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Tipping a transportation industry worker through Venmo: acceptable?

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Tipping a transportation industry worker through Venmo: acceptable?

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Old Apr 30, 2023, 5:25 pm
  #1  
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Tipping a transportation industry worker through Venmo: acceptable?

In the situation below, it it appropriate to ask a Amtrak employee if I can tip him through Venmo?

I was on a flight that got diverted, so I jumped off the flight, dashed to the local Amtrak station and am now on the Acela Express. I had an upgrade coupon, so I got upgraded to first class for free.

You tip Acela Express first class employees, as they serve dinner and drinks. I don’t have any cash, though, as I was in a rush and this train trip is unexpected.

The employee seems very good, so it would be Scrooge-like to give $0 tip.

Thanks.
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Old Apr 30, 2023, 9:52 pm
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Yes just offer an electronic Venmo PayPal tip. Risk that they don’t have either account.
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Old May 1, 2023, 2:48 am
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Only in America.
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Old May 1, 2023, 8:57 am
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I feel less guilty not tipping when the employee is making a decent wage to do their job. Someone making $2.38 an hour in a restaurant? You bet!. My guess is that Amtrak staff are paid well enough that a tip subsidy is not really required.
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Old May 2, 2023, 7:57 am
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Originally Posted by Marschel
Only in America.
The only weird thing about this is that there is an actual functioning passenger train involved.
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Old May 3, 2023, 2:41 am
  #6  
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I am really surprised that people don't carry any cash when flying. Even though I am practically cash-free at this stage, I always have some while traveling out of town.

To answer your question, with tipping culture in America being what it is, I doubt this would be a problem. The employee will probably be grateful, assuming he/she has Venmo which most younger people do.
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Old May 8, 2023, 11:13 am
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Ah, if the person whom you'd like to tip doesn't have an issue with it, I don't see a problem. I'm with you on this one, when a tip is warranted, as utterly heartless as I am, I feel bad not giving one, at least in America. Abroad, couldn't care less, unless when in an American hotel.
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Old May 11, 2023, 3:56 am
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Originally Posted by cbn42
I am really surprised that people don't carry any cash when flying. Even though I am practically cash-free at this stage, I always have some while traveling out of town.

To answer your question, with tipping culture in America being what it is, I doubt this would be a problem. The employee will probably be grateful, assuming he/she has Venmo which most younger people do.
I'm surprised that anyone would ever leave the house with no cash. There are no transaction fees, no internet hiccups, no electricity or batteries needed, no requirement that both have the same payment apps, etc.
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Old May 11, 2023, 6:56 am
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Originally Posted by Kevin AA
I'm surprised that anyone would ever leave the house with no cash. There are no transaction fees, no internet hiccups, no electricity or batteries needed, no requirement that both have the same payment apps, etc.
No ability to use it in an increasing number of settings... Even just the other day I used a public toilet which had a 50p charge - payable only by contactless. More and more pubs and restaurants are cash-free now too.
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