Concerning this discussion you guys should watch the beginning scene of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs... ;)

for those tips jars at coffee shops, i used to carry around little pieces of paper on which i had written, "don't eat yellow snow."

Sorry guys, but I simply cannot see any sense in "throwing away" money.

Coins are money. If you're generous enough to want to add your coins to a tip or to a charity box, more power to you. But if you're just getting rid of the coins because they're inconvenient and you don't care about the amounts you're giving up... send that stuff to me, guys, I'll fund a vacation with it.

I don't like overloading my pockets with coins, either. But I empty them out each night when I get home (I never have more than a handful at the end of any given day), and put them into a 4-tube coin sorter. Periodically, one tube in the sorter gets full, and I put the coins into a paper roll.

Over the course of a year, I generally save approximately $100US this way. I take it to the bank and get cash for it a few days before my vacation, and use it as pocket money.

$100 may not be a lot, but I'm not going to just throw it away every year because coins are inconvenient. I MAKE them convenient.

And then I spend them.

To be honest, I absolutely abhor tipping. There are a couple of exceptions. What bothers me about it is how entirely subjective and variable the process is. You don't really know where you should tip, and where you should not. If you walk through a hotel, it's almost like you have to empty your wallets, because somebody smiled at you. It gets old.

I also don't like the concept of just rounding to the nearest dollar amount. That is a completely arbitrary designation of an amount that should be a conscious decision for what one has earned based upon their work. I just got back from Japan, and I did almost zero tipping there. However, I did pay service charges. And, I felt good about it.

At the Park Hyatt Tokyo, I was served a lot, and the bell people, worked very hard to haul my very heavy and bulky luggage up to my room. That was a service charge well-earned. And, when I saw that line item in my hotel bill, I actually felt good about it. However, I prefer that these charges are 'subtle' and 'pre-calculated', and built-in to the overall price. This was much the way it was in Japan. The US really could learn a lot from this model.

I believe that everybody should be paid fairly and generously for their efforts. However, I just think that the process should be more formalized and not based upon random people's opinions. What if person A's opinion of a fair tip for valet service is completely different than person B's opinion? Why not just take that variability out of the equation, and just levee a flat service charge for almost everything? It is better for the customer, because it removes guess-work, and I would think it is better for the employees, because they can count on being paid a given amount for their efforts.

Also, do I need to mention that it better splits the tax burden, because people can no longer hide their income from the government? A different topic, but just because I have an Executive job and am paid through a direct deposit, should NOT mean that it is OK for me to pay taxes, but the person bartending does not have to pay taxes, just because they work in a cash business.

I do (although it is true that many who know me would claim that I'm not in my right mind).

I go to the same SBUX every day and pay with my card. Since I know everyone in the store, they have my drink under way before I'm at the front, we chat about our kids, crazy co-workers, etc. It's a great way to start the day.

Around Christmas every year, I stick a twenty in the tip jar. I try to do it when no one's looking, since I want them to think it could be from any of their happy customers.

And, having said that, with the exception of a local ice cream place, I can't think of any other place that I have been so excited by their customer service that I put anything in the begging jar at the counter.

Mike

I recall a few years ago at the Shangri La hotel in Kuala Lumpur on it's bills in restaurants and bars there was a line indicating a service charge had been added and then I can't recall whether the words were "no tip necessary" or "please don't tip" but either the way the message was clear.

At a hotel in London this week in the bar (seemingly popular with American Airline crew) on ordering from the bar and charging to my room I was presented with a bill that had a 12.5% service charge added, an additional space for a tip AND a jar on the bar for tips. :mad:

I have a similar relationship with my (current) local coffee place, except for the tipping. I am very excited by their customer service - which is why I keep returning. Seems like having returning+smiling customers is reason enough for them to provide good service, and therefore do not have a tipping jar.

That's awful... yet hilarious.

When traveling around Germany, I always liked that tipping is optional but typically what happens is that you round up to the nearest Euro for good service and 1-2 Euro for excellent service. Since they get paid a living wage plus benefits, tipping isn't expected but certainly appreciated (especially since Americans tip a lot)

...if there's profit-sharing involved. If not, then I, as a front-line employee without financial incentive, couldn't care less whether I help one customer or a hundred. In fact, I'd prefer helping fewer customers, as I could read my book or play on my iPhone with fewer interruptions.

This is a very good point, and actually the largest issue that loom in my mind when I tip.

Do these people pay taxes or not? I pay my taxes, but if I'm tipping, are you paying taxes? I think there are some States in the US I recall that tax a certain percentage of the overall amount of a service providers income based on estimated tips received. I think in those States if you don't tip or under tip, you may get a negative reaction from the Service Provider.

In Canada and abroad, it seems that tipping is expected at a certain level, and I try not exceed the acceptable level if I can help it. My other train of thought is if I can't afford to tip, maybe I shouldn't be eating out. At hotels, I try my best, but when I don't have small enough bills, I explain to the attendant I'm out of small bills and I'll try and make it up on the next run.

In this case, there isn't. I guess some people just take pride in doing their job well - and would like to keep it :confused: It really is pretty sad that in the US it seems the only incentive for good service is tips.

Don't forget too that in the US so many jobs in the service sector are looked down upon as 'entry level', and yet are considered professional roles elsewhere, with apprenticeships, schooling, and life-long careers. (And yet perversely, the US advertises for airport security on pizza boxes and doesn't require a school leaving certificate)

In management, I long ago learned that it's futile to expect employees to work hard for the sake of working hard. Entry-level employees don't work out a sense of nobility. Some work for recognition, some work out of a sense of competition, but most work for financial reward.

Yes, but if you help fewer customers, your boss might decide to cut back on staff and you will either get less hours or be let go entirely.

The fact is that some people have a strong work ethic and are motivated to do their job well, and others aren't. Tips have little, if anything, to do with it.

I don't really care about taxes-what other people do is their business.
As for myself, I try and pay the lowest amount I legally can.