OT: Tipping for counter Service

[Fk_Pitt]

Just thought I’d ask this question so people can anonymously and honestly post their poll response. Whether I’m at the 6 pack beer shop, or basic counter service place, I’m being prompted more an more to add a tip. When I get my coffee, I don’t get a latte or goofy complex style, I just get a standard house coffee. If I’m at a place like Panera, I’m pouring the coffee myself but being prompted to tip for the cashier to ring my order and hand me a cup. If I’m at a full service restaurant I generally tip 20% if the service is average and 25% if it’s good. Although when dining on my companies dime, I’m only allowed to tip 18%. But that’s not what this is about. Im Just wondering what other people do for these untraditional counter service type things where the employees are making an hourly wage and not a servers $3.00/hr wage.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Yeah I usually always tip at least a buck. Like you, if I am at say a Starbucks, I am just getting a coffee, not some venti, extra mocha double latte.....

What I hate is I see people don't tip on take out. Come on. And to people who order expensive meal then realize that tip is now $30 and leave $10, well don't eat at that place.

 

[upj87]

Just thought I’d ask this question so people can anonymously and honestly post their poll response. Whether I’m at the 6 pack beer shop, or basic counter service place, I’m being prompted more an more to add a tip. When I get my coffee, I don’t get a latte or goofy complex style, I just get a standard house coffee. If I’m at a place like Panera, I’m pouring the coffee myself but being prompted to tip for the cashier to ring my order and hand me a cup. If I’m at a full service restaurant I generally tip 20% if the service is average and 25% if it’s good. Although when dining on my companies dime, I’m only allowed to tip 18%. But that’s not what this is about. Im Just wondering what other people do for these untraditional counter service type things where the employees are making an hourly wage and not a servers $3.00/hr wage.

you never mentioned how attractive the counter server is...

In general its a no for me. They are sort of becoming the squeegee folks of the service industry. If I'm at a winery or some such thing and get some advice from the counter person I'll probably throw a buck in the jar.

Dining out never less than 20% for dinner and 25% for breakfast .

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

i tip an extra 20 at the asian massage parlors so they remember me for when i come back later that day..

 

[NCPitt]

I tip 15% for take-out meals and 20% for dine-in meals. For small items like ice cream cones, pastries, or coffee, I throw some quarters or dollar bill into the jar.

 

[Duneaux Harm]

You need another line….it depends. If I go to a place where they simply reach into a counter and grab a desert and I go get a coffee, absolutely not will I tip. If It is a place that actually requires them to make something and they ask for a Point of Service tip before I receive anything I go for only 15% because of previous experiences.

I went to a place and ordered something then tipped 20% on the machine. 45 minutes later I did not have my simple order and went back in and they had lost it. So pre tipping was a huge mistake and now I am reluctant to give anything more than 15%. Also given that the 15% is based on the taxed amount they really are getting a little higher than 15 for the actual service.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

I tip way too much for everything. If all customers were like me, barbers and bartenders would be living in penthouses. I think I'm just stupid, honestly. Like, "Thanks for the Jack and Coke that took you 45 seconds from start to end - here's $5".

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I tip way too much for everything. If all customers were like me, barbers and bartenders would be living in penthouses. I think I'm just stupid, honestly. Like, "Thanks for the Jack and Coke that took you 45 seconds from start to end - here's $5".

yeah, i over tip the bartender at the bar i go too and i just drink draft beer. i tip a lot on my hair cut but that's justified IMO, i mean it's 100% service and labor..

 

[Fk_Pitt]

you never mentioned how attractive the counter server is...

In general its a no for me. They are sort of becoming the squeegee folks of the service industry. If I'm at a winery or some such thing and get some advice from the counter person I'll probably throw a buck in the jar.

Dining out never less than 20% for dinner and 25% for breakfast .

I knew someone would say it. I just didn’t think it would be with the first post. Lol. This reminds me of the South Park episode where Butters falls in love with the Hooters waitress because she’s hot and flirts with him for tips.

 

[HailtoPitt]

i tip an extra 20 at the asian massage parlors so they remember me for when i come back later that day..

Hey Mr. Kraft! Why are you allow to get a rub and tug, but players are not?

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

yeah, i over tip the bartender at the bar i go too and i just drink draft beer. i tip a lot on my hair cut but that's justified IMO, i mean it's 100% service and labor..

