We don't tip the President for running the country well. We don't tip our Power Company for giving us electricity. We don't tip the gas station when paying for gas. So, why do we have to tip waitresses, hairdressers, cabs, delivery people, and etc when they are doing their job? Shoudln't they do it well everytime and not expect a tip? How did this tradition begin and how can we end it?
2006-08-14 08:45:22 · 14 answers · asked by casey_leftwich 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
They don't get paid a lot because they get tips. Read all of my question...i'm not bitching about having to tip. I'm just wondering why it started and why it ocntinues.
Wouldn't it make more sense if their salary was increased and we didn't have to tip???? Just a thought...
2006-08-14 08:55:32 · update #1
Frat Brutha...i did work as a waiter for 3 years when I was in high school. I still didn't understand why I was only paid x-amount of money and expected tips. Why should my wage be comparitive to other professions where tips are not of the norm?
Is this too complicated of an issue for some of you?
2006-08-14 09:03:58 · update #2
Because it puts more control over the quality of service in the costomer's hands. The reason that service workers don't get paid much is because they make tips. That means that most of their income is a direct reflection of the quality of their work. If they don't treat people nicely or whatever, they will get less money. This gives them incentive to do a good job. Besides, if we didn't tip, the restaurants, etc would have to pay the service workers more, and their prices would have to go up. So you end up paying the same amount anyway, but at least with the current system you get to choose whether that person deserves the money.
Other industries provide a product, or a service in which quality of work means little. We don't tip the power company because they are selling you something, and they set the prices.
2006-08-14 10:46:46 · answer #1 · answered by Danzarth 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Waitresses and many bartenders get paid tipped employee wages, which is far less than minimum wage.
This allows the restaurant and bar owners to have less of a payroll and therefore be able to stay in business without raising the price of food and drinks. The restaurant biz is a tough one and often times small businesses would go bankrupt if they had to pay all of their waitress and bartenders living wages.
Also, waitresses and bartenders often have to tip out bus boys and hostesses based upon their anticipated tips from sales totals, regardless of what they were actually tipped per meal.
Would you want underpaid and disgruntled people to handle your food before you eat it? Do you know what could be done to your dinner between the kitchen and your table?
These are some reasons to keep your waitresses and bartenders happy.
2006-08-14 08:55:05 · answer #2 · answered by cricket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ya but the thing is waitresses cabs etc.. dont get paid much! the president is filthy rich and the people that work in the power company get paid great too.. but how much does a cab make ? or even a waitress and a delivery person? these are all small jobs and i think a dollar or two wont make u poor! just helpin out people who cant get a job at an office with a brief case!
2006-08-14 08:53:09 · answer #3 · answered by lauren 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't tip delivery people or cab drivers.
Depending on the job, many of those people don't get a full wage. A waiter/waitresses starting pay, depending on the area, can be as low as 4 dollars an hour which isn't even minimum wage.
2006-08-14 08:55:01 · answer #4 · answered by C K Platypus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see it both ways. I tip well because I delivered pizza part time for extra cash but I would never make a living on tips. Chances are, if your working for tips you probably don't have good benefits. Sure we can try being a waiter or a waitress but why? Waiters, waitresses etc. choose what they want to do.
2006-08-14 08:59:37 · answer #5 · answered by metalicgirl69 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I tip anyone that I deem does "above & beyond" the call of duty. I even tip the cashiers at Dunkin Donuts!! I don't think its a bad tradition... Alot of those people are under paid and under paid people most of the time do half-a** jobs for the amount they get paid, so when I see an overachiever, it makes me want to compensate them with a small token of appreciation.
2006-08-14 08:53:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well most service employees that get tipped dont make good money to begin with and count on the tips. I tip pretty well in situations like that but I think its pretty obvious why no one tips the power company or the president.
2006-08-14 10:29:49 · answer #7 · answered by drunkbomber 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We tip those in customer service roles. Unfortunately Power Company's don't have much competition and don't care if they're providing the BEST service b/c you hae no choice. The President only cares when it comes time to vote.
We tip to encourage, moticvate and promote good customer service. Otherwise it would be completely forgotten!
Tipping should never end if we want to be enjoy good service!
2006-08-14 09:09:44 · answer #8 · answered by Karen H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a service provided.. and to show gratitude a gift is given.. usually money.. wait service people.. have it hard.. they are on their feet.. and dealing with the public and trying to make a buck.. if their salaries increase so does the cost of your meal... I usually leave 15 to 20% or more for good service... bad service gets 5 to 10%.. really bad service sometimes gets nothing!
2006-08-14 15:02:38 · answer #9 · answered by cinsaint1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cause waiters dont get paid anythign and they work aaaaaaaaall day. You should try being a waiter or a busboy for awhile and see if you think they should get tips...
2006-08-14 08:51:02 · answer #10 · answered by frat_brotha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