Couldn't agree more - tip jars are out of hand. On a recent trip to Australia I enjoyed their policy of taxing more. Most people there just round up the bill - and the service was great. Although I knew tipping was not an accepted custom in Japan I felt I had to offer a tip the small woman who carried our very heavy bags to our room. She politely declined the offer and said it was her pleasure. Why can't it be like that everywhere?

Also the percentage for a tip is getting too large. In the past 15% for a waiter was normal - now it is 20%.

cejkwj

I do not feel bound by the 15%-20% rule if the service is below par. I have started seeing the tip jars in Dunkin Donuts. What is next McDonald's and BK and other fast food places.

I saw this one guy actually take money OUT of the tip jar at a Starbucks (he needed a quarter or something). The cashier was stunned and the guy just looked at her with this smile on his face, got his coffee and politely walked out.

If people actually put money in these jars, wonder who gets it? The cashier, the counter help, cooks? Can't imagine but it's becoming widespread at all sorts of strange places where I'd never thought of leaving a tip.

As far as I know, it all depends on the location and thier policy -- at a pizza place I go to, they have a tip cup there and the cashier use to keep the money but now, no one gets the money and everyone gets free soda's that works there -- the tip money goes into the register to pay for these drinks. I would imagine each place has different policies...

Used to happen all the time to me, it's very rude!

Starbuck's tipping jars are getting WAY out of hand. One barista actually asked me if I wanted to put the change of a $3.30 drink in the tip jar when I gave 5 bucks.

James Smith

I've also noticed at little take-away places if you pay by credit card there is a place for a tip on the receipt so you feel like a jerk putting $0. I think it's getting out of control. But on the other side of the coin, I know of a guy who works in a restaurant/ with a take-out. The waiters have to take turns manning the take-out, and they always know their tips are going to be way less the day they get assigned to the take-out. I'm not sure the answer--pay all waiters etc. a reasonable wage and get rid of the whole tip system??

Tip jars are useful because you can toss your pennies in there if you like. But I have run into varying reactions to my occasional attempts to get a penny out of the tip jar. Sometimes they say go ahead, other times they seem to get offended. I don't get the offended bit, really... I suppose some places actually expect to get tips, which I find rather silly for a counter type place.

I ignore the tip jars, and think they're silly.

On the otherhand, think of it this way. Say you pay $2.85 at Dunkin Donuts driveup and give the cashier $3. then you drive off.

You can be sure that Dunkin Donuts wouldn't want people making the change in the register, and then sliding the 15 cents into their pockets. That's a formula for inconsistencies in the cash draw.

So they put the jar out, tell the clerks that everyone will share and that's what starts it. Once the cashiers get a part of a little pot, they want part of a bigger pot. Only human nature.

But I still don't tip. If I did, I'd need to tip the guy who offloads the supplies from the truck, and everyone else who had a hand in delivering me my morning coffee.

And speaking of morning coffee, our local Dunkin Donuts hasn't served coffee for a week, as our town has had an e-coli alert in the drinking water. I've had to get creative about coffee, and it's KILLLLLING MEEEEEEEeeee. (thank you.)
Rita

What are you doing? Making coffee with bottled water?

Driving to the next town to buy there. Pathetic.

This morning they announced the water was safe again. Safe like it was before the water ban, no doubt.

Yum.
Rita

I was at DFW last week at AA Terminal A and at the Fridays Kiosk (the little stand with bad sandwiches and drinks), had a cup with a dollar bill in it. Why would I tip someone for ringing up my transaction? The person had no other purpose than to collect money and make sure I don't walk away without paying - What kind of extraordinary service could he provide to warrant a tip?

Totally agree that tipping is becoming WAYYYY too "expected."

I have no problem at all providing tips for "excellent" service or for those who go above and beyond or who simply provide good "service with a smile" (the other day a waitress told us she forgot to put in our order so it'd be delayed by 15 mins.; she was really nice about it though and still got a tip of at least 20 percent). I do understand that people in the service industry often are underpaid and underappreciated so I do my best to thank people via tips and other means (giving Christmas presents to my letter carrier, writing nice notes and letters of commendation to corp HQ or the employee's boss when someone's been really nice, etc.).

But let this be MY CALL. Don't FORCE it on me. If a tip is no longer voluntary, what's the point? I really resent restaurants that add an "automatic tip." Really? How the hell is that a true "tip?" Why not just add the extra 15, 18, whatever percent to the menu price? I'd rather pay a couple bucks extra for a meal included in the COST of the meal when it's imposed on me than to charge me the amount anyway under the "illusion" of a tip. As for all those other bogus tip jars that are popping up as you all mention, I'd ignore them, too. What's next, me putting out a tip jar in my office here at a non-profit in a commercial building? Hey, *I* do a good job, too! Feel free to PM me if any of you feel like giving money away just because someone does what they're expected to do. I'm going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks... your money will be well spent.

One reason may be the sales taxes (sales taxes might get worse based on discussions this week). Let's say you go out for dinner for 4, and have a $200 tab (no alcohol). If the restaurant builds an additional 15% into the price to pay the waiters more, the total subject to sales tax (on the consumer) is $230; in a state with a 5% sales tax, the additional tax would be $1.50. There may be other costs which increase as salaries increase. If so, the restaurant may have less profit unless the waiter didn't get 100% of the bump. Over many meals and many waiters, the amounts can be significant. I've wondered and don't know whether most states require manditory tips to be included in the amount subject to sales tax.