General dock/gas pump question......

[srock]

I am surprised sometimes by the places I see a tip jar. Dunkin Doughnuts drive through windows, cleaners, gas stations and convenience stores. It's like the employee decided to start his own little slush fund. I'll tip generously but not for doing your job ringing up my slurpee. If I get a bunch of good service handling dock lines, hoses, bumpers, I'll give a tip.

[surroundsound64]

The bigger question is where is the line between 'good service' and 'doing your job'? There are some instances where I believe tipping is justified, but I believe it's gotten out of hand and it's expected for anything done. Tipping should be for above and beyond. On the flip side, though, I don't believe that pay should be reduced to account for tipping. Pay the kid pumping gas a fair wage, as well as the waitress busting to get her job done. The other thing that gets to me is in restaurants where it should be a percentage of your bill. I usually get better service at Waffle House than I do Outback. Just because the meal is more expensive doesn't justify a higher tip. The number of people in your party should and the number or courses (appetizer, desert, etc), but not the price of the food.

I think it's pretty simple, if you do a good job for me and work hard, I'll probably tip you. For example, I'm sitting here at a po-dunk airport with no way to lunch. I called 4 or 5 pizza places and no one wanted to deliver. I started calling random places on around me and found a BBQ place with a nice worker who was glad to help out when I said I didn't have a way to get lunch and wouldn't be home until 7. She brought me food quick and I tipped her $28. If the gas pumper boy gave me good service and did things like taking my trash, getting me ice, maybe giving the boat a quick windshield wash, I'd probably give him a 10. If I pull up and he puts gas in and hardly mumbles a word, he gets his wages.

I tip for good service. That's it.

[Chexi]

I believe that for some historical reason, there are certain industries that are sort of exempt from minimum wage laws where tipping is expected (e.g., the restaurant industry where there is a salary component and an assumed tip rate to get to the federal minimum wage). In these industries, the customers are expected to pay the employees the bulk of their wages. I'm not saying I agree with this, but no one here is going to change it. I think it helps fool people into thinking that eating out (otehr than fast food) is less expensive than it really is.

For industries where this is not the case (e.g., taxis... especially when they are owner-operated), I agree that tipping has gotten way out of hand.

I have given 50% tips before for great service at expensive restaurants... and I have given tips that consist of nothing more than a written list of how the server was supposed to have done their job. The latter is actually more valuable in the long run, but I am not delusional enough to believe that the persons who gave such crappy service would actually read it and try to improve. But it was righteously satisfying to do it... especially since it was on a date.

[swc5150]

Isn't it the greed of government that screws waiters and waitresses, by reducing their minimum wage to account for tip income? IF the gov deems it necessary to have a minimum wage in the first place, it should be universal and not cherry picked IMHO. The last time someone else pumped fuel in my boat, I was a kid fueling the family MC. I didn't know the tipping rules back then, and apparently shafted him. On the other hand, he spilled gas all over the back of the boat, and I never went back.

[Chexi]

I don't think so. More likely the greed of the restaurant lobby. The government usually gets screwed on tips due to under-reporting. It does not always happen, but it happens a lot. There is a reason why servers prefer cash tips to credit card tips, and its not just the interchange fees.

[210GA]

I tip no were besides the resturant... point blank. If you are paying for a service or item, there is no need for a tip. If you 'feel bad' for someone not making a lot of money, then I guess it is your call.


Just remember, the world needs ditch digger too.

[AirTool]

In California... the marina attendant will hand you the nozzle and then walk away. I have never had anyone offer to pump the gas for me..

Perfect.

[surroundsound64]

Why tip someone for a job I’m capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones.

[SkiTower]

How about tipping for haircuts? I can't bring myself to pay more on top of something that is pretty much pure profit.

[surroundsound64]

Why tip someone for a job I’m capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones.

No one watches the Office? :-(

[RideButter]

Dwight is hilarious!


I think it all boils down to that person going the extra mile. If the kid who pumps your gas doesn't spill, and runs and gets your ice for you....I tip them. My wife and I have both worked service jobs....they are much tougher for way less money in our experience. Its not always about choice, that may be the only job available for a lot of reasons. Sure they signed up for a minimum wage job and sure, you don't have to tip them, but I think if someone went above and beyond I think they deserve a tip.

Haircuts are not always pure profit, most barbers/stylists pay for their chairs......we all deal with overhead.

[AirTool]

Haircuts are not always pure profit, most barbers/stylists pay for their chairs......we all deal with overhead.

And docked by the owner if the customer pays by credit card. And docked even more if the customer tips by credit card.