The digital tip jar
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I’ve said before that I absolutely love to tip. It means I received good service and had an excellent time. It’s the tip creep that I have an issue with. That brew pub thing is a perfect example. If I’m sitting at a table, and a server comes up, gives me a menu, maybe recommends a particular sandwich and beer. Brings me my drink and food in a fairly prompt manner, then brings my bill, takes the payment, then great. That’s 20%. If the server goes beyond that, maybe suggests I avoid a certain beer or sandwich, engages in some light conversation, is checking up with me when the glass is 3/4 of the way empty to see if I would like another, they are getting more. If, on the other hand I sit at a table, scan a QR Code, make my selection, and then pay electronically from the device and then somebody walks out, drops the stuff off at the table and leaves? That’s most definitely a non-tip and should definitely be a minimum wage job. Hell, a McDonald’s employee does more. If you add on a 15% service charge on top of that? Not only no tip, but you’re not getting my business anymore.
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Yes, tip creep is definitely a thing and it’s pernicious
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@Aqua-Letifer said in The digital tip jar:
It's not like "British hospitality" is even a thing.
How dare you!
It's right up there with American self-deprecation.
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Doctor-Phibes said in The digital tip jar:
Where did I complain about paying extra for something I perceive as nothing?
Where did I say you’ve been living wrong?
I never said any of that. I said I thought the base pay should be a little higher and maybe the reliance on tips a little lower.
Well, bro, you said this above:
I hate the whole tipping thing.
It would be a lot easier if people just got paid decently, and we didn't have to worry about this shit.You then proceeded to complain about a $20 tip for a $200 moving charge.
I grew up in a tourist area. It ain't Yosemite, but what're you gonna do, people wanted to be there. My first jobs were tip-dependent. And 3 other times in my life, tip-based jobs saved my ass.
My issue is NOT that you don't like tipping, man. And sure, tip creep's a big freaking problem, in part because it devalues its usage everywhere else.
I worked for tips for about 10 years total. At one point, I had no bank account, and all my money was in a goddamn shoebox. My job saved my ass specifically because I worked for tips. Guaran-fucking-tee you if they had been tip-free jobs with higher earnings I'd have had a serious income drop, and I would have been absolutely fucked.
My issue is that you think you know better than that and find it funny I take these things seriously.
Please love yourself.
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@Aqua-Letifer said in The digital tip jar:
You then proceeded to complain about a $20 tip for a $200 moving charge.
I don't remember the exact conversation, but we paid a lot more than a $20 tip to our movers. More like 10-15 times that much.
And to be honest, I don't think that's reasonable. I'd have much rather had it baked into the price. Apart from anything else, there's the uncertainty of how much is reasonable.
And it's not that you take it seriously that I find funny, it's that you get so freaking mad with people who disagree with you.
Proud supporter of Plan 2525. Everything you think, do and say will be in the pill you took today.
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I have never received good service at any of these restaurants that have moved away from tipping in lieu of a service fee or increased menu prices.
Me/rry/Christmas
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@LuFins-Dad said in The digital tip jar:
I have never received good service at any of these restaurants that have moved away from tipping in lieu of a service fee or increased menu prices.
Pro tip: Europe isn't known for its outstanding wait staff.
And as hard to believe as it is, neither is England.
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Since we're all so keen on cultural diversity, I should say that in a comparison between affordable British and American restaurants, there's absolutely no comparison. America wins hands down. At the higher end I don't think that's necessarily true. I've been really quite disappointed at a number of more expensive American restaurants. The quality of food doesn't seem to track with price, and neither does the service.
Pubs and drinking establishments is another thing Admittedly, you'll get very friendly service in an American pub, but the overall experience is often lackluster at best.
And if you're going to start comparing higher end French, Italian and American food, ok, that's another conversation...
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@Aqua-Letifer said in The digital tip jar:
So how much do you tip, big spender?
If in the US in a place that has tipping, 15-20%
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@Mik said in The digital tip jar:
If it ain't broke it don't need fixing. It may not be what other places do, but it's what we do.
But I think it is getting broken a bit and I think that is why there is increasing "push-back" and not just from me. LOL
The expected % tip keeps increasing. Why? Why was 15% okay just a few years ago and now it is closer to 20%? It is not as if dinner prices have remained the same. They have increased so the $ amount of the tip (at the same %) has increased.
In 1922, Emily Post wrote, "You will not get good service unless you tip generously," and "the rule is ten per cent."
In 2008, an Esquire tipping guide stated "15 percent for good service is still the norm" at American restaurants.
According to a PayScale study, the median tip is now 19.5%
In recent years, some waiters and restaurants have suggested that 25% or even 30% is the proper gratuity level, and that a 20% tip, once considered generous, is just average today.
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@taiwan_girl said in The digital tip jar:
In 1922, Emily Post wrote, "You will not get good service unless you tip generously," and "the rule is ten per cent."
...
According to a PayScale study, the median tip is now 19.5%The tipping percentage has nearly doubled from 10% in 1922 to 19.5% in 2023. Has today's service also improved from 1922 to twice as good as 1922?
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TG, it's an interesting question.
Money doesn't mean as much as it once did. That's my thought, after losing so much sleep over this topic for so many days.
Thanks, inflation!Oh well, still an interesting question. Will be interesting to see what else folks come up with.
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I wonder if the base salary of tipped employees has fallen as a result of the increase expectation for a tip. Hopefully somebody less lazy than me can look that up.
Proud supporter of Plan 2525. Everything you think, do and say will be in the pill you took today.
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@taiwan_girl said in The digital tip jar:
@Aqua-Letifer said in The digital tip jar:
So how much do you tip, big spender?
If in the US in a place that has tipping, 15-20%
That's what I thought.
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@Doctor-Phibes said in The digital tip jar:
I wonder if the base salary of tipped employees has fallen as a result of the increase expectation for a tip. Hopefully somebody less lazy than me can look that up.
Credit cards.
Credit cards screwed them. It's taxed. That's partly why there's been a percentage increase.
That and the stupid freaking software for credit card readers requesting a tip by default. You do know, right, that just because that machine asks for a tip, it doesn't mean that money goes to the person who rang you up?
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Putting on my Ax hat. 555
"Do you mean that many waiters are committing tax fraud by not accurately reporting their earnings?"
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I actually recently read a story about the tip inflation and found it interesting.
Apparently tipping was set at 10% for generations. It was during the inflation in the 70s when WaPo ran a story saying that tipping needed to go up to 15% to make up for inflation (forgetting that inflation meant the bills were higher, therefore tips were higher). Over the next 5 years tipping went up. Just recently, WaPo’s food critic stated that you must tip 20% no matter what! Because inflation!
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@taiwan_girl said in The digital tip jar:
Putting on my Ax hat. 555
"Do you mean that many waiters are committing tax fraud by not accurately reporting their earnings?"
You mean you don't know? I thought you were the fucking expert here?
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@Doctor-Phibes said in The digital tip jar:
And it's not that you take it seriously that I find funny, it's that you get so freaking mad with people who disagree with you.
I said it before in this thread and I'll explain it again: Disagree all you want about tipping. There are broken aspects to it that are certainly problematic.
The difference is, I'm not suggesting England has it wrong by not following a tipping model. But you think you know better than the country you moved to.
You're so quick to criticize silly Americans for expecting the world to conform to their sensibilities and here you are doing exactly the same thing.
