Tipping

[East Bay Rider]

Had the Verizon Fios tech to the house this morning. We got a new router yesterday and had to upgrade from coax to ethernet cable. He had some obstacles and it's really warm out today so I walked him back to his van and offered him a tip "for lunch and a couple of cold drinks". He politely refused citing "They pay me to do this." He was a really nice guy and very tolerant of our curious pets as he upgraded our home.
In this case I would have been glad to tip him but with this thread in mind I have to admit his response was refreshing. Yes, he was just doing his job and yes, they pay him to do it but for some reason I was inclined to offer extra, which he refused.
Go figure.

[Tricolore66]

I am so over the tipping nonsense, which has reach critical mass at many of the restaurants I frequent. I have no issue paying for service, and my minimum tip in a real restaurant, unless things go horribly off the rails, is 20%, and I tip on alcohol as well as food.

There is a massive distinction between a professional waiter or waitress, who takes your order, explains the specials, makes suggestions on wine, and actually works, and someone standing behind an iPad and handing me a cup. The only value they seem to be adding, from my perspective, appears to be making sure the iPad is plugged in, but in this Covid world they act like f****ing first-responders that we can't live without. It's literally a job that requires no skill other than a warm body. I agree with many of the prior posts that tipping has turned into nothing more than a scam by owners of these establishments to transfer the burden of their staff's compensation directly to the customer.

I have a what I'd call a high-end local fast-food restaurant at the end of my street that I've been going to a couple of times a week for 20 years. They have good burgers, salads, fries, but not cheap. A burger, fries and drink is $25+, and a salad with tuna or chicken is $20+. You order at a counter, and you pickup you food at a counter, and you pretty much bus your own table when you're done. I went through the drive-through the other day and noticed prices have gone up, like nearly 20%. So has everything else, so I figure it is what it is. Then I get to the window to pay, and...yep...they hand me a credit card device and there's a tip screen. Now I'm sort of annoyed, but I don't want to be a dick about it so I tip 15%. I get home, and my cesar salad is literally a third smaller than it used to be. I'd noticed this trend over my past few visits, and was wondering if it was just me being paranoid, but no doubt about now. So this restaurant, already kind of pricey for a quick bite, has practically doubled the cost of what you used to get, when the tip is factored in with much smaller portions and a price increase.

[binArt]

I start at 30% and deduct for poor performance from there. I am not afraid to leave without tipping if the wait staff can't be bothered to provide good service.

Waiter knows the menu, offers suggestions, water glass is never less than 2/3 full, food arrives on our rhythm, I don't have to find the waiter, waiter isn't in a hurry for me to leave - 30%.

[East Bay Rider]

This meme just came across my FB feed and I thought of this post.

[OYptL]

It’s the new America we live in folks. Nobody wants to work and the young feel entitled. Certainly there are exceptions but that’s exactly what they are.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by OYptL

It’s the new America we live in folks. Nobody wants to work and the young feel entitled. Certainly there are exceptions but that’s exactly what they are.

Our older residents are extremely entitled as well. Especially the senior citizens who literally get free healthcare and checks from Uncle Sam every month simply by virtue of breathing for enough years

[OYptL]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

Our older residents are extremely entitled as well. Especially the senior citizens who literally get free healthcare and checks from Uncle Sam every month simply by virtue of breathing for enough years

If you’re speaking of Social Security you’re damned right it’s an entitlement. They paid into it and they’re entitled to it. How much we get is a direct reflection of what we put in and yes, I’m entitled to it.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by OYptL

If you’re speaking of Social Security you’re damned right it’s an entitlement. They paid into it and they’re entitled to it. How much we get is a direct reflection of what we put in and yes, I’m entitled to it.

That’s not how taxes generally work. I pay 6 figures in taxes annually and receive virtually no services in return. Some folks pay millions or billions for their non existent services. I probably won’t get social security either, since the program will either be bust by then or the USD will be about as valuable as a Zimbabwe dollar.

[Tricolore66]

We also borrowed money to go to college, and paid it back.

Originally Posted by OYptL

If you’re speaking of Social Security you’re damned right it’s an entitlement. They paid into it and they’re entitled to it. How much we get is a direct reflection of what we put in and yes, I’m entitled to it.

[OYptL]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

We also borrowed money to go to college, and paid it back.

Good for you!

[gliazzurri]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

That’s not how taxes generally work. I pay 6 figures in taxes annually and receive virtually no services in return. Some folks pay millions or billions for their non existent services. I probably won’t get social security either, since the program will either be bust by then or the USD will be about as valuable as a Zimbabwe dollar.

Let’s be honest though. Part of your taxes are for the said entitlement above. The rest is not and has nothing to do with a kickback in the same sense in theory. Or what am I missing on your consideration?

[SDGT3]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

That’s not how taxes generally work. I pay 6 figures in taxes annually and receive virtually no services in return. Some folks pay millions or billions for their non existent services. I probably won’t get social security either, since the program will either be bust by then or the USD will be about as valuable as a Zimbabwe dollar.

SS will not go bust as long as people are working and pay into it - maybe a reduction of appx. 23% in benefits, but it won't go bust. Also those people who paid into SS had no choice to opt out so that's money the govt has been holding for decades before paying out. And when you do get a pay out the benefits are subject to 85% taxation depending on your other income such as pensions 401k distributions etc. And those that are self employed paid in twice as much as others. But we're getting too far off topic here.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by SDGT3

SS will not go bust as long as people are working and pay into it - maybe a reduction of appx. 23% in benefits, but it won't go bust. Also those people who paid into SS had no choice to opt out so that's money the govt has been holding for decades before paying out. And when you do get a pay out the benefits are subject to 85% taxation depending on your other income such as pensions 401k distributions etc. And those that are self employed paid in twice as much as others. But we're getting too far off topic here.

Yes, taxes are besides the point here. But I’m not the one who introduced generational warfare into this topic.

The fact that older Americans are holding dollars that don’t buy what they expected is their problem. The same marketplace that handed them vast wealth is now handing them crappy service and a disgruntled workforce. Their dollars aren’t buying the service with a smile they expected. Which underscores what sophisticated parties already knew, which is that markets aren’t all sunshine and roses. I’m not sure what exactly is the solution, but calling all young people lazy and entitled is definitely not it.

[OYptL]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

Yes, taxes are besides the point here. But I’m not the one who introduced generational warfare into this topic.

The fact that older Americans are holding dollars that don’t buy what they expected is their problem. The same marketplace that handed them vast wealth is now handing them crappy service and a disgruntled workforce. Their dollars aren’t buying the service with a smile they expected. Which underscores what sophisticated parties already knew, which is that markets aren’t all sunshine and roses. I’m not sure what exactly is the solution, but calling all young people lazy and entitled is definitely not it.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by OYptL

You still haven’t made a point. So the young people who work at restaurants are entitled and lazy. What does that mean? That you’ll tip less? Or that you’ll cook food for yourself? Or hire an old, non-entitled personal chef? You can’t force people who no longer care to do a good job.