Tipping

Apparently I was being “generous” with the 2.50. I did look it up again this morning. My city is one of the ones that has a higher city wage. But it literally is within city limits only and we are a big metropolitan area across 4-5 towns and cities and three different counties. So places literally across the street from each other can have different “rules” and tax rates.

Like I can never remember how much a cup of my favorite coffee is at Starbucks because it varies by a few cents at each store (the tax rates). And I live in one city/county and work in another and commute through another, so my 3 most “common” coffee drive-thrus are all different.

(I haven’t been in a restaurant since February. They are all drive thru/carry out/delivery for me now as I have a immuno-compromised spouse. So I have to take even extra precautions. ) I do miss the restaurant/coffee shop experience.

So should we tip when someone is just doing their job?
Today's "runners" for drive-thru pick-up?
Librarians providing interesting information?

tipping, of course, the service. the customer have the right to choose to tip. on quality of service and if he think got rip off by the price on the bill. i don't think the meal was worth the price. he or she should right to choose to tip.

Here is where it gets complicated and depends on how shady/caring the individual employer is and what “money making” set up they have.

Delivery drivers like for Uber DoorDash, etc. are independent contractors/gig workers/1099 work. They get paid on contract per job transaction. Many of these people get tips. Per job it’s generally at least 7.25 per hour, but no guarantee of how many jobs you get or additional benefits (ie. The hustle part of a side-hustle). So you do a bunch of deliveries with good tippers and you can make bank. You slack off, and throw peoples food around and spill stuff, you’ll barley make money (and have to pay income tax on all of as employers don’t pay any portion)


Food workers that aren’t expected to be tips, like Starbucks baristas, McDonald’s workers, local owns restaurants with a counter. Most buffets (though some consider their staff tipped like Golden Corral, so those clean up/ runners make $3ish an hour.) Some Chinese buffet that’s it’s a family run, they pay who ever works counter in wage and and then busboys to clear tables. Those are also min wage along with kitchen help. Or the kitchen help counter do both tasks. As “their job”. I have food allergy and avoidance issues, so buffets are not my thing anymore. But the higher end the buffer and the more you pay for plate usually means the people there are doing a job. Cheap plates means they are working on tips and servers wage. Like Las Vegas is sw**ky, but the food is cheap (not where casinos make the $) so they are tipped, and expect to be tipped well (like 20-30% at fancier places)

Personally I don’t tip if I order from a counter and throw away my own food/ place trays in cleaning spot. Or a drive thru, Unless I’m asking for something extraordinary, or do something spontaneously clumsy like knock over an entire table of drinks or condiments.

It’s messier in a sit down restaurant that does carry out/car side. I tip there because the waitstaff still boxes up the order, makes sure it’s right and that takes them away from a table where they would be tipped. A few have the mangers (that are salary) or owners doing take out, but that is less often now or completely true depending on how well they are doing. In general you don’t have to tip mgrs and owners, but that is harder to know unless you know the place well. And even so. They also appreciate the tip, as if they are on the frontline- something has already gone wrong that day.

So that means I’ve been tipping well in the age of corona.
Or cooking for my own damn self.
DoorDash is so damn convenient but so expensive on top of the food. And I feel like a jerk not paying it So I do, or do without.

My parents are way older, very much “boomers”

They don’t eat out much, and when they do it’s nothing fancy. Like Applebee’s is fine dining. Lol

Tipping with them is so awkward, especially as customs change and my dad won’t let me pay for anything either. So I pick the restaurant, and get the tip with cash, so it feels like less of an experience with the “Beverly hillbillies”

My parents are nice and kind, but my dad strong in the dad humor, so OMG. I cringe at the jokes. Not all servers “get it” at first or he forgets tipping has changed since the 80’s and a $1 is sometimes a sign of displeasure.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had bad eating experiences and bad waitstaff. It’s just more confusing as to who you are actually “punishing” by taking money away.

just i'm going tell you that i won't tip:

if a fly in my soup, does a better backstroke in the soup, than i do in the swimming pool.

i won't tip the fly under any crcumstances!

In the "good old days" if you were pleased with any service given then you gave a tip.

Now it seems you need a degree in Sociology, Applied Mathmatics, plus at least five years of actually living in an area, before you are able to pass the Tipping Test.