pvn

1) again, read your own comment that I was actually replying to rather than whatever imaginary comment you think you made. You complained about variability. Tipping isn't some weird thing that is unpredictably sprung on you and you're just forced to pay some wildly unpredictable amount. Even in cases where gratuity is included, it's documented.

2) tipping is not bribery. continuing to insist that it is shows that you're not arguing in good faith and basically just tells everyone you're a cheapskate.

justus1900

Always Tip in Cash, Always No matter what.

GoPhils

Well in terms of variability, are we only talking about in restaurants (what the OP was referring to), or the whole "tipping based economy"? If the latter, particularly as it relates to hotels and Marriott in an effort to stay relevant to this forum, you could certainly argue there is variability due to the number of services that could potentially receive tips - room service, bellmen, valets, concierge lounge attendants, housekeepers and their envelopes, etc. Sure most of those have "standard" tip amounts, but those are often argued or not known by all.

Snuggs

I don't have any sage words of wisdom. I appreciate you relating the experience.

CJKatl

Unless you work for a company that requires the tip be included with a restaurant charge.

Podcat

+100

To all the valets, bellmen, doormen, bussmen, housekeepers, cabbies, et al that want cash tips:
I don't even want to tip you.
At all.
Expecting me to do so while requiring it in the form you most prefer, but which greatly inconveniences me, makes my decision a lot easier.

Get real and get over yourself.

innesst

The purposes of tipping include:
1) To enshrine the servant - master relationship. How tipping originally started, and continues to be a big driver for those that like to brag about how much they tip.
2) So management can be lazy and not discipline their workers. Customers don't complain - both sides seem OK with bad workers getting bad tips and quitting.
3) So management can be lazy and over schedule workers - thereby having workers earn less on slow nights with virtually no cost to the restaurant.
4) So owners can have workers cover costs associated with customers that want to get a discount (pay less tip) while the business gets full fee for the product.
5) Enable tax avoidance on all sides by systematic under reporting tips (something encouraged by a large segment of the public by the demand that tips be paid in cash, otherwise the manner of tipping wouldn't matter).

Most of this (but especially number 1) is proven by the generally poor performance of restaurants doing away with tipping and instead raising menu prices by an amount equivalent to tips. If it was really about the money, people wouldn't care how it's paid, or how it is received.

What tipping is not, is something to ensure good service, which it can't be since the tip is provided after the service is finished. As every study shows, there is no relationship between quality of service and the amount tipped. Every non-service (and many service) employee is expected to perform their job without a tip. It baffles me why restaurant workers can't do a good job for a good (but fixed) wage. --That is, they can't expected to by those that are in love with tipping. Obviously the waiter of the original poster did a great job even though there was no expectation of a tip (it was included).

redanman

Platinum Breakfast vouchers include gratuity. I stayed 30+ nights at one property (SPG) and I went to tip one day early on and the server told me it was included. It must be a pretty good one, because they treated me like family as they got to know me. No, better than family. I also think someone Brand Loyal enough is going to be a no-muss-no-fuss in this situation rather than a family of five screaming, spoiled little prats who stiff them. That's why servis compris ought to be the norm in USA.

Disclaimer: God, I hate to tip. Pay your damn taxes, y'all (@PINN@IPED, BIDKAT + another 100 from me)

Addendum: I don't carry cash any longer, this is one reason just as some of you below have noted, plus it just disappears. Ever since the FT published a Page 1 article on cash and virtual currency denoting that cash was to become "The Currency of the Poor and The Criminal", I feel that someone far better equipped to make this determination than I has come to the same conclusions.

A personal gripe, NYC is a cesspool of tip DEMANDERS, thus I carry a few $1 coins there so that I don't lose my suitcase.

MSPeconomist

Sorry but no. I want to have a record/receipt if I reasonably can, especially if I'm requesting reimbursement.

kimikoftokyo

In situations like these either Hotel or not I always tip cash. Between 5-10 dollars depending on what I am eating. ( lunch, dinner etc)

pvn

What would be more convenient, exactly? Like, do you think they should all carry square readers? Would that actually be easier than just slipping them a couple of bucks??

lol, this may be the most ironic post ever in the history of flyertalk, which is a pretty high bar.

pvn

Finally, someone just owns it. Good on you.

Weird, I'm in manhattan at least once a month, usually more, and I've ... never noticed this.

pvn

If you tip in cash, then you reasonably can't have a receipt. I have been submitting expense reports for 15 years or so and I've literally never had anyone challenge me on a cash tip I submitted.

pvn

We could probably go in circles for years about this topic, so why don't we just get to the heart of the matter... I get that some people just hate to tip, but why is it that people who are supercheap nitpickers feel the need to vocally proclaim this fact so proudly and loudly? Nobody is going to tackle you and force you to tip. On the other hand, if service workers (who depend on tips for their living) know in advance that you're not going to tip them, you're going to get worse service.

It's worth it to me to know that some guy who is working for a living gets a few bucks. It's worth it to me because these people remember me. It's worth it to me because they'll go above and beyond. If I somehow forget to claim a couple of bucks on an expense report somewhere, so be it, I'm still ahead of the game because my interactions have gone more smoothly, I've gotten what I need with less teeth pulling, etc.

If you want to stiff a guy because it makes your life slightly less convenient for 15 seconds, well, that's your prerogative, I guess, more power to you. But why do you feel the need to try to convince us about it?

Carpboy823

That was her point, challenging someone who said to only ever tip in cash. And just because your employer doesn't challenge you on cash tips doesn't mean that others' employers don't either - I've had employers deny tips and parking meter fees (old-school meter that only took coins) that were less than $3 each because they required receipts for all expenses without exception.