The Pain of Paying: How Technology Tricks You Into Tipping More

Pole-caught tuna made Me hungry for a tuna melt. ..

reply to post by JiggyPotamus


You are very correct about the correlation of the bottom line and customer service. That service is influenced by tips therefore the company knows that the employee will have its best interests at heart.

I always tell servers that it is the company that works for them, not the other way around. They have their sections and they run their own business. They pay the company a cut of the food they serve (through menu prices). It's not that far from being self-employed. Think of it like a hair dresser renting out a chair at a salon.

When employees are able to make more in tips, it makes a company more desirable to the employee pool. Smart recruiting move, from a business standpoint. You spent a nominal amount on technology, and then let the customers do all the real work for you while you attract the most qualified service staff available.

But I am not tipping a Starbucks employee. Ain't happening. There is a convenience store locally with a bunch of cute chicks working there. i ignore their stupid and crass tip jar on the counter, too. Really? A tip for selling me a pack of smokes?

JohnPhoenix
Any company that uses a machine that attempts to force me to tip doesn't deserve any tip at all. I tip what i feel the service is worth. I don't give a rats arse that 15% is standard, if I don't feel they deserve that much, they may get 5% or 10% or nothing.

So you have to manually Opt Out on something that's not compulsory in the first place? I think that sucks. Lots of folks will not notice this Opt Out option, and I doubt they will tell you about it up front before you use your card. They may be counting on that very thing, which is dishonest and seems more like theft to me.

edit on 15-3-2014 by JohnPhoenix because: sp

tipping should be made illegal and made a federal offense.

these people are robbing us.i also carry lots of small change which i dump in their hands and walk away.sometimes i deliberately short change them for daring to try to make me feel quilty.

you charge 2.99 i give 2.99 not a cent more.

i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

championoftruth

JohnPhoenix
Any company that uses a machine that attempts to force me to tip doesn't deserve any tip at all. I tip what i feel the service is worth. I don't give a rats arse that 15% is standard, if I don't feel they deserve that much, they may get 5% or 10% or nothing.

So you have to manually Opt Out on something that's not compulsory in the first place? I think that sucks. Lots of folks will not notice this Opt Out option, and I doubt they will tell you about it up front before you use your card. They may be counting on that very thing, which is dishonest and seems more like theft to me.

edit on 15-3-2014 by JohnPhoenix because: sp

tipping should be made illegal and made a federal offense.

these people are robbing us.i also carry lots of small change which i dump in their hands and walk away.sometimes i deliberately short change them for daring to try to make me feel quilty.

you charge 2.99 i give 2.99 not a cent more.

i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

I hope you understand that your meal is never the price that is listed. It is taxed and the server who gave you the food pays those taxes. If you do not tip that person, that person is paying for part of your meal and thus making less than minimum wage.

Also... I see a pubic hair sandwich in your future.

To be honest: Anyone who does anything for me gets a ten dollar tip between 1-49 dollars. 50-99 they get 20. And so on and so on.

Through out all of my experiences in life I found out that by tipping in this manner it has my "servants" doing the following:

1. REMEMBERING MY NAME. FIRST, MIDDLE, LAST. INCLUDING MY FRIENDS. Seriously when you have someone remember not only you but your other friends it makes them feel important. In fact it landed me on the highlights of some other individuals VIP lines.
2. ALWAYS REMAINING ATTENTIVE TO ME. No matter what my drink is never, EVER, and I mean NEVER EVER empty. With hair cuts they give me free shaves.
3. ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR ME. They tell me where certain individuals are sitting, they let me know who is who. They also tell me if I left anything behind before I leave.
4. ALWAYS GIVING ME DISCOUNTS. No matter what I get some type of discount every time. Hidden coupons, manager specials, employee discounts even though I am not an employee.
5. ALWAYS HELPING ME OUT WHEN EVER I NEED SOMETHING DONE. Yeah I keep their numbers and they know mine. I ask them to help out with something and they never fail.

If you want to see anyone who does anything for you JUMP at the sight of seeing you then start tipping like this. If you are unable to tip in this manner then you will only ever get the cold shoulder from them upon your exit.

Because everyone either picks the option of 15%, or No tip at all, I get all of the accolades every time.

And because I have so many that help me I help them back.

You can call me stupid all you want and think I tip recklessly. But when you are able to call these individuals up and ask them for info on someone, or helping you out with different tasks that you can't do yourself... It is like a Mafia. A Mob. The CIA. And Law enforcement on your side.

Because no one enjoys giving their money to this would be low life they don't ever establish a network with some of the most important people on this planet.