If I'm smashed it's game over for my wallet. I've throw Lyft drivers just plain silly amounts of money for like a 1.8-mile ride. I'm talking like a 1,000% tip, haha.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

I rarely tip in those situations. I will tip 10% on takeout or if they are making me something while I wait, 20-25% if I dine at a restaurant. Nothing for coffee or basic stuff like getting a donut or something.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Many people don't realize that it takes time to put together a meal you pick up at a counter. Probably a low paid person who takes the order, packages it up into 15 different Styrofoam containers, writes on the items names, etc.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

I usually tip 20% or more most places. But, I worked some in the service industry as a lad so I have a soft spot.

If I pick up a pizza and it's $20, throwing a $4 tip or tossing a $1 on a coffee isn't going to alter my life much.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Some of the stuff they ask for tips for really takes me by surprise. I wish I could think of specific examples, but I remember seeing things and thinking, "Whoa, there's a tip line on the receipt for THAT?"

Meanwhile, the dude who delivers my 120-pound Chewy order or the dude who loaded the 30 boxes of flooring I ordered at Lowe's onto a cart that is waiting for me gets nothing. It's silly.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I love at the end he gives her an extra $5 bill. Admit it guys, we’ve all done it.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Many people don't realize that it takes time to put together a meal you pick up at a counter. Probably a low paid person who takes the order, packages it up into 15 different Styrofoam containers, writes on the items names, etc.

someone very close to me works at a restaurant who has a very successful takeout and as crazy as it sounds, tips on these teakeout meals (whole dinners, multiple sides, etc) are the same or more than waiting on tables inside...

if you are getting close to the same amount of gratuity on takeout, which is probably 5-7 minutes of work compared to waiting on a family of 4 that is probably over an hour of getting them drinks, clearing plates, waiting on them., the takeout game is the way to go.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Some of the stuff they ask for tips for really takes me by surprise. I wish I could think of specific examples, but I remember seeing things and thinking, "Whoa, there's a tip line on the receipt for THAT?"

Meanwhile, the dude who delivers my 120-pound Chewy order or the dude who loaded the 30 boxes of flooring I ordered at Lowe's onto a cart that is waiting for me gets nothing. It's silly.

My six pack shop is like that. I mean, I’m the one who goes in and takes an hour mix and matching my beers…and then I go up to the counter and the owner is the one who hands me the slip with the tip line included!! Wtf?? I feel peer pressured into adding something on the line so it’s usually $1.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

someone very close to me works at a restaurant who has a very success

Tinder date?

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

This lends to other questions.

- Do you tip your mail carrier?
- Trash collectors?
- People delivering furniture or appliances?

We give Christmas money to mail and trash collectors. I'll often give delivery guys a $20 and tell them to get lunch.

 

[upj87]

I tip way too much for everything. If all customers were like me, barbers and bartenders would be living in penthouses. I think I'm just stupid, honestly. Like, "Thanks for the Jack and Coke that took you 45 seconds from start to end - here's $5".

takes me a while to get there but and is more like "Thanks for the 5th Jack and Coke that took you 45 seconds from start to end - here's $5".

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

My six pack shop is like that. I mean, I’m the one who goes in and takes an hour mix and matching my beers…and then I go up to the counter and the owner is the one who hands me the slip with the tip line included!! Wtf?? I feel peer pressured into adding something on the line so it’s usually $1.

Yeah, if I see a tip line you can bet I'm putting something on it. Otherwise, I feel like a cheap ass.

I stopped getting grocery deliveries, though, because it was jut too much. Like Whole Foods added a $10 delivery fee... and then they would calculate a recommended tip on top of that, depending on how big the order is. So for $27, I'll just go get the stuff myself. And, since I refuse to walk into Whole Foods, that usually means going elsewhere.

 

[Dointhatrag]

Different situations call for different amounts.
- If I'm driving to a restaurant and picking up food I might tip 10%
- If I am at a sit down restaurant it is between 15-30% depending on the service
- drink at a bar, I usually run a tab and end up paying at least 20-30%
- a one off drink at a bar at least a dollar or 2 per drink. Amount depends if I go there regularly or expect to order again that night, more for those situations
- counters like starbucks - no tip
tip jars - in the rare time when I use cash I might throw my change in there because its a pain to carry change but i rarely use cash

 

[upj87]

This lends to other questions.

