Why Do We Suckers Tip?

Gunny G's Globe and Anchor Sites & Forums! ^ | 27 September 2003 | Dick Gaines

[gunnyg]

Tip means To Insure Promptness, or Tips, To Insure Promt Service... Numerous writings regarding the history of "tipping" would indicate that tipping came about centuries ago, and was paid up front to insure prompt service subsequent to you providing a gratuity. Now, the gratuity is paid after the fact; just another aspect of how backasswards things have become.

Gone are the olden days when the innkeeper's daughter was the servant administering to weary travelers at wayside inns. But today, tipping has grown into an institution unto itself, and we are "conditioned" to this with obedience, and without question, no resistence, not so much as a whimper.

In fact, we Tip with extreme loyalty and pride, as we do paying our "taxes"! Anyone who dares voice an opinion contrary to tipping, is immediately attacked by tippers--the majority--therefore, mob rule prevails. Recently, I chanced to post some of my thoughts on the above to a Internet bulletin board, and was lambasted unmercifully as a tightwad, flake, and just plain mean-spirited (where have I heard that b4?).

Some of these irate responses came from enraged waiters, waitresses, etc. (excuse me, "SERVERS") who felt that they were entitled to tips, since their employers paid them below minimum wage and they needed the tips. I'm not sure that is even so and/or legal.

Others stated that they certainly would not take another job at higher pay and have to pay taxes on that pay, ending up w/less in their pockets; whereas otherwise they did not report their total tips, etc. Hmmm...

This topic is not limited to servers, etc. Today, everybody under the sun seems to be an eligible tippee and expects a tip--and big ones too.

If you are inclined to respond/post on this board, please attempt to do so with the big picture in mind, and not personally biased, e,g., as you would if you just happen to be one of the countless tipped/insufficiently tipped servers, taxi-drivers, bellhops, etc., etc. You may respond/post on any or all of those things mentioned above, and/or related information, questions, answers, etc.

Actually, I may have been motivated on this topic after reading an article on the Internet (by a U.S. Marine, moonlighting) who was badmouthing consumers in general for thinking that they should pay only the traditional 15% tip--this arrogant xxxxxxx was sure he had more coming him, and, indeed, was irritated/enraged that some were daring enough, depriving him of his due.

Personally, I am damned sick and tired of "servers" kneeling at my table, referring to me/us as "you guys," and hearing their "sorry bout dat," (which means xxxx you!) And what really pisses me off is when I'm sitting on the end in a booth, and some jerko waiter stands on my outboard foot w/his size 12 gunboats! No, I'm wrong--what really pisses me off is sitting there waiting for my check so I can get the hell outta there, after being pestered to death from the time I was seated with service above and beyond, only for them to disappear when it is my desired time of departure--this is when they show up after you finally catch their attention and wave them down, and they still pressure you to order desert after you ask for your check! Then, if you want change, there's another wait till they come back again.

Don't get me wrong--I am not opposed to tipping because of the above listed grievances--I am opposed to tipping in principle--I work for my pay like most others--and I don't expect/demand a handout. I just thought I would pitch my favorite bitches here while I'm at it, since the opportunity presents itself.

[Cronos]

And that's one of the good points of Japanese culture which we ought to emulate! The waiter should be paid by his/her employer the amount he/she deserves. Tipping is too french.

[visualops]

The IRS assumes that your tips are a percentage of the establishment's earnings. If you do not report at least this amount (8% I believe), then the difference will be tacked on to your W-2 as allocated tips. The IRS also expects you to report the value of "non-cash tips" from customers, such as tickets, passes etc. The other item to remember is the taxes to be paid on reported tips are not simply federal income taxes, but social security, medicare, and state income tax as well.

[NittanyLion]

I tip because servers are willing to do something I would no longer choose to do myself. Often they're young kids trying to put themselves through college or supplement their incomes; I did similar jobs as a kid. I realize that I'm in a fortunate enough position now to give them a generous tip, since people did the same for me.

[gunnyg]

Thankya, mtbopfuyn:
With your response I am now at my hoped for number of sensible responses here.
Success is sweet!

[mtbopfuyn]

Your = you're

Gosh, I used to never make those mistakes but the more I'm on the web poor grammar is rubbing off.

[Yeti]

below minimum wage and they needed the tips. I'm not sure that is even so and/or legal.

Well, do some research, DICK gaines.

[Huck]

I tip 20% or more when dining. I tip delivery guys at the house too. Mainly because I have been (by my standards anyway) financially successful the last few years, and I want to spread the love around a little. It's fun to be nice to someone.

[ghostrider]

Everything about our society is phony. We don't even declare war anymore. Why should anyone expect the posted price to be honest. Tip, tip, tip, tip, tip....

Or, ignore the brainwashing, carry your own bag, open your own door, and live like the classical American, rather than a tight pants French wimp.

[varon]

........what really pisses me off is sitting there waiting for my check so I can get the hell outta there, after being pestered to death from the time I was seated with service above and beyond, only for them to disappear when it is my desired time of departure--this is when they show up after you finally catch their attention and wave them down, and they still pressure you to order desert after you ask for your check! Then, if you want change, there's another wait till they come back again.

Have you considered upgrading from bars with food to higher class resataurants? ;-)

[JoeGar]

I tip according to the quality of service I receive. Bad service, bad tip. I thought this was the way it is supposed to work.

[Rodney King]

Tipping is good. I was in Zurich for 10 weeks this summer. There isn't really tipping there. The result is that it's virtually impossible to get a refill on your beer and wine. It takes forever to eat a meal. One day I watched the waitress sit down at the bar with her friends for half an hour before she checked on her tables.

[Ronin]

Move to Japan. Tipping is not done here. If you leave money next to your plate when you leave a restaurant you will probably be chased by a waitress who wants to return the change you "forgot".

The prices are higher, but I prefer it this way.

[Graybeard58]

"which it was when I was a waitron"

.. Couldn't find that "word" in three different on line dictionaries, even spelling it as another poster did, watron. I suppose if it is not a word, you can spell it any way you want to.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I'm not sure that is even so and/or legal.

It is so. Waitstaff make $2.13 and hour. It is legal. If you don't tip a hard working waiter, you are pretty damn sorry.

[aruanan]

In my book that is called extortion. Why would you return to a place where that potential exists?

That potential exists in almost any place; even in those where no tip is involved some employees garnish foods with various bodily fluids gratis. To seek to reduce one's chances of such an encounter is not so much yielding to extortion as it is exercising prudence.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

This guy is an ass.

[ghostrider]

Have you considered upgrading from bars with food to higher class resataurants? ;-)

"Higher class" is key to the tip issue. Most certainly, if you are looking for special service beyond the basic, then you should expect to pay for it. But, if you expect only clean, uncontaminated service provided in a reasonable time, then the establishment should pay for it. Dennys, Olive Garden, and the Golden Corral are establishments that should pay their own employees.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I can explain it for you. Tipping in Europe is not common either, and if you do tip, it is merely rounding up the change. Waiters in those countries make a decent wage from the restaurant, not to mention that most people received health benefits etc from the government.

[Graybeard58]

"It's fun to be nice to someone".


...You got it Huck, it's much better to be nice to someone than to sit around looking for reasons not to.

[Newbomb Turk]

This is why I don't eat out anymore.
1. The food usually is low quality.( my wife is an excellant cook so I admit I am spoiled.)
2. The service sucks
3. They think I should tip just because they showed up at my table.