I don't understand why we tip some but not all. A saleswoman in a clothing store brings you pair after pair of jeans, and goes back and forth to clothing racks and dressing rooms, so you can get a perfect fit. Many people undoubtedly work just as hard as the waitress who serves your table.
2006-07-23 18:27:44 · 8 answers · asked by ? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I'm not so much wondering about how to thank the non-tipped workers who help us, but why it is customary to tip a select few professions and not the others.
2006-07-23 19:34:09 · update #1
With waitresses (and waiters), I believe tipping is a sign that you enjoyed their service and also, their wages are so low, tipping is usually a needed supplement. You also tip the bartender but it is for a different reason-- to get better service as the bar is usually tended by only one or two bartenders and on a busy night, it's probably the only way they'll remember you. The hairstylist gets tipped because it shows appreciation for their work-- if you feel they did a bad job, you can show your displeasure by refusing to tip them.
Salespeople usually make a commission on their sale so their work is already tipped if you make a purchase, which explains why they work so hard to get you to buy something. Of course, if you don't buy anything after putting them through all that, it is a bit heartless of you to do to them.
I think tipping is present in most service industries as an incentive for both the worker and the customer. Usually, tipping occurs in situation when the employee deals with the customer on a personal basis. Really, the tipping is an incentive for good customer service but it can't be enforced, which is why tips for good service is a must for good etiquette.
2006-07-24 09:58:58 · answer #1 · answered by Esh F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I worked retail I wasn't allowed to accept tips, regardless of how much time I spent with a customer or how much running back and forth I did for them. Many retail stores have the same policy.
If you want to thank a person who helped you in a store, speak with the manager and let them know how much you appreciated their help. Often customers are more than willing to report poor service but never comment on outstanding service. Better yet, send a thank you card-managers will remember better if it's in writing. Most stores won't let their employees accept gifts, but some will. Flowers, chocolates and cookies are always appreciated. Contrary to popular belief, many sales associates don't earn commissions, they're just paid a flat rate.
In the medical field we weren't allowed to accept monetary gifts, but we could accept flowers, candy and baked goods.
As far as another poster said about servers "depending" on tips, that's just BS. If you have to depend on tips to pay your bills then you need to get a better paying job.
2006-07-24 02:24:48 · answer #2 · answered by Just Jess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many retail organizations have rules against their employees accepting tips. The penalty is disciplinary action (anywhere from a warning to firing). If you really want to show a retail employee your appreciation for their going that extra mile, either call the manager or shoot the company an e-mail. Trust me, after getting a dozen complaints about not having sale items in stock, these people love to get a compliment on service.
2006-07-24 01:37:54 · answer #3 · answered by ahandle101 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok I am a waitress, and I get paid, 2.60 an hour, the reason why you tip waitresses or waitors is because we depend on those tips to make money. that is the reason why we try to give the best service. saleswomen get paid more than likely 10 times what waitresses make hourly. sure they may work just as hard, but they also get paid more hourly. so think of that next time you tip. :)
2006-07-24 01:45:01 · answer #4 · answered by drowningin_you 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait staff get very low hourly pay. I think it can be anywhere between $3.50 and $6.50, depending on where you work. A lot of salespeople get paid commision, so don't worry about tipping them. They get paid when you buy the clothes.
2006-07-24 01:33:43 · answer #5 · answered by munkees81 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In many other countries no tips allowed, you have a job that pays you a wage, frankly I tip but I'd rather not, so I'm very careful who I tip
2006-07-24 01:42:47 · answer #6 · answered by sapphire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no hard & fast rules...if you get good to great service go ahead & tip! There are just some jobs that it is more "traditional" to tip, but that doesn't mean you can't show your appreciatiation for good service. ..no matter what the service is.
2006-07-24 01:33:31 · answer #7 · answered by evemarkra 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most sales positions are paid commissions from the sale.
2006-07-24 14:45:53 · answer #8 · answered by lafftah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