Rodney

I don't tip fast food usually, unless they go beyond the pale. For a while I was hosting a men's get-together at my house, and I'd go in advance to a Togo's sub shop and have seven or eight different subs made in advance; at Togo's, one person usually makes your entire order while you watch them, and usually asks questions to takes directions as they go. I made these people sweat, so I usually tipped.

We generally tip deliverymen (more like boys, these days) who work for cheapjack outfits that don't pay much. Our house is a bear to get furniture or appliances into, and we appreciate careful work. We don't usually tip people from name places like Sears who have benefits, but these days Sears is outsourcing most of its service. The one time we tipped a Sears guy is when he reversed the door on our refrigerator for nothing, on top of the repairs he made.

Hairstylists I usually tip unless they own or part-own their salon. I figure owners set their own prices, so what's the need for a tip?

On the other hand, I always tip whoever serves me food, even if I know he's the owner. It's just simpler. In a lot of places, all the tips go into a pot anyway. At one place where we're regulars, the owner comps us a meal or throws in free stuff at long but regular intervals. I suspect he's refunding us his tips!