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Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

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Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#851

Post by dig1 »

> Schenker says it’s hard to sympathize with consumers who are able to afford pricey coffee drinks but complain about tipping. And he often feels demoralized when people don’t leave behind anything extra — especially if they’re regulars.

Seriously? If I have $10 in my pocket and want to buy something good for $10, why I'd choose something cheaper just to leave the tip?

> “Tipping is about making sure the people who are performing that service for you are getting paid what they’re owed,” said Schenker...

This does not make sense to me. If I'm a CEO, manager, or working for Google, Ford, or any company, behind the desk, should I be expected to be tipped for my service? If people are working for below minimum wage and expecting tips to compensate for the difference, they should be negotiating a higher paycheck. Some things in USA do not make sense to me.

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#852

Post by brk »

jacktribe wrote: post #99

I've just opened a coffee shop in Los Angeles last month, and we don't take tips. We only use self-ordering iPads (I've custom coded an iOS app w/ Stripe Terminal for it), and we don't accept cash either. We've had a few customers baffled by the no-tipping policy, and still insisting that they leave a tip. Some even left cash on the counter or on the table. We had to chase a few of them down to return their money. Al…

If customers rate their order and interaction with the barista to be satisfactory, a bonus payment will be made to the baristas on shift.

As a customer, please just leave well enough alone. I'd really prefer to just leave a tip if I'm going to be gently shamed into leaving reviews to make sure your employees somehow get the wages they were led to believe they would earn.

I would go a bit out of my way to frequent any non-tipping coffee shop/restaurant. And I'm quite happy to pay a higher price in the menu items to reflect the fact that the business isn't shifting some of their payroll burden to me in lieu of realistic pricing.

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#853

Post by RobinL »

courgette wrote: post #816
hooby wrote: post #751

In some countries like afaik Japan, it's customary to NOT tip and actually leaving a tip might be seen as an insult - as if you tried to insinuate they aren't paying their employees enough. I don't know why here in the west it's common practice to actually not pay employees enough and rely entirely on tips. Without those tips, many job offers in the service industry would not be attractive, as they don't pay enough t…

It’s a US and Canada thing. I’m 40ish and I gave a type twice in my life in France. Both were exceptional situations were I felt that the normal compensation was not enough and I felt bad for the worker. And even then.. I might have been influenced in my reaction by a long period spend in the US.

In Britain (where I live) it's standard (I believe?) to leave a circa 10% tip at a restaurant. When I've travelled to Europe I've done the same (but haven't thought much about whether it was expected).

Restaurants are the place I'd associate most closely with tipping

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#854

Post by kibwen »

BuckyBeaver wrote: post #740
inetknght wrote: post #388

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> we don't accept cash either. Not accepting tips is one thing. But not accepting cash means you will never have me as a customer. Edit: I've already walked away from a dozen different food places in airports because of this kind of trash: please install this app, can't pay in cash, can't see a menu without scanning a QR code, use an iPad with shitty touchscreen that I can barely see or use... I just wanted to order…

It's also illegal if they give you the item before you pay. Cash is "legal for all debts.' So if they let you establish a debt (by, for example, drinking some coffee), they must let you settle it in cash,

"Contrary to common misconception, there is no federal law stating that a private business, a person, or a government organization must accept currency or coins for payment. Private businesses are free to create their own policies on whether they accept cash, unless there is a specific state law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in cents or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores, and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency as a matter of policy or safety."

"The principal purpose of [the Coinage Act of 1965] is to ensure the nationwide acceptance of U.S. currency, consistent with constitutional language that reserves to Congress the power to create a uniform currency that holds the same value throughout the United States. While the statute provides that U.S. money is legal tender that may be accepted for the payment of debts, it does not require acceptance of cash payments, nor does it provide that restrictions cannot be imposed upon the acceptance of cash."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_tender#United_States

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#855

Post by extra88 »

andirk wrote: post #473
blendergeek wrote: post #371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't think I've seen anyone pay with cash in years. Even the old people at the grocery store use chip-and-PIN cards. I'm not sure where you live. I work in a fast-food place on a college campus. While the students generally use their meal-plans to buy food, the moment we have a "parents' weekend" or similar event, we do a lot of cash. It is generally poorer people (who don't have access to banks) who have to use…

A few companies around town here in SF Bay Area started doing cashless and the community saw it as a red flag as it clearly disadvantages certain groups in our community. A couple of those places I frequented took back cashless from said pushback.

According to this [0], it's illegal for retail businesses to not accept cash in San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York City and the states of Massachusetts and New Jersey.

[0] https://www.cashmatters.org/blog/right-pay-cash-now-protecte...

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#856

Post by jononomo »

jacktribe wrote: post #99

I've just opened a coffee shop in Los Angeles last month, and we don't take tips. We only use self-ordering iPads (I've custom coded an iOS app w/ Stripe Terminal for it), and we don't accept cash either. We've had a few customers baffled by the no-tipping policy, and still insisting that they leave a tip. Some even left cash on the counter or on the table. We had to chase a few of them down to return their money. Al…

I agree with others that you should not introduce a rating system or suggest giving to charity. If no one complains about an employee and you don't notice anything bad, then just take that to be a rating of "satisfactory".

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#857

Post by cooperadymas »

kelnos wrote: post #619
unethical_ban wrote: post #428

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I go to a bar that is cashless and still see people have to leave because they only had cash (or didn't want to use their card). To play devil's advocate, credit cards are another way to get tracked, a great way for a duopoly of companies to skim 1-3% off the economy, a way to be analyzed by the merchant, a way to get more explicitly prompted to pay a 20% tip, and more hassle than handing a $5 for a $4.73 coffee and…

> I go to a bar that is cashless and still see people have to leave because they only had cash (or didn't want to use their card). And I see the same issue when I go to places that only take cash: people have to leave because they only have a credit card. Or they pony up some ridiculous fee to take cash from the ATM in the bar. > credit cards are another way to get tracked I personally don't care too much about this,…

Your argument boils down to, I don't care about your problems, and they don't bother me, so they are wrong.

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#858

Post by [deleted] »

grayfaced wrote: post #556
csomar wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and give customers an option to donate to a charity if they still wish to part with additional money. Please no. That's how it usually starts. It was with small change but now McDonalds harasses you every time you make an order to round up for some charity I never heard about. I'd donate to charities on my own. Needless to say I avoid these places like the plague.

Nag-screens are awful but they do also need to explain their tipping because it creates customer confusion. They could simply put up a sign up that says "We pay our employees a living wage. We don't accept tips, but you can donate to our staff's preferred charity XYZ at URL."

[deleted]

Re: Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

#860

Post by franciscop »

noduerme wrote: post #829
franciscop wrote: post #801

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you expect as a customer to have anything to say about a worker getting paid? Do you follow your shoes manufacturing process making sure everyone in the chain is paid properly? I expect the employer to pay properly, otherwise for the employee to take their case to their union/court. This concept/way of thinking seems so strange as a non-American. > My prediction is that by 2025 [...] You do know that for the r…

I think it's the customer's responsibility to know whether the person directly in front of them is being paid, or relying on the customer to pay. If you go into a strip club in whatever country you are in, do you expect to get a lap dance without tipping the girl? Because she's in the union or being paid by the strip club? Probably not. In some states in America, like New York, waiters are basically like strippers. I…

[deleted; obvious trolling deserves no answers]
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