It's your loss. Stop being stingy and watch what these people will do for you with a simple 10 dollar tip under 49 bucks.


On the flip side: I have worked as a Taxi driver, Concessionist at ball games, Suite server for big title fights, and a Pizza Delivery driver.

One thing remains consistent: Rich people NEVER TIP. If they do it is usually only 10% on average. They don't even want to tip more than half the time. And I finally found out why: Mortgage's. These "fake" rich people have no money to even be doing anything the set out to do. It is all being spent on "the life."

The real rich people? You know the ones who actually make it AND THEN buy those McMansions? They live in houses and own cars that are not costing them too much money to keep up on the payments. They wait a good 5 years to make enough in profits to afford those vehicles without loans. And seriously there are a lot of fake rich people in this world. I have met my fair share of them and HOLY HELL do these people leave a rank stench like a beer fart in church. Not to mention that I met a woud be fake rich guy in my cab who flipped a check a few times until he finally got it cashed. Fake ID, PayDay Loans... Cashed it and bought himself a used porsche to go do his bidding with other people in DENVER. I saw 25,000 dollars. Fake rich people are the worst.

championoftruth


tipping should be made illegal and made a federal offense.

Won't happen. Want to know why? Those of us who live(d) on tips like it that way. Even after cheap skates who refuse to tip are added into the equation, a good server can make $75 to $200 a night at a mid level restaurant. I used to work 25 to 30 hours a week as a server and brought home anywhere from $400 to $700 a week, after tipping out my runner, bar tender, and hostess. and this was in a small town. This also didn't include gift cards, free food, booze, and other gifts my favorite customers brought me. I can only imagine what I would make in a city. I never once received a paycheck, as the piddly $2.13/hour the owner was required to pay went straight to taxes.

You make it illegal for people to accept tips, and you'll find those jobs being filled with teenagers who won't care a whit about their job performance. Same as you find at McD's, Burger King, and so on.

As for tip jars at places like Star Bucks, Dunkin Donuts, etc where the employee is already getting paid a regular wage? I can see those going away, even though I wouldn't push for it. They probably don't get paid a decent salary for having to deal with the jackasses they have to put up with either.

The guilt-tripping technique doesn't work on more confident people.

Most pizza and food delivery people still get screwed.
Some chains add a $2 delivery charge yet give the driver none of it.
If you can't tip $4 or $5 do the decent thing and don't order out.
All they do is drive their cars to ruin, tips don't make up the miles driven.
I've done it, I know how it works.

championoftruth

tipping should be made illegal and made a federal offense.

these people are robbing us.i also carry lots of small change which i dump in their hands and walk away.sometimes i deliberately short change them for daring to try to make me feel quilty.

you charge 2.99 i give 2.99 not a cent more.

i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

That is your choice but you do realise that the wage and price structure in restaurants is set to take account of the fact it is customary to tip? If it was banned the prices would be forced up and you would then have no control at all over paying the extra, or indeed how much you decide to reward (or not) your server based on the quality of service provided to you.

I always tip cash as I know it will go straight to my server and the company won't make any deductions for card processing etc... I used to waitress many years ago and the company used credit card tips to top up my wage to minimum wage which I believe is quite rightly illegal now here in the UK.

Asktheanimals
Most pizza and food delivery people still get screwed.
Some chains add a $2 delivery charge yet give the driver none of it.
If you can't tip $4 or $5 do the decent thing and don't order out.
All they do is drive their cars to ruin, tips don't make up the miles driven.
I've done it, I know how it works.

I had two restaurants, one of which we had delivery. We charged $1.50 for in town delivery and $2.50 for out of town. I gave the drivers $1 and $2 dollars respectively. We were very popular food-wise and they people doing delivery could easily make $200-300 dollars on busy nights between wages, tips and delivery charges.

championoftruth
i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

I had habitual cheapskates like you come into my restaurants, I always made a point when it was discovered that they had no concept of gratuities, when ringing them up, to point this out. Either they tipped next time, never came back (no big loss) or I had the servers put their food on the counter and told them to come and get their food themselves.

They're putting all the onus on the consumer. So what's new about that?

I agree that it is a trick or has the markings of one as not all places do it...yet. Once all do, people will become more cognizant and it will become a non-issue.

jimmyx
simple solution, carry some cash. and/or...when you walk into a place, take a few seconds to ask about the options of paying your bill...credit card, debit card, cash. geez....figure it out, do people need their hand held for everything?

Better option, refuse to use businesses that adopt this tech. Or at least cut back, even if it means rarely going out to eat. I usually use cash, but I also don't go out to eat much.

