Comments on: to tip or not to tip http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/ wealth, work and life success Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:02:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Bubelah http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-20110 Bubelah Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:27:18 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-20110 Is it ok to tip a UPS guy? We have this wonderful UPS guy who's been delivering packages to us for the past 3 - 4 years, always so friendly and helpful. It never occured to me to give him a tip, until my brother-in-law said he tips his UPS guy. It made me think. So the other day when "our" UPS guy showed up I gave him a tip and he was taken aback. He asked what's it for. I just said that it is a "thank you". I felt awkward: I don't want to offend him and also make him believe that I will be tipping him all the time as well. Maybe I should've waited till X-Mas. I know that US Postal Office workers are not allowed to accept tips, but UPS is not government owned. Is it ok to tip a UPS guy?
We have this wonderful UPS guy who’s been delivering packages to us for the past 3 – 4 years, always so friendly and helpful. It never occured to me to give him a tip, until my brother-in-law said he tips his UPS guy. It made me think. So the other day when “our” UPS guy showed up I gave him a tip and he was taken aback. He asked what’s it for. I just said that it is a “thank you”. I felt awkward: I don’t want to offend him and also make him believe that I will be tipping him all the time as well. Maybe I should’ve waited till X-Mas.
I know that US Postal Office workers are not allowed to accept tips, but UPS is not government owned.

]]> By: Steve (Brip Blap) http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-9401 Steve (Brip Blap) Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:33:50 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-9401 @Shawn: yeah, paying less than minimum wage sortof makes a mockery of the concept of minimum wage, I think. And although your anecdote about your friend was based on a racist incident, I think a lot of people feel a twinge of guilt inspired by dirty looks thrown at them by waiters. At the end of the day, we do just all have to balance our own personal finance needs with our "obligation" - if there is one - to supplement the sub-minimum wage that the restaurants in the US pay their staff. @Shawn: yeah, paying less than minimum wage sortof makes a mockery of the concept of minimum wage, I think. And although your anecdote about your friend was based on a racist incident, I think a lot of people feel a twinge of guilt inspired by dirty looks thrown at them by waiters. At the end of the day, we do just all have to balance our own personal finance needs with our “obligation” – if there is one – to supplement the sub-minimum wage that the restaurants in the US pay their staff.

]]> By: Shawn@MoneyBrick http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-9227 Shawn@MoneyBrick Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:22:28 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-9227 I grew up in Toronto, Canada and now live in Taipei, Taiwan and I can tell you that there are huge differences between the tipping habits in Canada vs. those in Taiwan. According to what I've read in the comments, however, the tipping situation in Canada is much better than that in the US. I'd first like to say, however, that paying under minimum wage should be illegal! I know that it's illegal in Canada, but lots of various restaurants, bars, etc. still carry on this practice. TIPS = to insure proper service, right? So basically, the service people should get their minimum and only receive a tip should they provide service excellence. In any case, Taiwan is great! In Taiwan, there is no tip. As with Australia, taxes and tip are included in the price you see on the menu. It's so great and relaxed compared to Canada. Even delivery people and such don't expect tips. Taxi drivers? No way! In Canada, however, Torontonians generally tip 15%. Chinese people, however, tip 10%. Haha... Chinese restaurants only expect a tip of 10%. There was even one restaurant where regular customers didn't give tips, because they knew that the owner's daughter would just come by and take all the tips away and leave nothing for the cooks and wait-staff (stealing). I also have an anecdote that I've never had the opportunity to tell anyone! Basically, a co-worker of mine was telling me how he tipped 10% at a posh restaurant one time, and he overheard the waitress call him a "cheap Chinese". So, he vowed from then on to always make a point of tipping 20% no matter what. As for me, I don't take racism lightly... and I wouldn't let one person's vulgar disposition make me do something against my will. If anything... I'd perpetuate the stereotype even more and go back to that restaurant and leave 5%!!! guiness416... I think your boss wasn't wrong. I wouldn't have lost respect for him at all. If he really thought the service was that bad, he's entitled to leave a couple pennies as tip (maybe not in the dirty beer glass, however). And don't you think that busy restaurants should hire more wait-staff? It's their business and one should expect proper service at any time of the day. As for my own personal habits (in Canada), I don't tip Starbucks employees. If Tim Hortons employees don't get tips - why should I give Starbucks "Baristas" tips? Actually, Starbucks does have better service... but that's built into the price of the coffee! As for people who come to your home to do stuff... I don't tip them, either, and I've never met one who seemed like he expected a tip. As for restaurants, if the service was satisfactory, I give 15%. If it was really excellent, I would give 20% and upwards. If it was horrible, however... I would give 5%-0%. Really. I've given nothing in tip before, because the service was just that bad. REALLY bad. I also hate restaurants that include a 10%-15% "service charge" in the bill... I think that's illegal. And it's up to the customer to decide an appropriate tip. In terms of your own finances, I think it's best to just give the minimum tip possible (or none at all). If you're tight for money or are wanting to save it - you shouldn't be going out that much, anyway! Everyone is only looking out for themself... and your extra-large tip can be put to more charitable use, such as lending on Kiva.org I grew up in Toronto, Canada and now live in Taipei, Taiwan and I can tell you that there are huge differences between the tipping habits in Canada vs. those in Taiwan. According to what I’ve read in the comments, however, the tipping situation in Canada is much better than that in the US.

