Tipping at Starbucks, etc.
Nov 10, 2011 | 1:51 am
#92
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS
Posts: 410
An ex of mine spent years working at a high level chain in Southern California where corporate automatically reported 10% of all bills to the IRS no matter what the actual tip was. In her case the averages where much higher but the effective impact before any actual claims was that her minimum wage pay got taken away for taxes before she ever got the check.
From talking to other servers I'm hearing that this has become the norm and often even at higher assumed withholding. What was an acceptable risk for a local dinner doesn't work in an age of chains and brand names.
And, while I've heard less stats on it, even the dinner type servers have had to adjust to a degree due to the mass use of plastic and the realization by owners that that if the server doesn' claim the income, the restaurant is going to have too -- paper leaves an ugly trail.
The best "under the table" tips I've heard about in recent years were actually from coffee shop employees. The morning shift has a lot of regulars who know their drink costs perfectly and know the game enough to tip cash, be it the change from the order or more. For years I had friends who would pay for dinner in one dollar bills, and yes, they got a lot of looks.
That said, I've been taught [by former servers no less] that tipping is about the service first and the economics of the location. To me this makes the most sense... If you're working at a place that pays nearly nothing as a base and do an eh job, I'm not going to ignore it... I'll still tip but it won't be 20%. On the other hand if you're doing a great job at a coffee shop, sub store or other place where tipping isn't the general practice, well, you went above and beyond and I'll leave something -- to thank you for the attention, not because it should be expected, if you want a regular tip, work in a place where compensation is based on service level.
Nov 20, 2011 | 8:48 am
#93
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: LT NoN REV
Posts: 566
But that comes back to the question someone posed earlier - if you tip at Starbucks, why don't you tip at Burger King? They are both doing the same job, serving you food / drink while you stand and wait for it, and then take it away, or drink/eat at the table in store. I don't see how it can be either included or added on automatically when the Burger King staff make minimum wage.
+1
Nov 20, 2011 | 8:51 am
#94
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: LT NoN REV
Posts: 566
As is often the case, we agree. ^
Growing up in New York City, I never saw tipping of counter employees in delis, coffee shops, etc. The general rule was that if you had waiter/waitress service, you tipped but if you had carryout or self-service you didn't.
Then, Starbucks arrived along with the tip jar. My solution is to always pay by card and in that way, I have no loose change. In fact, SBUX actually encourages this non-cash transaction by the use of their "rewards cards."
This "tip jar" mentality has gone so overboard that I know a car wash that has tip boxes at the start, at the end, and to put the icing on the cake, at the cashier! "Yes, Miss, you did such a good job of taking my money, here's a dollar for you."
Growing up in New York City, I never saw tipping of counter employees in delis, coffee shops, etc. The general rule was that if you had waiter/waitress service, you tipped but if you had carryout or self-service you didn't.
Then, Starbucks arrived along with the tip jar. My solution is to always pay by card and in that way, I have no loose change. In fact, SBUX actually encourages this non-cash transaction by the use of their "rewards cards."
This "tip jar" mentality has gone so overboard that I know a car wash that has tip boxes at the start, at the end, and to put the icing on the cake, at the cashier! "Yes, Miss, you did such a good job of taking my money, here's a dollar for you."
+1
Nov 20, 2011 | 12:08 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: AGR,CO,PC,AA
Posts: 411
For me, I go to the same Starbucks every weekday. It's always the same drink, Grande Pike. First few weeks I repeated my order daily. No tip.
After a few weeks they started putting my drink up as i was ready to pay. Every time my drink is ready before i ask for it = 77 cent tip.
After a few weeks they started putting my drink up as i was ready to pay. Every time my drink is ready before i ask for it = 77 cent tip.
Nov 20, 2011 | 2:55 pm
#97
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: LT NoN REV
Posts: 566
I tip at Starbucks only if the person who takes my order is unusually friendly or attentive. However, I do tip at my local doughnut store (SC Doughnuts in San Clemente, CA -- the BEST doughnuts!). It's family run, the whole family knows me by name and makes a point of welcoming me when I come in (I'm not the only customer for whom they do this). They know my order and prepare my latte and cinnamon roll without my having to ask, and we'll even do so while they help another customer (not a regular) who came in before me.
I'm going to try SC donuts , excluding the tip.
Nov 25, 2011 | 9:40 pm
#100
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: AA EXP, 3MM AA, Admirals Club
Posts: 461
If you don't tip at McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell, etc. (not that I go to these places any more than absolutely necessary - airports, when nothing else is close by and am starving), why would anyone tip at Starbucks, (or Dunkin Donuts, for that matter?) Absolutely ridiculous!!!
Nov 25, 2011 | 10:02 pm
#101
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,856
I tipped at a counter service BBQ restaurant today. However, I love their food and they're a local place and I really want them to stay around.
Nov 29, 2011 | 8:29 am
#102
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC & Delhi
Programs: CO Pres. Plat, SPG
Posts: 546
I tip at starbucks, but only if I am going to camp out for a while. The alternate method, buying additional drinks every time my current one hits empty, makes me a bit jumpy for the rest of the day.
When I studied for the bar exam, coffee shops were my favorite places to work, since they contain built-in distractions. Preparing with all of that going on makes taking the test in a large, silent room incredibly easy.
No employee is going to kick you out after a couple of hours if you've dropped $10 in their tip jar.
When I studied for the bar exam, coffee shops were my favorite places to work, since they contain built-in distractions. Preparing with all of that going on makes taking the test in a large, silent room incredibly easy.
No employee is going to kick you out after a couple of hours if you've dropped $10 in their tip jar.
Nov 29, 2011 | 9:33 am
#103
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Posts: 18,686
I tip at starbucks, but only if I am going to camp out for a while. The alternate method, buying additional drinks every time my current one hits empty, makes me a bit jumpy for the rest of the day.
When I studied for the bar exam, coffee shops were my favorite places to work, since they contain built-in distractions. Preparing with all of that going on makes taking the test in a large, silent room incredibly easy.
No employee is going to kick you out after a couple of hours if you've dropped $10 in their tip jar.
When I studied for the bar exam, coffee shops were my favorite places to work, since they contain built-in distractions. Preparing with all of that going on makes taking the test in a large, silent room incredibly easy.
No employee is going to kick you out after a couple of hours if you've dropped $10 in their tip jar.
Haven't had the pleasure of ever being kicked out of a coffee shop.. usually I may sit in there for over an hour using free wifi to do some work..
