| Author |
Message |
    
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3631
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 6:12 am: |     |
We are in the last stages of having our house painted. The guys doing the work are not owners of the company.
Is a tip expected and how much? There are as many as six guys working on somedays. |
Yossarian
Citizen
Username: Yossarian
Post Number: 43
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 8:37 am: | |
Six guys is a lot, but we've given painters from $10 to $20 each, depending on how good they were, what condition they left the job after each day, etc.
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jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3213
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 9:04 am: | |
No |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 448
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 9:56 am: | |
there is too much tipping going on. I feel like I am supposed to tip everyone and I resent it.
for example, I had a new carpet runner installed. it was supposed to take 6 hours to install. it ended up taking 9. on one hand, I felt like I should tip for the extra time. on the other, I felt like, hey, they measured this area, they're PROS, they should KNOW how long this takes, the "extra time" is an imposition on me and should NOT be tipped! In the end, I didn't tip. |
steven
Citizen
Username: Steven
Post Number: 22
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 12:55 pm: | |
I never tip anyone except in a restaurant. Even there I am bothered by the concept.
First of all, we give them the extra money after the job is done. That is too late to earn their favor and hope for better service.
Second, and most importantly, we are paying them prices that they have quoted us. We did not set the pricing. If they think they should get more, raise the prices.
I know that most times it is not the owner who is doing the work, just some poor slob earning minimum wage (or less in the case of a waiter/ress - another outrage that Americans should be embarrassed by). Still... You would not think to tip your bank teller, toll taker, train conductor. If these people want to earn more money, ask the boss for a raise. |
steven
Citizen
Username: Steven
Post Number: 23
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 1:00 pm: | |
While I am on a rant...
What is with tipping the postman/woman? These people earn a very respectible living, and have a better retirement plan and health benefits than most of us (except maybe public servants) will ever dream of having.
Oh - boohoo they have to walk all over town to put the mail in my door slot. Ha - it is their freaking job. Rich, my postman never complains, and is quite pleasant whenever I see him. Not someone who hates his job. He even said once that he volunteers for our route (very very very hilly) because he likes the exercise.
Rant over. I feel better.
Resume your normal activities. |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 452
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 1:16 pm: | |
I agree that it's an embarrassment to have tips added on in this country. Any place in Europe - tip is included. my understanding is that this is the norm nearly everywhere else.
on vacation in Cinque Terre, my husband and I had an INCREDIBLE dinner, with appetizers, dessert and wine. the total came to about $30 US. the service and food were so good, we disregarded what we understand is the norm (5-10% for outstanding service) and tipped $5 - thinking, hey, it's just $5! the waiter then FELL ALL OVER HIMSELF to express his gratitude - gave us each free limoncino, special dessert, repeatedly expressed thanks, etc. try to get a thank you for your tip around here... instead, I feel I often get a sneer, like when you tip for parking (like I should even have to). I used to hate giving more than $1. Now it's $2, and last time I did this, I definitely got attitude, and wondered, have car tips gone up to $5?! in addition to the ridiculous parking charge? |
alan
Citizen
Username: Alan
Post Number: 92
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 9:55 am: | |
the guys parking the car don't set or benefit from the high prices.
and for those of you complaining about restaurant tipping, wake up. that's how wait staff make their $$. the rest. barely pays them anything and it's a known cost of eating out. if you don't like it, don't go out.
tipping people who work in your house is optional. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1765
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:55 am: | |
Question to those of you who resent tipping low wage earners who perform services:
Do you refuse your annual bonus? |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 466
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:59 am: | |
low wage earners ought to be paid a decent wage from the employer, which wage ought to be built into the price of the product.
tipping at dinner 3x/wk is nothing like a once-a-year bonus. |
steven
Citizen
Username: Steven
Post Number: 24
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 12:41 pm: | |
My annual bonus is paid by my company as part of my compensation package. If the owner of a restaurant wants to give a bonus and add the cost to the menu, fine with me. I resent having to pay someone's salary directly.