I’d first like to say, however, that paying under minimum wage should be illegal! I know that it’s illegal in Canada, but lots of various restaurants, bars, etc. still carry on this practice. TIPS = to insure proper service, right? So basically, the service people should get their minimum and only receive a tip should they provide service excellence.

In any case, Taiwan is great! In Taiwan, there is no tip. As with Australia, taxes and tip are included in the price you see on the menu. It’s so great and relaxed compared to Canada. Even delivery people and such don’t expect tips. Taxi drivers? No way!

In Canada, however, Torontonians generally tip 15%. Chinese people, however, tip 10%. Haha… Chinese restaurants only expect a tip of 10%. There was even one restaurant where regular customers didn’t give tips, because they knew that the owner’s daughter would just come by and take all the tips away and leave nothing for the cooks and wait-staff (stealing).

I also have an anecdote that I’ve never had the opportunity to tell anyone! Basically, a co-worker of mine was telling me how he tipped 10% at a posh restaurant one time, and he overheard the waitress call him a “cheap Chinese”. So, he vowed from then on to always make a point of tipping 20% no matter what. As for me, I don’t take racism lightly… and I wouldn’t let one person’s vulgar disposition make me do something against my will. If anything… I’d perpetuate the stereotype even more and go back to that restaurant and leave 5%!!!

guiness416… I think your boss wasn’t wrong. I wouldn’t have lost respect for him at all. If he really thought the service was that bad, he’s entitled to leave a couple pennies as tip (maybe not in the dirty beer glass, however). And don’t you think that busy restaurants should hire more wait-staff? It’s their business and one should expect proper service at any time of the day.

As for my own personal habits (in Canada), I don’t tip Starbucks employees. If Tim Hortons employees don’t get tips – why should I give Starbucks “Baristas” tips? Actually, Starbucks does have better service… but that’s built into the price of the coffee! As for people who come to your home to do stuff… I don’t tip them, either, and I’ve never met one who seemed like he expected a tip.

As for restaurants, if the service was satisfactory, I give 15%. If it was really excellent, I would give 20% and upwards. If it was horrible, however… I would give 5%-0%. Really. I’ve given nothing in tip before, because the service was just that bad. REALLY bad. I also hate restaurants that include a 10%-15% “service charge” in the bill… I think that’s illegal. And it’s up to the customer to decide an appropriate tip.

