Tipping at Starbucks, etc.
 

Why is it "cool" to tip at Starbucks or any other "in" place to get your coffee, why do their employees deserve a tip than those at any other fast food place, I doubt anyone tips at McDonalds, Burger King, Tim Horton's or any other fast food restaurant, and that is what Starbucks is, just a fast food coffee joint.

The way I see it, you tip for extra complicated service.

At BK or Dunkin Donuts, you're getting a cup of coffee... no pumps, no "skinny", no half-caf, no foam options. If you're getting a drip coffee at Starbucks, I don't think that a tip is necessary.

I drink iced tea, unsweetened, and therefore do not tip, unless i really don't want to carry around those leftover coins.

If I come in with 4 drink orders for my office mates, and 3 different forms of payment ... I'm more likely to leave a tip.

Never have nor will I ever leave a starbucks employee a tip. An extra pump on the vanilla bottle, frothing the milk, or whatever... It ain't rocket science and IMO, not deserving of a tip.

For the record, otherwise I'm a great tipper. The 'tenders at my local hangout always treat me well. Also just had a glass of house cab and an order of sliders at a new place while I dropped off and waited for my son nearby- bill= $10.70. I left $3 for the 'tender (not overwhelming, I know, but significantly more than 20%)
Again, a good tipper, I am but will never at a starbucks.

Happy to tip

I don't normally tip at any walk up counter, especially at my local Starbucks where they rin out of coffee at least twice a week. Is it really that tough to keep a fresh pot going all the time? They seem to handle this difficult feat at 7-11 without a problem.

Why is pouring a glass of wine any more tip worthy than making a frappucino?

Just wait.......we saw a tip jar at the cash register of a 7-11 while on vacation a few months ago........unbelievable! :eek:

When Starbucks employees start free-pouring booze into their stuff, I might consider tipping them. Heck, the booze might even make that over-roasted coffee taste better. :p

Cool? What...are we kids in school? ;)

If you want to tip, do so. I don't tip at Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or any like establishment.

Yes, many of them are :)

My favorite coffee shop also serves food. If I am eating a meal, I tip as usual.

I visit the Starbucks near my work 3-4 times a week. They know who I am, know my order, and will actually make my drink when they see me enter the store and have it ready by the time I get to the register. So I tip them for the extra service. Don't know if that's "cool". :cool:

No sure what you mean by extra service, they are doing what they would do whether they knew you as you walked in or didn't know you at all. No extra service here, really, just them getting your drink order for you quickly so you don't hold up the others behind you, just gets another customer out of their way and on there way, in and out the door fast.;)

Agree with falconred, disagree with sfo, if they provide extra personable and extra fast service that's worth rewarding/encouraging/thanking monetarily.

Whether or not it's hard or their job or a benefit to them somehow is beside the point.

And if you're going all the time and can encourage an extra positive experience, and the tip is reciprocated in extra good service, great ^

What I tend to object to is tipping for nothing/that doesn't get me anywhere compared to not tipping.

I know someone that stops in to a particular Subway 4-5 times a month. There's one person there that always remembers what kind of sandwich they like. Should that one employee be tipped as well?

:confused:

Of course.

We're not talking tipping 20% here people. We're talking pocket change, quite literally. People working service industry jobs behind a counter are already underpaid enough. I figure if I can afford to be buying a $4 coffee, I can afford to throw a few quarters in their tip jar (assuming the service is friendly).

I can tell you from experience working behind a counter, it really does feel good when someone tips you. Many people don't, so when someone takes the time to show a little appreciation it can really brighten your day. I've even had someone give me a $20 on a $4 order. Not that I'm at all advocating that, but it wouldn't kill you to throw 50 cents in the jar. ;)