i used to explore trendy and interesting coffee shops, which would invariably have a tip jar. i would always leave the same tip: "don't eat yellow snow" scrawled on a napkin or handy scrap of paper.

I much prefer the Japanese system which is like this, except with consistently high quality service everywhere, and no tipping anywhere.

I don't mind tipping (although when traveling it's certainly a lot more convenient to not need to carry around a briefcase full of small bills in local currencies to hand out tips to porters, drivers, doormen, bellhops, maids, servers, bartenders, concierges, etc.), but if other places can get away with no tipping an better service than in the US, seems like tipping isn't doing much for us here.

I've noticed tip jars on counters at self-service cafes in London. Yuck.

I hate Tip Jars.

That having been said, if my change comes to less that 50 cents I'll likely just toss it in the jar since I don't want in my pocket all day. More than 50 cents? I'll likely keep the quarters and toss the rest in.

Would I ever take money out of my pocket to put in? No.

I also consider myself generally a good tipper in sit-down restaurants, and usually leave close to 20% for good service. Bad service? 2 pennies and I figure they'll get the message.

To me Starbucks counter service= no tipping.

Sorry if this has already been mentioned; I haven't read the whole thread.

But I was wondering; I understand that waiters in restaurants and bar staff get very little (as little as $3 an hour I've been told?), and that the tips are used to 'top up' their wages, which is why you will get very dirty looks if you don't tip!

What do the people in Starbucks etc get paid then? Do they get a proper (albeit it low) wage, or do they get the same as waiters and bar staff?

+1

Why should I throw money in a jar?

I occasionally throw 50cents in...if its a place I go to more than occasionally. Or if I walk in with my starbucks coffee bean bag that has the "free tall coffee" marked on it....and they see me walk in with it and smile and say "what kind of coffee would you like".


Now: my question...I've never noticed...do 'bucks in Europe etc have tip jars??

I"ve been known to frequent them for the wi-fi.. But....never paid attention I guess!!

True

I never put money in a tip jar.

Does everyone in America feel it's their moral responsibility to "tip" someone who is receiving low wages?

This thread is extremely entertaining, especially reading those remarks about people even wanting to tip the SBUX gophers.

Yes, yes, I know it's the "norm" at restos, but outside of that, there are no written rules and everyone's interpretation is quite different. Especially those who try to claim a higher moral ground.

that would certainly fit in with the socialist principles that form the basis of their nation :D

What next, affordable healthcare? (only joking with that one, of course)

These days a lot make it a claim of higher moral ground that is easy to accomplish. Some people try to show off by tipping to seem like they have more disposable income, kind of like how some people buy Apple products because it is a fashion statement.

I've found myself tipping more at places like this than I used to. That's because not only am I a big fan of Where's George? (www.wheresgeorge.com) but I have also recently been doing my part to get $2 Bills into circulation. They make for great tips and will hopefully teach people that they're not rare, not valuable, not collectible and aren't fake.

Of course, minimum wage laws vary, but in Ontario, Canada:

General $10.25/hr
Students under 18 $9.60/hr
Liquor servers $8.90/hr

Not that big a spread.