In terms of your own finances, I think it’s best to just give the minimum tip possible (or none at all). If you’re tight for money or are wanting to save it – you shouldn’t be going out that much, anyway! Everyone is only looking out for themself… and your extra-large tip can be put to more charitable use, such as lending on Kiva.org

]]> By: Muscle And Fitness http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-3818 Muscle And Fitness Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:30:27 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-3818 <strong>Muscle And Fitness</strong> I couldn't understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting Muscle And Fitness

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting

]]> By: sfordinarygirl http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-762 sfordinarygirl Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:09:05 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-762 I really struggled with the tipping in Vegas. I handed my bags at the luggage center to hold until my room was ready. And I was in such a rush I forgot to tip the person storing my bags. I made the same mistake after I took the bags upstairs and came back down and forgot my wallet in the hotel room. I usually tip a dollar per bag for the shuttle driver even if they don't drop me off at home and dump my bags in the middle of the street. It's happened twice with the Super Shuttle. This time I used a different service and they dropped me off in front of the apt and carried my bags to the door. I gave him an extra $2 even though he carried one bag. The first time I used the shuttle service the driver was like "gee a buck thanks for the tip." And he didn't even carry my bags. He was on the phone and doing something else! I'll remember to pre-price the tip mentally so it leaves less indecisiveness at the last minute when I'm about to get off the bus. I really struggled with the tipping in Vegas. I handed my bags at the luggage center to hold until my room was ready. And I was in such a rush I forgot to tip the person storing my bags. I made the same mistake after I took the bags upstairs and came back down and forgot my wallet in the hotel room.

I usually tip a dollar per bag for the shuttle driver even if they don’t drop me off at home and dump my bags in the middle of the street. It’s happened twice with the Super Shuttle. This time I used a different service and they dropped me off in front of the apt and carried my bags to the door. I gave him an extra $2 even though he carried one bag. The first time I used the shuttle service the driver was like “gee a buck thanks for the tip.” And he didn’t even carry my bags. He was on the phone and doing something else!

I’ll remember to pre-price the tip mentally so it leaves less indecisiveness at the last minute when I’m about to get off the bus.

]]> By: The Roundup - Road Warrior Edition : A Penny Closer http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-760 The Roundup - Road Warrior Edition : A Penny Closer Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:34:14 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-760 [...] To Tip Or Not To Tip @ Brip Blap - Tipping is a sensitive subject for some people.  I usually tip 15-20% at restaurants, a few bucks to the pizza guy and valets, and a buck or two to the airport shuttle bus driver who is kind enough to help me with my bags.  When it came to our wedding we paid a flat 20% to the waiters/bartenders and banished tip jars entirely.  Making the no tipping rule clear helped make everyone more comfortable. [...] [...] To Tip Or Not To Tip @ Brip Blap – Tipping is a sensitive subject for some people.  I usually tip 15-20% at restaurants, a few bucks to the pizza guy and valets, and a buck or two to the airport shuttle bus driver who is kind enough to help me with my bags.  When it came to our wedding we paid a flat 20% to the waiters/bartenders and banished tip jars entirely.  Making the no tipping rule clear helped make everyone more comfortable. [...]

]]> By: bripblap http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-748 bripblap Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:42:47 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-748 @Janette - boy, I can't tell you how irritated I am that waiters are getting paid more than teachers. Not that they aren't working hard, I'm sure they are. But teachers are critical to our society, and they get treated terribly. My parents are both teachers and I originally planned to be a teacher (took the NTE, did some substitute teaching) before the big bucks of audit/finance sucked me in. I think it's a shame that teachers don't get tipped themselves, frankly. My mom (and her father, also a teacher) have always been heavily involved in the NEA and I was even a member for a couple of years while substitute teaching. I will say that whatever NYC teachers get paid probably seems really high, but when you consider a tiny fleabag studio apartment in Brooklyn probably costs more than the mortgage on a 3-bedroom elsewhere in the US it's probably not that much, either. I don't see people rushing in to teach in the inner city NYC schools for the fabulous salaries yet. I was looking into it and even in the most highly compensated areas (which are the absolute worst schools) salaries are awful... @Janette – boy, I can’t tell you how irritated I am that waiters are getting paid more than teachers. Not that they aren’t working hard, I’m sure they are. But teachers are critical to our society, and they get treated terribly. My parents are both teachers and I originally planned to be a teacher (took the NTE, did some substitute teaching) before the big bucks of audit/finance sucked me in. I think it’s a shame that teachers don’t get tipped themselves, frankly. My mom (and her father, also a teacher) have always been heavily involved in the NEA and I was even a member for a couple of years while substitute teaching.

