Tipping the Food Service Counter Worker

[Wilhelmson]

Do most people tip the counter worker at the ski resort cafeteria, or for takeout around town?

I usually do if the service was pleasant, although I guess it depends on my mood. The new payment screens annoy me with the tip suggestions.

For coffee I usually tip but a little less so now that it’s like $3.50 for a cup. Of course I don’t think anyone tips for fast food or at a convenience store. Imagine buying some milk and a bottle of wine and giving the clerk a $5 tip. It would never happen.

 

[scott43]

I tip more now than previously. Work is shit for these kinds of jobs because of COVID. I can afford it.

 

[Unpiste]

Tipping for pick-up food was never standard practice before interactive terminals became commonplace, which of course suggest a tip by default, while you're in full view of the line behind. I'll tip if the service was exceptional and price reasonable, or if I really like the place, but not otherwise.

I really got a kick out of the fancy automated checkout counter at Aspen asking for a tip for the bowl of chili I had just served myself, right before I filled a pitcher of water for the table, gathered cups on a tray, and brought everything outside. (The staff honestly were really nice, but still.)

If a business is underpaying its workers, that's not really a problem that's going to be solved with a tip.

 

[Scrundy]

If they are very pleasant….. yea
But they gotta work for it.

 

[Wilhelmson]

I tip more now than previously. Work is shit for these kinds of jobs because of COVID. I can afford it.

I tipped a lot over Covid but have gone back to the usual, which is still pretty good.

 

[KingGrump]

If a business is underpaying its workers, that's not really a problem that's going to be solved with a tip.

Bingo.

I grew up in a family that is very involved in the restaurant business. We are very much aware that it is a service oriented industry and many workers depends on tips to make a living. However, I do believe that it is necessary for some sort of services rendered prior to tips tendered.

Basically, one have to do something to earn a tip. It should not be automatic. Otherwise, the restaurant should include it in their price and split the proceeds with the workers.

 

[scott43]

I tipped a lot over Covid but have gone back to the usual, which is still pretty good.

I'm probably not the best tipper normally. So I bumped it up because things have been tough for some. I mostly feel bad for healthcare workers and teachers. Tough to tip them.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

What about this relatively new thing about asking for a tip before service has been rendered? To me thats more like a bribe than a tip. I still give’em some $$ because I know hourly food workers in ski towns are in a hard spot.

 

[slowrider]

I tip the bar employees generously. A very sound investment

 

[Jwrags]

I'm probably not the best tipper normally. So I bumped it up because things have been tough for some. I mostly feel bad for healthcare workers and teachers. Tough to tip them.

I can take your money via Venmo or PayPal

 

[tch]

I really got a kick out of the fancy automated checkout counter at Aspen asking for a tip for the bowl of chili I had just served myself, right before I filled a pitcher of water for the table, gathered cups on a tray, and brought everything outside. (The staff honestly were really nice, but still.)

I'm pretty generous with my tips nowadays, given my (relative) wealth and others' hard lives.
But.... there's a limit. We have a sandwich place nearby: you walk up and order at a counter, get your own silverware and table, pick up the sandwich when it's ready, and bus your own table when finished. The ready-made tip program on the pad starts at 18% and offers options up to 25%. No, just no.

 

[Tony S]

Let's set aside for now high end restaurants where expert professional service - wait staff and sommeliers - is really a thing.

Once you do that, everything else is just royals (owners) arranging finger pointing between the farming serfs (staff) and the hunting & fishing serfs (customers), to distract both from the fact that the royals are getting rich off of both. Divide and conquer.

 

[VickieH]

Is the new (to me) practice with tips common in your areas ... the one where tips are pooled and then shared among the staff?

I heard about it first from a friend in DC. IIRC, the website specified that the owners would not get a share. (Really? Who ever thought they would?)

 

[Philpug]

Like Bruce, I grew up in the restaurant business and my rule is I tip for service, not self service. There are a couple places I will round up my change, if the bill is 12.35, I will leave $1.65 as something.

 

[Jwrags]

If I carry out a pizza or Asian food, like tonight, I usually leave a modest 10% tip or less. We have plenty, many do not. The $2 tip on my $17 bill tonight will not impact my life but may help them. Now, at a restaurant where someone actually serves you I do vary my tip depending on the service even though the wait staff will just think I am cheap if I leave a small tip because their service is poor.

 

[noncrazycanuck]

At Whistler think it's harder now for employees to make ends meet.
Passes are linked with food services. I'm not even sure if there is a tip option, we just tap the pass at the counter and I haven't carried cash for years.
Countries where a decent wage is included in the price of your meal has always seemed more civilized.

 

[Sibhusky]

Is the new (to me) practice with tips common in your areas ... the one where tips are pooled and then shared among the staff?

I heard about it first from a friend in DC. IIRC, the website specified that the owners would not get a share. (Really? Who ever thought they would?)

Not really new. When I waitressed some 50 years ago, there were places that did that. One place I had to share tips with the busboys (no females doing that, and why? Because they got paid full minimum wage while the waitresses got like a third of that.) which really irritated me.

 

[fatbob]

I always thought a tip jar on a counter in US ( not Europe - ugh!) was fair enough provided not too aggressively positioned and hectoring. Something for you to drop coin change into if desired etc.

I guess contactless and Apple/Gpay has rather done for the concept of change and so we're now seeing these more intrusive PoS systems. Guess your street beggar needs an iPad with a Square dongle to maximise revenues these days.

 

[Tony S]

I always thought a tip jar on a counter in US ( not Europe - ugh!) was fair enough provided not too aggressively positioned and hectoring. Something for you to drop coin change into if desired etc.

I guess contactless and Apple/Gpay has rather done for the concept of change and so we're now seeing these more intrusive PoS systems. Guess your street beggar needs an iPad with a Square dongle to maximise revenues these days.

Yup. Next thing is we're going to start getting emails reporting on our tipping behavior, complete with censorious nudges to up our games.