worst jobs in the service industry so

do you tip your library circ counter worker when they track down a particularly hard volume to find for you

― br8080 (dayo), Friday, April 29, 2011 6:30 AM (12 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

no, because they're volunteering--first part of the two part compact doesn't apply.

do you tip your subway sandwich artist

― br8080 (dayo), Friday, April 29, 2011 6:31 AM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark

have you noticed they have a tip jar? and yeah i have used it

library workers are volunteers???

where do you draw the line

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