Am I the only one?

[LoboGunLeather]

Go into a business, stand in line, place an order, wait for it to be completed, carry it away. Stick your card into the machine, screen offers you several options for how large a tip you will leave. Your choice must be made in full view of the (usually unsmiling and unhelpful) server expecting you to pay for her next square foot of ugly tattoos.

Link: New Starbucks Tipping System: Prepare To Pay More For Your Daily Fix (or Feel Like a Christmas Grinch)

At my club the paid staff are very good about anticipating and meeting my needs. I express my gratitude with folding cash.

At my VFW post the staff are all volunteers, and I express my gratitude generously.

I don't feel the urge to tip for counter service or in the drive-thru lane.

Am I the only one?

 

[MStarmer]

I concur, we should feel no obligation when the card reader prompts for "tip". The newest place that I noticed this was at dog boarding / daycare, even take n bake pizza?

 

[bushmaster1313]

I don't feel the urge to tip for counter service or in the drive-thru lane.

Am I the only one?

In New Jersey we are not allowed to pump our own gas. If given prompt and courteous service, especially when the weather is ugly (too hot, too cold or too much rain, sleet or snow), I feel good giving a dollar tip to the gas station attendant. These tips are always appreciated and at my regular station, which is quite busy, the attendants know me and give me small perks, like serving me first and letting me leave the car at the pump while I go to the cash machine at the bank next door. It also creates a human connection with hard working people who I see once or twice a week.

 

[John_M52]

Starbucks? Never.

 

[sophie]

I don't feel the urge to tip for counter service or in the drive-thru lane.

Am I the only one?[/QUOTE]

Sorry, that was meant to be a Lobo quote.
I agree with what you say about not tipping counter service or drive thru.

 

[coltle6920]

Today's youth have become quite brazen. Tip jars have been on the front counters for some time.I noticed this attitude many years ago at a Subway shop. My bill was a little over $7 so I gave the person a $10. Without hesitating they put my change in the tip jar. I got my change back and didn't make a scene and that's when I decided to never go to a fast food place again.

I recently read a different article online where there's a card reader on the counter. The customer scans their card or phone on the reader and turns it around. The employee turns it back around and says "Don't you want to leave a tip?".

In my youth these were entry jobs to get your feet wet in the real world. You were paid what the job was worth. Don't like the pay? Quit!

 

[Onomea]

I dunno. I usually tip for takeout food at food trucks or the mom and pop brick and mortar restaurants that I frequent.

Don't visit fast food chains. No need. Plenty of alternatives.

The reason I tip is that the takeout food I buy is tasty, a good value, and the owners/workers are typically hardworking immigrant types, sole proprietors or family members who, it seems to me, are working their way up in life. I can afford to tip them, they deserve it, and it is my way of saying, "Good job! Keep it up! Hope you guys make a great success of this business!"

Got no problem under tipping, or even not tipping entirely, for poor or especially rude service, particularly in a sit down restaurant that believes itself to be upscale.

 

[austintexas]

tips

My nephew educated me. He said places you eat at frequently you should tip well. It works, there are 4 restaurants I eat at, I tip well, the service is great, I usually get a table quick, the waitresses all know me. I get my usual drink without asking, one place I usually get the same thing because It's my favorite and the waitresses just set me and serve without asking. It is nice to be known.
SWCA 892

 

[Grayfox]

At a sit down restaurant with an actual waiter/waitress, if I get good service, I tip well. If I get bad service or a bad attitude, I don't tip and I will tell you why. However, I'm happy to say that the later very rarely happens. Most places around here have excellent service.

But fast food? Counter service? Here's your tip: find a better job!

 

[Tom S.]

My nephew educated me. He said places you eat at frequently you should tip well. It works, there are 4 restaurants I eat at, I tip well, the service is great, I usually get a table quick, the waitresses all know me. I get my usual drink without asking, one place I usually get the same thing because It's my favorite and the waitresses just set me and serve without asking. It is nice to be known.
SWCA 892

I have similar experiences. One restaurant I frequent often pick up my check. Over the past year, this has happened probably 7 times. Regardless, I still leave a tip, which is a tad under 30%.

But there is a reason for my excess tipping. When I first met my wife, she was a waitress at a local restaurant. She cued me into the fact that they were paid far below minimum wage and many of the ladies were single moms. So I look at it as a personal form of charity that has the benefits austintexas mentioned. Most of my business is at one of two places. The first is staffed by women who know me by name and what my order is based upon time of day (breakfast vs lunch) and the owner always gives me a gift certificate at Christmas. Additionally, the restaurant offers punch cards that when 10 punches are obtained, provides a $5 credit and several of the waitresses will punch the card more than once.

