Primarily businesses. It’s the manager/owner/corporate office who approved putting the tip “option” on the card reader, or who came up with $3 convenience fees, or all those other add ons that pad out bills.
2 Likes
We’re pretty similar in thought.
Another time we’ll tip big is if we’re getting food delivery at a time we don’t want to go out - like when it’s raining. Someone is doing it for us and we like to give them extra thanks.
$20/hour full time = $40,000/year before taxes. Is that a truly livable wage? Do these folks get full time with benefits, etc? In a handful of cases, possibly. In a few more folks (like teens) just want a part time job for extra income.
Regardless, we make a bit more than that and I don’t mind sharing the wealth when people are working to earn money. I really don’t see that as greed and doubt I ever will.
Extra mandatory fees at resorts, yes, so we choose to avoid resorts. High cost restaurants where you get little food for a lot of money, yes, so we avoid those too (unless it’s the view we’re paying for). Quite honestly, for our personality, we like other places better most of the time anyway.
Everyone has to decide what they’re willing to pay for. If one doesn’t like it, don’t get it or go there. Supply and demand will work things out. Some places might close, of course, but if there’s not enough demand for them to make a profit, 'tis probably best that they’re doing something else. Places used to close before recent times too FWIW.
1 Like
It depends on the restaurant. A small portion of very tasty food along with a great service can go a long way. Plus, some of these are chef-owned places where the chefs showcase their artistic skills and creativity applied to locally sourced ingredients. Art just comes in the form of food. 
We like to support some of such places. Steak and fries? I can make that stuff at home at 1/4th of the cost and most of the time, Mr. says home-grilled tastes better.
8 Likes
Exactly. My vet office uses exactly the same reader/software as the takeout place located nearby. There is no window for tips at the vet… the takeout starts at 18% which I skipped and never gone back… yes, these things are easily programmed.
2 Likes
Take out requires the tip before pickup. Does the staff see the tip ahead of time?
1 Like
I agree totally TBH. There are times when you get what you pay for, then there are the other times. We’ll try a lot of places, but there are some we’ll go back to.
If a place is quite cheap it’s helpful to remember one’s getting what they pay for too - artificial ingredients et al at times. Ever wonder why that burger is $1? 
2 Likes
Fast food and gig jobs were never originally intended to be full time.
7 Likes
I agree originally, but for some folks, that’s the best they can get or do. Not everyone is in the top - or average - classes at school. Not everyone can travel to a job. Not everyone has a situation that works with other full time jobs.
And even with kids in school, some are just earning extra cash for going out, but others are helping pay the family bills.
Working in an average public high school has really opened my eyes up to a bit of life compared to what I experienced in my top classes and college.
6 Likes
Now that there are so many fast food restaurants there are not enough part-time people to staff them.
Perhaps it may take some time before restaurants settle into a new equilibrium where they pay more to be reasonably staffed, prices increase to pay for the employees’ higher pay (inflation in restaurant meal costs), and the number of restaurants decreases based on demand falling due to higher prices.
Perhaps also with hotels, etc.
1 Like
If you run a business part of it is being agile and staffing is definitely part of that equation. If you have to close because of a lack of staffing and you lose business or provide subpar service you can’t get that revenue back easily.
I know I go to places that are open and have the staff/products for me to buy goods/services.
I think of it this way. If the grocery store is out of milk a couple of times I might give them the benefit of the doubt, but on the third time I am finding a new store.
And if your business model doesn’t work with the higher wages then your business will eventually fail.
Speed is super important in business for sure.
I have increased my tipping at sit down restaurants in the past couple of years, since my son worked as a waiter on college breaks and I heard his stories of bad tippers. But recently at a football stadium I stood in a long line, grabbed a vastly overpriced wrapped hot dog from a pile, continued in the line to the checkout where the person pushed exactly one button before turning the Ipad with pre-set tip amounts to select from. I selected “no tip” and don’t feel bad at all.
8 Likes
In my experience, service has gotten worse in the hospitality industry. I stayed in a hotel recently and found that the shower had no soap or shampoo in the dispenser and several lightbulbs were burned out. When I mentioned this to the front desk, the young woman there shrugged as though she couldn’t have cared less. No “I’m sorry” or “We’ll correct that right away”. Just a shrug.
Similarly, I waited a long time at at the counter at a restaurant and never got any attention to place my order. I left and went to the cafe next door.
It’s almost become the exception rather than the rule to get good, friendly attentive service.
9 Likes
I’m finding that, too. And really, I have to stay on hold for 30 minutes to talk to my doctor’s office?!? Only to be told there are no appointments available that day, even though I called at 8 am? Sigh. It’s getting old.
3 Likes
I always read reviews before booking a hotel. They can be super helpful. Either that or we’ve gotten lucky. All of my “can’t believe the lack of service” best stories are pre-Covid, including the place that made no apologies for wet paint in the room because they decided to do touch ups that day and put us in the room anyway. No signs were in the room to show specifically what was wet, and yes, I ruined a good pair of my hiking shorts.
Fortunately I had booked through Hotels.com as they refunded our money and gave me an extra $50 for the shorts. The front desk didn’t give a hoot. It was their loss because we stay in that area (of NC) many times when traveling north/south or just visiting H’s hometown. We’ve never stayed there again though.
1 Like
There are a lot of minimum wage jobs that are not fun and where I don"t tip like a gas stations, grocery stores, day care centers, even the workers at a school The Starbucks workers at a grocery store are not Starbucks employees but employees of the grocery store or Target (so are paid just like the cashiers or shelve stockers).
1 Like
I know ALL about Starbucks, believe me. My kid loved to give me the rundown on every customer who came in the store from the college students to the old guys who would come in and say, “I did the online thing”. Special ire was reserved for people who were jerks and didn’t tip. So I always tip.
I know about Tarbucks (what they call the Target Starbucks) and while they are not supposed to accept tips they will usually be happy to if you offer it.
So yes I go out of my way to be nice to people in those jobs and if they have a tip jar or a tip screen I tip. Why would I not? I can afford a dollar or two.
3 Likes
This is us. We can afford it and I want to support others who are working. I don’t feel everyone has to, esp if going out to eat/drink is something that stretches their budget.
And places where it’s not common - fast food, etc, pick and choose based upon how one feels. It’s not necessary. Last time we ate at Popeyes no one asked and there was no jar, so…
To the actual jerks out there, I secretly hope Karma comes one day. I hear about stories at school too…
I’ve seen enough Starbucks employees on social media mocking customers unnecessarily to know that it goes both ways. Many times you’re labeled a jerk because you don’t tip…or order something hard to make, or mispronounce something. It’s all out there.
2 Likes
People really need to learn why they have jobs….customers. So if they’re difficult so be it.
I’m glad my company has flaws …I have customers with issues. Otherwise I might not be needed.
I’m tired of people feeling ‘entitled’ or that their jobs should be brainless and easy.
Starbucks should figure out who the whiners are (probably making good coin too) and whack them if what you are saying is true.
3 Likes