Tipping?? Yes or no?

Question

I have a conflict (I guess you could call it) about tipping. I don't want to sound tight with my money but I don't understand why I should tip? Isn't it part of the job such as a waiter, hairdresser, nail technician, bar tender, etc to service the customer? Shouldn't the price be already included for their service and now they want tips too? I work hard for my money and feel that I shouldn't have to tip 20% or more (or even less) for lousy service. Nowadays, I feel that the service I recieve in these types of profession lack the professional services it should come with already and that a tip is automatically expected. Don't get me wrong, if I receive exceptionally great service, I don' mind giving a generous tip, but if I don't get the service I expect to receive, I have the right to hold my tip. What do you think?

But isn't it their choice of profession knowingly taking a job that pays a little less than minimum wage? Is it my responsibility to make up for the lack of a paycheck when there are other types of jobs that don't depend on tipping? And why do they believe that a tip should be rewarded even if my service wasn't all that good? And why must I pay someone a generous tip to gurantee a good haircut or nail job? I'm already paying $45-$100 for a hairstyle and now I have to pay more to gurantee that I'll get the job that I want??

Answer 1

I think there should be NO TIP for service you consider unacceptable; NO exceptions.

I'm against tipping, and think it should be stopped and that people should be paid at LEAST minimum wage, but earn hourly for their work. Until that time, I do tip, but this "new" 20% thing is really ridiculous, as the prices are rising fast, therefore why should the percentage of tip also rise? That has never made sense to me. A tip used to be about 10% forty or so years ago when the steak cost $2.50. Now they want 20% and the steak costs $30. Something doesn't make good sense here folks. We are being duped.

Answer 2

I cannot speak for services, other than waiting on tables. First off, waiters & waitresses only earn a marginal salary, most likely a few dollars less than minimum wage. They actually make their financial ends meet through tips. Now, I understand not wanting to tip a lousy server at all, so I had created a system of my own.
*1. As I enter the restaurant, I try to note how many customers there are.
*2. I try to estimate how many servers are on the floor.
If it looks like the server's workload is light, I am more stringent on my tip. And, naturally; if there are a large number of patrons, I ease up on my judgement call. Of course, in a large restaurant, counting heads could be most difficult. So, then I use my remaining determining factors.
*3. I compute 20% of my bill for the tip. At this juncture, I make my adjustments by knocking off 2.5% per instance, for what I see as lousy service.
What I look for:
*4. How long did it take to get my order in & to have it completed? (According to the aforementioned factors).
*5. If applicable, did I recieve a bread & butter plate? Which is more important than most people think!
*6. Is the server friendly, & attentive?
*7. Is the coffee fresh, within reason?
*8. Is the meal hot, again within reason?
*9. Are my meal items prepared as I had described?
*10. And, taste? Well, I cannot blame the server for lousily prepared / cooked food. And, it is chancy to send back your meal, so that's kind of a quandry there.
If you do have a problem & you want to send your meal back to be corrected, I suggest taking the manager to the side, & have him / her directly involved in a timely resolution.
Just keep in mind that restuarant servers are probably the lowest paid (hourly wages) staff members in the restaurant!

Answer 3

While it is your choice whether or not to tip, keep in mind that the waiting staff usually works for less than minimum wage and tips are their livelihood. Sad but a fact of life. In some fine dining restaurants, tips are included in the bills and you will usually see a disclaimer noting it and an extra charge line "gratuity". However, most places do not include gratuity and you have to make a choice. I use the following simple system:
Lousy service: Nothing.
OK service: 10% (of the total bill)
Good service: 15%
Great/exceptional service: 20%

Answer 4

The concept of the tip comes from the word gratuity, or to be grateful, or a form of saying thank you. As a person who tips well it makes a big difference , these are very difficult jobs with very many people like your self who are all so ready to look at the situation and how they can justify not tipping one more time, maybe if people tipped better it would create better service over all. if your in a restaurant, bar or hair salon you are not suffering. I like to believe that I am a thoughtful, considerate, charitable soul and it feel great and you would not want to hear what people like you get called behind their backs, it absolutely shocking!

Answer 5

If service workers were paid the same minimum wage as other jobs are, then skipping out on the tip would be justified. Unfortunately, their pay scale is set to balance out the money they make on tips. I usually tip around 20% if the service was good. If it was not, I tip the bare minimum 10%.

Answer 6

Some professions count on tips as their wages. This is especially true for wait staff. They can make BELOW minimum wage because their tips should off set that. Now, granted, your hairdresser is probably paid better than that. It is a skilled trade after all. However, no tip this time might mean crooked bangs next time. Think about it before you get too stingy.

Answer 7

I know that waitresses get paid under $3 an hour because they are suppose to earn tips for the rest of their money. You have to claim a certain amount as tips for tax purposes and some days you don't even earn what you have to claim. I don't know what the rest of those jobs that you mentioned pay.

Answer 8

people like you should realize that part of eating in a restaurant is tipping... maybe you should change where you frequent if you dont feel the need to tip. it is because of people like you that in the US they are starting to add the 20% onto the bill instead of leaving it up to the consumer to do the right thing and add 15-20% depending on service!

Answer 9

I think it would be fine if restaurants were no longer allowed to pay below minimum wage.
As is, that's not the system in the US. A server is vulnerable to customers who do not feel the need to tip, for whatever reason. So, write your congressman. Please don't punish people trying to make a living in the current system.
I've not tipped one waitress in my life.
I usually feel that if someone doesn't want to tip, that's understandable. They should just serve their own food, refill their own glasses, and clear their own dishes.

Edit: Yes, I really do think it is your responsibility. You know how the servers make their living before you dine out.

Answer 10

don't go out to eat, get coffee, get your hair and nails done etc. if you don't want to tip.
you are receiving a service which requires a tip - TIP - or don't get the services