@ECmotherx2 If you think that’s crazy, Idaho tipped wage is $3.35/hr.
I don’t spend more than $1.50 for a cup of coffee and that’s at a deli where I make it myself. I’ve even given up my weekend treat of Dunkin coffee to save money.
I could have sworn I saw it as low as $2.50 ish, but I’m not sure when/where…
Here is a handy look at what the tipped rate is by state:
https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm
At McD, where H still enjoys going from time to time, SR coffee is $1/cup. H says it tastes fine and so far, they’re not asking for tips.
I agree that the tipping economy should go away, but while it’s still around, I tip. I’ve never heard of anyone going broke from being generous. The Starbucks dudes and the like get a buck in their tip can; the take-out place gets 10% or so (more if I’m a regular); the sit-down or buffet gets 20%.
And those jars or pleas to help Whole Foods or other companies look generous by asking its customers for a donation to a third party get a big fat NO. If I like the third party they are collecting for, I’ll donate directly, but I’m not going to help a for-profit company look better by fattening their donations. They can give out of their own profits.
My philosophy is that tips are for workers who make less than minimum wage and depend on tips for part of their compensation. I know (because my son was one) that Starbucks baristas don’t fall in that category. I’m never sure about other counter servers, but my gut tells me they aren’t paid like waiters…(I wish employers were required to disclose that information.) I see no reason to tip someone who makes at least minimum wage and is simply doing the job he or she was hired for. After all, the shoe salespeople who have to run back and forth (and often climb ladders) to fetch customers multiple pairs of shoes to try on don’t get tips. The counter people at the dry cleaner who have to handle customers’ dirty clothing don’t get tips. The guys at the service station who stand out in the freezing cold while the gas tanks fill don’t get tips. The special treatment of servers, which I assume has some historical basis that no longer makes sense, is just screwy. WouIdn’t it be nice if food establishments simply had to pay a normal wage to servers, just like every other employer?
Not to get sidetracked but shoe salespeople are usually on commission. It’s one of the few sales jobs that pay commission at places like Macys. Probably because it’s a real pain to work. Otherwise, I totally agree with the above.
Depends, but usually around 10% at places like a local BBQ where I order at a counter but they bring the food to our table when it’s ready.
I rarely tip at coffee shops, but I drink brewed coffee. If I did fancy coffees I might tip.
In both cases servers are getting the real minimum wage, though.
I do feel some of these uber successful companies (and their overpaid execs) can underwrite some of those charities, if they want to look good. Maybe I make an exception for a few.
But when you talk minimum wage for tip jobs, that’s not any worker in any place that has a jar out. You can look at that chart and the further details for your state. Waiters and waitresses, yes. Counter help at fast food places, generally no. The latter aren’t making, eg, 2.13 at a donut/coffee place.
In general, we tip well. Our philosophy is we’re enjoying ourselves with an extra perk, our server is working. I don’t care if servers were to earn 6 figures in income if they do a decent job. I hope they earn a decent amount and try to be part of that.
At sit down places it’s always more than 20%, but the higher the bill aka pricier the restaurant, the closer it gets to 20% - at our small diner that we love, our tip is usually 30 - 40% because prices are low, but the servers are doing the same amount of work.
At buffets where they clean the plates off regularly and do a great job, it’s also 20% - even at one place where most folks don’t tip at all.
At counter ordering places where they bring the food to you, it depends. If a tip jar, usually probably 10 - 15%, except where we go regularly. Then we tip more. At our favorite place we tip $10 on what is normally a $15 bill.
With delivery we also do 20%.
At regular ole fast food (Hardees, Popeyes, etc), we don’t tip.
We always tip in cash, even if we pay by a credit card.
We also get great service, esp where we’re known. 
We simply like to help those who are making an effort to work for a living. We’re thankful to not be doing those jobs.
We do not contribute to store charity extras. We donate to charity ourselves - no need to go through a business.
I usually tip a dollar at my local Starbucks because I only go there once every week or so and the staff always gets my latte right (even remembers my order). It’s a big pain and a time suck if they don’t get it right so I appreciate them for it.
I don’t tip at any place where I order at the counter and take out. For instance, my local pizza place and Panera. I order by phone at the pizza place and the Panera app so I don’t feel it necessary to tip.