At the other restaurant, the staff is all male. It has Mexican food and the staff are all Hispanic. They seem to appreciate the fact that I attempt to converse in my poor and extremely limited Spanish as well as my generous tipping. Usually, by the time I pull into the parking lot, park and walk into the place, my beverage, chips, dip and silverware are already on the table and my order being prepared. As I stated, they occasionally refuse payment.

At Christmas, the waitstaff at both places receive a card with money inside. Because this year was a good one financially, the amount is pretty decent.

 

[BigBoy99]

Tipping is for the service rendered, not an automatic "add-on" fee. If good service is provided, then it is rewarded with an appropriate tip. A few years ago I left a nickel as a tip. I had considered not leaving a tip at all but this way she knew that I hadn't forgotten to leave a tip. The waitress was so busy talking with her friends, I had to get up and refill my water glass TWICE. She got what she deserved.

 

[Narragansett]

I do not care for a system like that, and probably would not patronize a company that I felt pressured to tip at.

I think I see some of the reasoning behind it though:

1. In today's tight labor market, companies are having to compete for workers. You compete with money and bennies. By using such a system they hope to insure that the customer shares in the competition to retain workers by improving their wages.

2. There are a lot of people out there that cannot do the percentage math and addition in their head, on the fly. Consequently, they leave no tip or under tip.

3, Maybe you do not have the right change to leave for a tip, but you want to leave one. Then the system becomes an aid.

Bottom line, I think the decision on a tip should be the customer's.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I note that at the diners I patronize your printed check has suggestions for the percentage of the tip.

 

[Old cop]

I still leave my tip in cash on the table after we’ve finished our meal.

 

[pharmer]

I've been tipping much more generously since I stopped working for money. It's much easier to give away when bits of life are not exchanged for bits of paper. Joe

 

[zeke]

Don't have to worry about starbucks, there are none close by. And don't use a credit card for much. The only time i tip for take out is when they consistently make me good food, and are generous with it. If eating out, which rarely do anymore, 20% is the norm unless exceptional service.

 

[Bekeart]

Philosophy for tipping given to me long ago by a friend ...

Philosophy for tipping given to me long ago by a friend ...

If you are a regular customer of a business;
Todays tips will influnce Future service.

As with the two posts quoted below.
The staff gets us to "our" table and knows our drinks and usual food order.

Bekeart

austintexas

My nephew educated me. He said places you eat at frequently you should tip well. It works, there are 4 restaurants I eat at, I tip well, the service is great, I usually get a table quick, the waitresses all know me. I get my usual drink without asking, one place I usually get the same thing because It's my favorite and the waitresses just set me and serve without asking. It is nice to be known.
SWCA 892

I have similar experiences. One restaurant I frequent often pick up my check. Over the past year, this has happened probably 7 times. Regardless, I still leave a tip, which is a tad under 30%.

But there is a reason for my excess tipping. When I first met my wife, she was a waitress at a local restaurant. She cued me into the fact that they were paid far below minimum wage and many of the ladies were single moms. So I look at it as a personal form of charity that has the benefits austintexas mentioned. Most of my business is at one of two places. The first is staffed by women who know me by name and what my order is based upon time of day (breakfast vs lunch) and the owner always gives me a gift certificate at Christmas. Additionally, the restaurant offers punch cards that when 10 punches are obtained, provides a $5 credit and several of the waitresses will punch the card more than once.

At the other restaurant, the staff is all male. It has Mexican food and the staff are all Hispanic. They seem to appreciate the fact that I attempt to converse in my poor and extremely limited Spanish as well as my generous tipping. Usually, by the time I pull into the parking lot, park and walk into the place, my beverage, chips, dip and silverware are already on the table and my order being prepared. As I stated, they occasionally refuse payment.

At Christmas, the waitstaff at both places receive a card with money inside. Because this year was a good one financially, the amount is pretty decent.

 

[ZGrand]

Who can afford to go to Starbucks??

I agree with most -- I tip for service rendered. Typical server at a restaurant - tip commensurate with quality of service. Drive through or counter cashier - no tip.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Unless the service is out of bounds snarky, my view on tips is "they need it more than I do" and I'll round up rather than round down. Seems to work at the small circle of resturants We go to. DOn't go to Starbucks so don't know about this automatic thing but at first blush, I don't like it as it becomes an utomatic add on that makes me an "employer" almost. But we are old farts living in someone elses world......

 

[WR Moore]

I was going past the local McD the other day and got hit by a craving for a bacon double. Hadn't been there in quite some time. Went in and the first thing I saw was 2 kiosks for ordering and paying by CC. No how, no way, went to the counter where they also had CC machines. Apparently, they no longer staff the counter, left after standing around and being ignored for about 5 minutes. Won't be back.

They are right by an interstate interchange which might have something to do with the setup. They probably figure they don't need the locals-or cash and that service thingie.