- Do you tip your mail carrier?
- Trash collectors?
- People delivering furniture or appliances?

We give Christmas money to mail and trash collectors. I'll often give delivery guys a $20 and tell them to get lunch.

Note to Catholics...Don't forget the altar servers for weddings. Kids give up an hour and a half of their Saturdays (missed several halves of Pitt games in my youth) and considering all the other absurd stuff you pay for on that day its not out of line to send a few bucks their way. And make sure you give it directly to the kids. If you give it to the priests and tell them to give something to the kids they will never see it and more than likely it will end up as one of Father Werewolf's $5 Jack and Coke tips at the bar nearest the parish...

 

[Fk_Pitt]

This lends to other questions.

- Do you tip your mail carrier?
- Trash collectors?
- People delivering furniture or appliances?

We give Christmas money to mail and trash collectors. I'll often give delivery guys a $20 and tell them to get lunch.

I actually never thought about the mail man. But I usually tip the garbage men at Christmas. The problem is, I don’t know if it’s the same trash guys each week. And yes, I’ve done cash and have also done gift cards for lunch.

what about the AAA guy who jump starts your car or gets the keys out of your locked car?

 

[Pitt79]

I always throw all the loose change in the change cup they have on the counter if I'm paying cash.

 

[Pitt79]

I've come to the realization that tipping is BS, since my daughter worked in a restaurant, it's just a way to allow the restaurant to pay them less than minimum wage. I actually like the places that just add 15% to the bill as the tip.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

I have a question because I wonder what the outcome would be.
My grocery store always mentions rounding up my bill to the next dollar with extra going to a cause.
Would counter staff get more in tips if they did something similar to round up the bill and option to add more to bill?
I hated the idea of paying A heavy price for coffee. Typically I make it at home. But if I buy a coffee for say $3.50, and they offer bumping up to nearest dollar as a tip, I’d do that 100% off the time. Since it all kind of goes into the same pot would it be better to offer rounding up or expecting 15-20% on a coffee knowing many wouldn’t do that.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

I actually never thought about the mail man. But I usually tip the garbage men at Christmas. The problem is, I don’t know if it’s the same trash guys each week. And yes, I’ve done cash and have also done gift cards for lunch.

what about the AAA guy who jump starts your car or gets the keys out of your locked car?

I feel terrible not tipping my garbage men, because I always leave a ton of stuff out. But the few times I have actually seen them (they usually come while I'm at work), it's been different people.

I've thought about just leaving an envelope out when I've thrown away a couch or something, but I wonder if they'll miss it or accidentally throw it away... or if one of the neighborhood kids will just snatch it up, ha.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

I've come to the realization that tipping is BS, since my daughter worked in a restaurant, it's just a way to allow the restaurant to pay them less than minimum wage. I actually like the places that just add 15% to the bill as the tip.

No doubt. Just weird how it's become accepted as part of the business in the restaurant industry but nowhere else.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

This lends to other questions.

- Do you tip your mail carrier?
- Trash collectors?
- People delivering furniture or appliances?

We give Christmas money to mail and trash collectors. I'll often give delivery guys a $20 and tell them to get lunch.

I just had a refrigerator delivered, and tipped them both $25 dollar each because they were good and it was a big fridge and tight door fit and they did it well.

I tip mail, paperboy etc...because it is easy. I never tipped garbage because I dunno I am afraid someone would by and pick up the tip.

But yeah, I am usually in the over tip camp.

 

[upj87]

I feel terrible not tipping my garbage men, because I always leave a ton of stuff out. But the few times I have actually seen them (they usually come while I'm at work), it's been different people.

I've thought about just leaving an envelope out when I've thrown away a couch or something, but I wonder if they'll miss it or accidentally throw it away... or if one of the neighborhood kids will just snatch it up, ha.

just wondering, what kind of garbage collection do you guys have? Is it the old school Ray Liotta in Dominick and Eugene picking up and dumping every trash can on their route in Pittsburgh (seems very tip worthy) or the guys in the trucks with the arms that pick up and dump the cans automatically (what I have and not that tip worthy as these guys make pretty good money just for doing that) and occasionally get out and grab something?