Whenever I go on vacation I realize just how tip oriented we have become in our society. Tip the hotel housekeeper, tip the bell hop, tip the bus driver for the airport shuttle, on a cruise tips are mandatory (which never fails to be bizarre to me - just build it into the price. Part of my vacation planning has to revolve around having cash on hand for tips for all of these people. It can be a giant pain and embarassing if you happen to forget one person.
@millermomm, we just went on a cruise where tips WERE added to the cruise bill, but it was pretty obvious that the stewards still expected a tip at the end of the trip! That bugs me. Some people also tipped wait staff and wine servers.
It always worries me a little to be on trips where a large cash tip is an expected part of the experience. Setting aside the debate over whether it’s a reasonable practice or not (I can see both sides of this), it just seems like a huge security risk. Heck, you’re already standing out a bit as a tourist no matter how hard you try, but to also have a custom that virtually ensures that every single tourist is carrying on their person huge amounts of cash just seems like it’s painting a huge target on the back of each tourist. Of course the vast majority of people are honest, but for the few dishonest people out there, tourists carrying thousands in untraceable American cash have to be a tempting target.
I loved my trips to Africa, but the cash tipping culture that required me to carry multiple thousands of dollars to give in tips was nerve wracking. Similar feeling on certain guided trips in Central/South America. I understand the idea of tip income being the main source of income for many hard working locals, but wish there was a way to make the tip without forcing tourists to carry staggering amounts of cash.
^Yes, I was shocked at the tipping guidelines we were given when we stayed at private game reserves in Africa. Rangers and camp staff expected a LOT! Many hundred dollars. We felt obligated to give them that since they did such a great job and figured they didn’t get paid much by the camps. This year, though, we’re staying with family friends at their timeshare at the edge of Kruger National Park, so we won’t have to deal with that.
Even if I agree with the tipping guidelines - and for the most part I do especially in places like Africa - it’s the fact that this tipping requires such large amounts of cash which you have to bring with you for almost the whole trip until you give the various tips. When I realized how much cash I’d have to carry on these trips, I actually broke out in a sweat.
In every day life, I don’t like to carry much cash. It’s easy to lose and can make a person a target. Get robbed when you’re carrying $20 and your credit cards and you’ve only lost $25. Get robbed when you’re carrying $3000… and, well, you get the point.
I think it’s a testament to how honest most people are in some of these locations that relatively few tourists are robbed. Almost every tourist there is likely to be carrying in cash amounts that could exceed the annual income of most of the locals encountered. The fact that few tourists are relieved of that cash is truly amazing.
@MaineLonghorn the tipping practices on cruise lines are one of the things that have put me off actually booking one all of these years. I believe it was my niece that told me how on one cruise she was on they called everyone into a dining room at the end of the trip (I assume not all at once) and asked for their required tips. Since then I have looked at cruises where tips are included as part of a special deal but also did wonder if tips on top of tips would be expected.
Go to any Disney message board and there are multiple threads about tipping at those resorts.
One thing I have noticed is that several of the high end cruise lines and tour companies like safaris have a no tipping policy. Obviously, the proper compensation of employees is baked into the rate you are charged but handling it that way sure seems like it would make it a lot more civilized. And these are companies with sterling reputations so they’re doing something right.
We frequent a number of places that have high quality food but they are go up and order. You’re given a number to put on your table and your food is brought to you on real plates with real flatware. They bring you bread or chips (depending on place). They clear your table at the end of the meal. The service and quality of the food is top rate. The servers know us and we actually prefer it over many of the sit down restaurants in our area. They use the IPad registers. The server flips it around and you can choose what percent or a dollar amount. The order taker will make a point at one of the places to say tip is optional. I usually tip 10%. At holiday time I give a extra cash tip to the server who we have most of the time. We go to the same spot almost weekly for lunch and they are very good about knowing how we like things and will sometimes catch a kitchen error. If I’m getting take out I’ll usually just put a few dollars in the tip jar. At a place like Panera or Chipotle I’ll just put a small amount in the tip jar. Both these spots don’t have as high quality staffing as our local spots.
Last summer, S supplented an unpaid internship by working at a hip gourmet burger place where customers order at the counter and food is delivered to the table, drink refills offered, tables bussed. Tipping in advance if using a card (95% of customers). Tabs included alcohol (beer, wine, adult shakes). All front of house employees (cashiers, expeditors, servers) split the tips evenly, with tips included in semi-weekly paychecks & taxed accordingly.
Base pay: $3.00/hour. Average gross wage including tips: $12.00/hour. Fair 15: in your dreams.
We tip semi-fast food workers much more generously now.