Quote:
Originally Posted by Leon
As a lot of us used to be, I was a waiter back in the day. I worked for tips. I generally tip well for average service and better for better service. That all said, you have to admit that some of the point of sale "asking for tips" has gone over the top? Some guy hands me my food as I go through a line, then I pay someone else at the register...take all of my stuff and sit down and eat. And I am tipping those people for what? Because they handed me my food and took my money?
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I think it's more because tip jars get split up between the front and the back these days. As you know, they work hard in an uncomfortable and stressful environment and I think of it as a "thank you" of a meaningful manner for the mostly young people who are providing something I'm going to enjoy. If I haven't enjoyed it for whatever reason, there's no tip. If I have, an extra couple of bucks on top of the $10 or $15 I'm spending anyway isn't going to break me. I must say that the knowledge that these (mostly) kids are now making a decent $15 or $20 an hour anyway has me wondering whether a tip is necessary anymore (other than your actual server, if you have one where you eat or drink, who is getting $2.33 an hour and lives on tips), but the reality hasn't changed that it makes me feel good, it's good for the economy, and I still remember what it felt like both to be rewarded with a nice tip and stiffed for no reason. I don't ever want to be the tight-ass who won't tip or won't tip much "on principle." Bullshit. If you have plenty of money for yourself and your family, spread some around to the working stiffs. Babe Ruth famously handed out twenty dollar bills to anybody who ever held a door for him, or hailed a cab. The Babe made a fortune in his day, sure, but we can all do what we can. I say be like Babe.