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I just had a refrigerator delivered, and tipped them both $25 dollar each because they were good and it was a big fridge and tight door fit and they did it well.

I tip mail, paperboy etc...because it is easy. I never tipped garbage because I dunno I am afraid someone would by and pick up the tip.

But yeah, I am usually in the over tip camp.

i give a few $20's on the garbage day pickup before christmas. you are right though, you got to be there when they come. dont leave an envelope on the garbage can with "merry christmas" on it cause it could get thrown away or taken by someone else..

i've never tipped my mailman for christmas. not sure why. just never thought of it.. it's a she too and she's kind of hot..

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

just wondering, what kind of garbage collection do you guys have? Is it the old school Ray Liotta in Dominick and Eugene picking up and dumping every trash can on their route in Pittsburgh (seems very tip worthy) or the guys in the trucks with the arms that pick up and dump the cans automatically (what I have and not that tip worthy as these guys make pretty good money just for doing that) and occasionally get out and grab something?

my area is waste management but yeah, old school with the guy on the back hanging on. surrounding neighborhoods have the arm though. bethel park has those, with the arm that picks up the larger pre-approved garbage cans.

my borough isnt that fancy, yet..

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

just wondering, what kind of garbage collection do you guys have? Is it the old school Ray Liotta in Dominick and Eugene picking up and dumping every trash can on their route in Pittsburgh (seems very tip worthy) or the guys in the trucks with the arms that pick up and dump the cans automatically (what I have and not that tip worthy as these guys make pretty good money just for doing that) and occasionally get out and grab something?

They do it old-school style. It's Waste Management. My buddy who lives in Irwin also has Waste Management and they have what you're talking about (can only have two cans, and they have to be facing a certain way for the machine to get them). But you could never pull that off in my neighborhood... there just isn't enough space.

We used to have Republic, and that was one dude doing everything. Absolute beast mode: He would drive and collect. Looked like the dude was participating in a triathlon every Wednesday morning. He sprinted the whole time.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

They do it old-school style. It's Waste Management. My buddy who lives in Irwin also has Waste Management and they have what you're talking about (can only have two cans, and they have to be facing a certain way for the machine to get them). But you could never pull that off in my neighborhood... there just isn't enough space.

We used to have Republic, and that was one dude doing everything. Absolute beast mode: He would drive and collect. Looked like the dude was participating in a triathlon every Wednesday morning. He sprinted the whole time.

yeah, i never understood the one driver doing all the work. it just seems so hard and not very efficient. WM has one driver and one guy on back..

Being a driver with no help, man that has to be a long freakin day. that is 100% beast mode. i used to work with a guy who did that in his younger days and he told me it was about .25c per house, so he said it would average out to about 55k-60k a year. not terrible but man, that's earning every cent of that paycheck..

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I actually never thought about the mail man. But I usually tip the garbage men at Christmas. The problem is, I don’t know if it’s the same trash guys each week. And yes, I’ve done cash and have also done gift cards for lunch.

what about the AAA guy who jump starts your car or gets the keys out of your locked car?

Oh AAA, I had a battery issue, absolutely I gave him $20.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

They do it old-school style. It's Waste Management. My buddy who lives in Irwin also has Waste Management and they have what you're talking about (can only have two cans, and they have to be facing a certain way for the machine to get them). But you could never pull that off in my neighborhood... there just isn't enough space.

We used to have Republic, and that was one dude doing everything. Absolute beast mode: He would drive and collect. Looked like the dude was participating in a triathlon every Wednesday morning. He sprinted the whole time.

I have Waste Management and they usually take any and everything.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

I guess I'm in the minority here and rarely tip for counter service. At Starbucks, the baristas are making at least minimum, not a tip-based income like a sit down restaurant, correct? And usually I'm taking my drink away in a paper cup; they are not brining it out to my table, clearing it, seeing if I want a refill. So why feel the need to tip in that situation?

I also had my carpets cleaned and the tech asked if I wanted to add a tip. Again is that appropriate if they aren't paid below minimum?

 

[Pitt79]

No doubt. Just weird how it's become accepted as part of the business in the restaurant industry but nowhere else.

And if nobody shows up that day to eat, or they don't tip, then you're making half of minimum wage that day, and what they do is tougher than being a cashier at a Walmart or something like that.