I will say that whatever NYC teachers get paid probably seems really high, but when you consider a tiny fleabag studio apartment in Brooklyn probably costs more than the mortgage on a 3-bedroom elsewhere in the US it’s probably not that much, either. I don’t see people rushing in to teach in the inner city NYC schools for the fabulous salaries yet. I was looking into it and even in the most highly compensated areas (which are the absolute worst schools) salaries are awful…

]]> By: Janette http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-746 Janette Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:18:09 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-746 I used to think that I was doing a huge service by tipping. That idea disappeared when chatting with my two nephews. They are college-aged waiters. One worked at a good restaurant, the other at a resort. They both were paid between $14-16 an hour- and then tips. Gone are the days of below minimum wage for the hired help at good places. It is really sad to report that both of them cleared more last year than I did- as a public school teacher in their city! Did they work more hours than I did? Not many. I only wish the entire nation of teachers would join the AFT so we could get paid like NYC school teachers! Ah- that is a different story, isn't it? I used to think that I was doing a huge service by tipping. That idea disappeared when chatting with my two nephews. They are college-aged waiters. One worked at a good restaurant, the other at a resort. They both were paid between $14-16 an hour- and then tips. Gone are the days of below minimum wage for the hired help at good places.
It is really sad to report that both of them cleared more last year than I did- as a public school teacher in their city! Did they work more hours than I did? Not many.
I only wish the entire nation of teachers would join the AFT so we could get paid like NYC school teachers! Ah- that is a different story, isn’t it?

]]> By: SavingDiva http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-735 SavingDiva Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:51:40 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-735 I thought I was going to be the odd one out, but it appears that every one shares the same views as I do. I tip about 20% at a restaurant . Even if the service was poor....I guess I just feel bad for the waitors being stretched too thin. I tip pizza delivery people (about 15-20%)....I tip hairdressers about 15-20%. However, in my recent frugal kick, I've started to get my hair cut at a school where tipping is prohibited ($15 and I'm out). I tip at valet too...but I rarely encounter a valet in my area. I also tip cab drivers (but I've ridden in a cab 2 times in the past two years) I don't tip....at coffee places. I order tea. All they have to do is put hot water and a tea bag into a cup (I have had this screwed up before). I don't tip at take-out restaurants.... I thought I was going to be the odd one out, but it appears that every one shares the same views as I do. I tip about 20% at a restaurant . Even if the service was poor….I guess I just feel bad for the waitors being stretched too thin. I tip pizza delivery people (about 15-20%)….I tip hairdressers about 15-20%. However, in my recent frugal kick, I’ve started to get my hair cut at a school where tipping is prohibited ($15 and I’m out). I tip at valet too…but I rarely encounter a valet in my area. I also tip cab drivers (but I’ve ridden in a cab 2 times in the past two years)

I don’t tip….at coffee places. I order tea. All they have to do is put hot water and a tea bag into a cup (I have had this screwed up before). I don’t tip at take-out restaurants….

]]> By: Ruth http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/comment-page-1/#comment-732 Ruth Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:00:26 +0000 http://www.bripblap.com/2007/to-tip-or-not-to-tip/#comment-732 Frugal Canadian: You make me want to move to Canada! I agree entirely that we don't pay people a living wage and that we use tipping as a way to address that inequity. The U.S. seems, as a nation, to resent paying taxes for the public good and to resent slightly higher prices even if it meant that everyone could participate in a higher standard of living. It's an endemic problem for the U.S. and one which, I fear, will not easily or soon be solved. Frugal Canadian: You make me want to move to Canada! I agree entirely that we don’t pay people a living wage and that we use tipping as a way to address that inequity. The U.S. seems, as a nation, to resent paying taxes for the public good and to resent slightly higher prices even if it meant that everyone could participate in a higher standard of living. It’s an endemic problem for the U.S. and one which, I fear, will not easily or soon be solved.

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