Greentree (should your name change with the seasons, now maybe yellowtree, winter maybe leaflesstree) - I am sure you don't tip the majority of low wage earners you encounter. When was the last time you tipped the guy who sweeps the train station every morning, the newpaper guy, coffee truck lady, clerk in Target, stockboy at the supermarket, etc.
Alan - are you who I think you are? If you are your wife gave me the $8 for Zoë's walk last night. If not, ignore that comment. |
alan
Citizen
Username: Alan
Post Number: 93
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 1:05 pm: | |
steven,
i have no idea if i am who you think i am. i was out last night, so i don't know if my wife gave $$ for a walk. email me if you want to talk further.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1766
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 6:14 pm: | |
Steven-
.....oh, never mind. It's not worth it. |
us2innj
Citizen
Username: Us2innj
Post Number: 853
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 8:08 pm: | |
We love to tip. With many contractors doing work on the house this past spring and summer, not a single worker was overlooked. The only exception were the guys who put up new leaders and gutters, and that was because they just showed up and did the work when no one was home.
PS: We tip early on in the work process, and it goes a mightly long way in getting the best work possible. |
Earlster
Citizen
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 2:03 pm: | |
I grew up in Germany, tipping there is as mentioned above 5-10%. Tipping in a bar usually means rounding up to the next D-Mark (now Euro). So for a 2.50 beer you would give 3.00 but for a 2.80 beer you would also give 3.00. In the end price hikes quite often mean more for the owner, less for the bartender and the same price for the patron, kinda screwed.
Since waiters make a decent salary (for many in better restaurants this is a professional career), they rely less on tips. Which means that service in Germany quite often is very rude.
I like the concept of tipping, because it makes most waiters/waitresses work harder. And at the end of my dinner I can either reward or punish them.
As for tipping contractors. I have done it when they did an exceptional job, but it's not the rule. |
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 802
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 9:59 pm: | |
Miss Manners agrees that the tipping system in this country, especially in restaurants, is messed up. But we are powerless to change it. We can't force the restaurant owners to pay a living wage. And if we don't tip, we are saying the wait-person didn't do his/her job.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 482
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 9:41 am: | |
well if Miss Manners says it, it MUST be so! 
Tom, I agree with you, and I do tip, well if the service is great, but I have also recently made the choice to RESIST the general upward trending of the tipping scale. 20% should not be the standard at mid-grade restaurants, imho. |
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 803
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 10:08 am: | |
What you say about inflation to 20% makes sense in principle. I often resolve to tip no more than 15% at restaurants, and then when I get down to calculating it, I notice that the dollar amount difference between 15 and 20% is so small, and I realize that the waiter/waitress can use the money so much more than I can, I almost always tip 20%.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 485
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 10:16 am: | |
the other part of the tipping debate is, what do you tip on a bottle of wine? I used to always base my tip percentage on the total bill, but then met someone who said, no, you exclude the tax, and you exclude drinks. e.g., why should you tip $10 just for opening a $50 bottle of wine? |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 154
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 11:10 am: | |
1-2many: you should absolutely tip the waitor on drinks. He/She takes his or her time to open the wine, and services you by refilling your glasses. It is part of the service you requested, you should tip! |
Bjp
Citizen
Username: Bjp
Post Number: 206
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 11:23 am: | |
Look at this way: If your bill is $150, and $50 of that was wine and another $9 was tax (on which many people do not tip), your "net" is $91. A 15% tip on that is $13.65, which seems pretty cheap to me.
I don't see the difference between wine and food in this regard. I mean, the waiter doesn't cook anything; he just brings it to you and puts it in front of you. That's probably less demanding than opening a bottle of wine.
Now, on another front: Do you tip extra in all the restaurants around here that don't have liquor licenses when you bring a bottle of wine with you? I think you should. |
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 222
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 11:30 am: | |
Ever been to a restaurant in England? Where there is no tipping? Service is terrible. Waiters and waitresses are independent contractors in a sense. They are acting on their own self-interest, rather than being closely supervised by a manager who gives them demerits when the water is late. Works better for everyone.
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