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'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

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Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#41

Post by gnicholas »

pmorici wrote: post #10
gnicholas wrote: post #7

I give credit to the few shops that default to "no tip" — presumably because so little service is involved in their transactions. Of course, it's fine to offer an option to add a tip, which is basically just the digital equivalent of a tip jar. But for the shops where service is minimal, it is appropriate to set the default to be no tip.

The real question is wether the workers are being paid the tipped or no tips minimum wage. The former being much less than the later in much of the US

I'm in CA so don't encounter this issue. Is it common in other states for workers in an establishment where you order at a counter and pick up your food from a counter to be paid a tipped minimum wage? I thought employers had to gross up employee pay if their hourly + tips didn't hit the non-tipped minimum wage?

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#42

Post by batteryhorse »

hoodwink wrote: post #25
duxup wrote: post #13

Lots of fast casual places now have a tip on their screens. I always choose 0. I mean seriously the only interaction I'm having lasted 30 seconds, I'll never see this person again / they won't do anything more for me, no tip needed... I hate tipping as it is (granted I do tip in non fast casual food situations). I'd rather just the cost be up front.

I used to feel the same, but then I started to appreciate just how fortunate I am to not have to work in retail. This isn’t because I’m better. It’s just because I was born into the right situation. I always tip now and use the experience as a reminder not to take my fortune for granted. It’s also a reminder that everything I have might be taken away at any time.

I don't think retail is a bad job. I would hate to be stuck at a computer all day writing code and dealing with non-technical managers and clients.

Someone who works a job where they receive consistent tips can make a lot of money, and if it's in cash it's tax free.

Plus the tips never go to the kitchen who do all the actual work.

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#43

Post by raldi »

Related:

> A 2009 study by the [NYC] Taxi and Limousine Commission found that gratuities rose after cabbies adopted a credit card system that prompted riders to tip; their tips jumped from an average of about 10 percent when all fares were paid in cash to about 22 percent on card transactions.

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2014/03/star...

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#44

Post by maym86 »

Camillo wrote: post #38
maym86 wrote: post #2

Guess what, you still don't have to tip if you don't want to. Your "guilt" is your problem, not a problem with the iPad. Anything that increases the takehome pay of low paid service workers in SF seems fine. It is entirely opt in. An article featuring complaints about some of the lowest paid people in SF getting paid a little more because of a new technology lacks some self awareness.

Look, if you want to pay them more, pay them more. I'm all for it. I just don't want each retail transaction to be turned into a labor negotiation! Tipping at restaurants is bad enough: why do I have to decide how much the waiter should make? If you make me think about it, 20% gross honestly seems way too much: the back of the house contributes a much larger portion of the value of the meal, so it feels like I'm stif…

Sure. Big picture, I agree entirely. I automatically tip 20% too as it's just the cost of the transaction and even if the waiter is bad it could well be because of their manager understaffing the restaurant or a number of reasons beyond their control.

Do away with the tipping and pay people properly for thier labor. En lieu of that happening (and I don't see it happening soon) I'll still tip at these kiosks. I don't have much sympathy for people who complain about them but I get your point.

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#46

Post by matz1 »

maym86 wrote: post #2

Guess what, you still don't have to tip if you don't want to. Your "guilt" is your problem, not a problem with the iPad. Anything that increases the takehome pay of low paid service workers in SF seems fine. It is entirely opt in. An article featuring complaints about some of the lowest paid people in SF getting paid a little more because of a new technology lacks some self awareness.

Exactly, tip is voluntary. I used to have those guilt issue but not anymore.

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#47

Post by [deleted] »

exacube wrote: post #14
blacksqr wrote: post #8

It seems to me that tipping has evolved from an incentive and reward for good service to a form of voluntary workfare where those who have something to spare decide to share with those still struggling in the low end of the service economy.

yes! tipping is like a naturally occuring form of redistrbution of wealth in capitalist countries :) I personally view the evolution of tipping culture as positive on the whole. and also, I think people tend to tip a bit higher if they feel good about the service, so it still incentivizes good service. When I visit Europe, I am reminded how nice the service industry in America is.

[deleted]

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#48

Post by debt »

freditup wrote: post #36

I am confused as to why it's standard to tip some low-paid workers but not others: * Fast-food workers do just as much work as coffee shop employees, why not tip them? * Workers at clothing stores take the time to fold your clothes nicely and box/bag them for you - why not tip them? * Grocery store checkout clerks in the city carefully bag up your goods so you can carry them with just two hands - why not tip them? *…

You can tip whomever you want; that’s pretty much how it starts anyway.

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#49

Post by AviationAtom »

joelrunyon wrote: post #32

I really don't like how this is moving from just food-service workers to pretty much everything. The #1 reason I liked Uber/Lyft was you didn't have to tip. Then the margins didn't make sense and now they ask for it. I shouldn't have to subsidize those rides with tips because you're not paying the driver enough. Just charge me the price you need to charge me.

I'm glad you acknowledge they don't pay the drivers enough. I think most of them don't realize what the wear and tear on their vehicles costs, and just get giddy when they start seeing the money come in.

Re: 'Coerced into tipping'? How apps are changing the culture of tipping in SF

#50

Post by mrep »

raldi wrote: post #45

To throw travelers a bone, regulations should require the screens to show the average tip. In fact, it should be required to be the default.

That sounds awesome. One of the guys I knew in college was from Jamaica and literally never tipped anyone until senior year because he didn't know that you were supposed to.

Now all these other industries are trying to add tipping as a custom and and I have no idea who that actually goes to, what they make without it nor how much other people tip.

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