Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Non-standard Tipping Situations

Gilda · 08-09-2005, 11:14 PM

Well, this has been illuminating. I didn't know that Sonic carhops could be paid differently from regular fast food counter workers. If I ever do go to a Sonic, I'll be sure to leave a tip.

One of our tenants, Jen's wife, used to work at a Hardee's, and it was actually against policy to accept tips, which could be a firing offense.

I don't tip my hairdresser, and until last year, it wouldn't have occurred to me to do so. I read about it in an advice column last year, but there didn't seem to be any consensus regarding it. Some said tip employees, but not owners. Some said always tip. Some said tip for appointments but not walk-ins, and some said tip for walk-ins but not appointments.

So I asked my hairdresser the next time I went in what she expected when it came to tipping. She told me that some people tip, but most don't, but there's no rule, and the price she quotes when she makes the appointment is what she expects me to pay. So that's what I pay.

I don't tip anywhere that I order and pick up my own order at the counter, but I always tip at coffee shops and any other place where I sit down and the server comes to me to take my order.

My theory is this:

The server at a coffee shop gets paid significantly less than minimum wage and depends upon tips to make the bulk of her income. Tipping is just part of the cost. When you order at a coffee shop, the product you're paying for is primarily the food, and giving a gratuity for the service is reasonable. Buy the product, the food, tip for the service. Just as at the grocery store, I buy my food, and tip the boy or occasionally girl who brings it out and loads it for me. Buy the product, tip for the service.

But in a hair salon, it makes no sense. Getting your hair cut/styled/colored is what you're paying for, the haircut is the product. Tipping just seems like paying extra for something you've already paid for in the first place. I would if it were the standard thing to do, but as it isn't expected, I'm fine with it.

Where Grace and I differ is on tipping delivery men (UPS or FedEx) and our postal carrier. They're already getting paid a full salary, so I see no need, but Grace insists.

I asked at the post office and was told that USPS workers are not allowed to accept cash gratuities, but a holiday gift with a cash value of less than $20 is permitted.

This policy makes sense for cops and firefighters and teachers, as a gratuity could easily become or be misconstrued as a bribe. But there doesn't seem to be any benefit to bribing a postal carrier. Nonetheless since it is against the rules, I don't.

Gilda

08-09-2005, 11:14 PM	#25 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	Well, this has been illuminating. I didn't know that Sonic carhops could be paid differently from regular fast food counter workers. If I ever do go to a Sonic, I'll be sure to leave a tip. One of our tenants, Jen's wife, used to work at a Hardee's, and it was actually against policy to accept tips, which could be a firing offense. I don't tip my hairdresser, and until last year, it wouldn't have occurred to me to do so. I read about it in an advice column last year, but there didn't seem to be any consensus regarding it. Some said tip employees, but not owners. Some said always tip. Some said tip for appointments but not walk-ins, and some said tip for walk-ins but not appointments. So I asked my hairdresser the next time I went in what she expected when it came to tipping. She told me that some people tip, but most don't, but there's no rule, and the price she quotes when she makes the appointment is what she expects me to pay. So that's what I pay. I don't tip anywhere that I order and pick up my own order at the counter, but I always tip at coffee shops and any other place where I sit down and the server comes to me to take my order. My theory is this: The server at a coffee shop gets paid significantly less than minimum wage and depends upon tips to make the bulk of her income. Tipping is just part of the cost. When you order at a coffee shop, the product you're paying for is primarily the food, and giving a gratuity for the service is reasonable. Buy the product, the food, tip for the service. Just as at the grocery store, I buy my food, and tip the boy or occasionally girl who brings it out and loads it for me. Buy the product, tip for the service. But in a hair salon, it makes no sense. Getting your hair cut/styled/colored is what you're paying for, the haircut is the product. Tipping just seems like paying extra for something you've already paid for in the first place. I would if it were the standard thing to do, but as it isn't expected, I'm fine with it. Where Grace and I differ is on tipping delivery men (UPS or FedEx) and our postal carrier. They're already getting paid a full salary, so I see no need, but Grace insists. I asked at the post office and was told that USPS workers are not allowed to accept cash gratuities, but a holiday gift with a cash value of less than $20 is permitted. This policy makes sense for cops and firefighters and teachers, as a gratuity could easily become or be misconstrued as a bribe. But there doesn't seem to be any benefit to bribing a postal carrier. Nonetheless since it is against the rules, I don't. Gilda __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert