Comments on: Manners & Money: Tipping

By: PF Journey

PF Journey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:33:15 +0000

I like the “benefit of the doubt” approach. You also bring up a good point about tip jars…seems those are sprouting up in the weirdest places!

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:40:36 +0000

When my family and I visited Europe a year or so ago we quickly realized that tipping is not the norm in many countries in Europe. Also – since there is no tipping service in many places is only so-so, after all the servers have incentive to give good service. When we first arrived we tipped at a couple of places and got quizzical looks and surprised stares. Only after someone explained to us that it wasn’t the norm there, did we realize why we had been met with surprise.

But yes, I usually tip if the service is good. If it isn’t great I still usually tip, just not as much.
.-= Peter´s last blog ..Do I Need A Long Term Disability Income Insurance Policy? What Do I Need To Know? =-.

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:06:31 +0000

If I’m disappointed in my service, I make a note of it on the back of my receipt. And there have been some long-winded notes!! If it’s really bad I’ll talk to the manager while I’m there–thankfully that’s only happened once. But I will still tip. I try to assume that maybe my server is having the crappiest day and isn’t able to hide it in a cubicle like some of us are. Maybe one customer was so rude, or something happened at home, because it’s certainly happened to me. I get to shut my door, s/he doesn’t. So I try to chalk it up to them having a bad day and maybe me still tipping will make him or her feel better. And if I were in their position, I’d want someone to give me the benefit of the doubt too.

Now, one thing that’s not mentioned here, but where I really feel the system is broken, is the “tip jars” at some establishments. Dude, I am NOT tipping you for making my burrito while I stand there; you get paid more and the tip is like bonus money. That aggravates me highly.

By: Jason @ Redeeming Riches

Jason @ Redeeming Riches — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:52:32 +0000

Kita, I think we also need to be counter-cultural. EVERYONE will stiff a waiter, but who is the goofball that actually tips well even when the server doesn’t deserve it?

I don’t want to overspiritualize tipping, but something that I’ve been challenged by lately is a sense of viewing my walk with Christ through a missional lens so that everything I do, even down to going out to eat, is viewed as an opportunity to be on mission! …I’ve got a long way to go!!
.-= Jason @ Redeeming Riches´s last blog ..10 Money-Saving Tips to Stash $10,000 – Tip #10 =-.

By: PF Journey

PF Journey — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:05:57 +0000

Jason,

There is so much truth packed into that comment! Thank you for that! Sometimes its not about the things we can or cannot change but how we deal with the situation presented.

By: Jason @ Redeeming Riches

Jason @ Redeeming Riches — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:20:06 +0000

Thanks for the post on this – I often think I should “punish” the server for not performing up to snuff, but one thing that haunts me when I do that is, “What if God treated me that way?”

I don’t know what the answer is to the broken tipping system, but I wholeheartedly believe that Christians should be the best tippers around!

Who knows – you might have an opportunity to share with the wait staff why you tip so generously (b/c God was so generous to us thru Jesus) if you frequent the same restaurants and get waited on by the same servers who get to know you a bit.
.-= Jason @ Redeeming Riches´s last blog ..10 Money-Saving Tips to Stash $10,000 – Tip #10 =-.

By: PF Journey

PF Journey — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:03:20 +0000

Forest,

Thanks for the International perspective!
In Egypt, where it is not mandatory….is it frowned upon if you don’t tip? Do people tip for average service or is tipping something reserved for exceptional service?

By: Forest

Forest — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:07:11 +0000

I agree forced tipping is seriously flawed. However in England tipping isn’t the norm and people get a higher base wage…. But being a waiter or barman is much less enticing in the states as you earn far less….. So I guess tipping has advantages too.

Here in Egypt 10% is standard and you can add more if you feel like it but tipping is not mandatory.
.-= Forest´s last blog ..Now Insanity – Continuing The Workout At Home Trend =-.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:55:32 +0000

I usually feel obligated in regards to tipping. I stay around 15%. I have never worked as a waiter. I have often been bothered that a bad cook can ruin a waitress’s reputation.

By: BibleDebt

BibleDebt — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:29:23 +0000

I agree that tipping is broken. Unfortunately, it is what it is today and service personnel are not paid well enough without the tip to make a decent living. Unless your service was terrible, let’s help compensate these individuals for the hard work they do.