Scouse100

championoftruth

tipping should be made illegal and made a federal offense.

these people are robbing us.i also carry lots of small change which i dump in their hands and walk away.sometimes i deliberately short change them for daring to try to make me feel quilty.

you charge 2.99 i give 2.99 not a cent more.

i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

That is your choice but you do realise that the wage and price structure in restaurants is set to take account of the fact it is customary to tip? If it was banned the prices would be forced up and you would then have no control at all over paying the extra, or indeed how much you decide to reward (or not) your server based on the quality of service provided to you.

I always tip cash as I know it will go straight to my server and the company won't make any deductions for card processing etc... I used to waitress many years ago and the company used credit card tips to top up my wage to minimum wage which I believe is quite rightly illegal now here in the UK.

i have no interest in wage and price structure what so ever.not my concern.governments job.

simply set a minimum wage and enforce.no tips from us.what so ever.

we pay the price displayed.

end of story.

AugustusMasonicus

championoftruth
i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

I had habitual cheapskates like you come into my restaurants, I always made a point when it was discovered that they had no concept of gratuities, when ringing them up, to point this out. Either they tipped next time, never came back (no big loss) or I had the servers put their food on the counter and told them to come and get their food themselves.

it's matter of principle.

you display a price i buy it or not.

buy the service or not.

why should i have to agonize over tipping?

why?


i have more important things to then to worry about some idiots who cannot set a price.
its sheer incompetence.

championoftruth
it's matter of principle.

I agree, miserly actions are a matter of principle.

Cuervo

championoftruth

JohnPhoenix
Any company that uses a machine that attempts to force me to tip doesn't deserve any tip at all. I tip what i feel the service is worth. I don't give a rats arse that 15% is standard, if I don't feel they deserve that much, they may get 5% or 10% or nothing.

So you have to manually Opt Out on something that's not compulsory in the first place? I think that sucks. Lots of folks will not notice this Opt Out option, and I doubt they will tell you about it up front before you use your card. They may be counting on that very thing, which is dishonest and seems more like theft to me.

edit on 15-3-2014 by JohnPhoenix because: sp

tipping should be made illegal and made a federal offense.

these people are robbing us.i also carry lots of small change which i dump in their hands and walk away.sometimes i deliberately short change them for daring to try to make me feel quilty.

you charge 2.99 i give 2.99 not a cent more.

i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

I hope you understand that your meal is never the price that is listed. It is taxed and the server who gave you the food pays those taxes. If you do not tip that person, that person is paying for part of your meal and thus making less than minimum wage.

Also... I see a pubic hair sandwich in your future.

it is not my job to worry about economics or employment issues.unions and governments do that.
enforce minimum wage.end of story.why harass us ordinary consumers who are doing you a favor by keeping you in a job.go work for walmarts.

i don't buy sandwiches i would rather make 10 sandwiches by myself for the same price as made by some sour faced pimply girl.in any case eating a pubic hair is not fatal.hair is unreactive protein.humans have hair all over.eating makes no difference.no person has ever died after eating a pubic hair.

Scouse100

championoftruth

tipping should be made illegal and made a federal offense.

these people are robbing us.i also carry lots of small change which i dump in their hands and walk away.sometimes i deliberately short change them for daring to try to make me feel quilty.

you charge 2.99 i give 2.99 not a cent more.

i never tip.

never.

never ever.

money for value received not a cent more.

That is your choice but you do realise that the wage and price structure in restaurants is set to take account of the fact it is customary to tip? If it was banned the prices would be forced up and you would then have no control at all over paying the extra, or indeed how much you decide to reward (or not) your server based on the quality of service provided to you.

I always tip cash as I know it will go straight to my server and the company won't make any deductions for card processing etc... I used to waitress many years ago and the company used credit card tips to top up my wage to minimum wage which I believe is quite rightly illegal now here in the UK.

i don't care if prices go up.a minimum wage must be enforced.tipping banned.i have no interest in quality of service.i mean it's not as if i am gonna marry the waiter/waitress.i have legs .i can go and get it myself.

do i really want to suffer their insufferable small talk? no and no and no.

in any case robots will replace humans and we don't need to worry about it.

championoftruth
it is not my job to worry about economics or employment issues.unions and governments do that.
enforce minimum wage.end of story.why harass us ordinary consumers who are doing you a favor by keeping you in a job.go work for walmarts.

I can promise you that any server who has ever served you would be just fine without your business. You are not the customer who pays their bills. You are the customer who costs them money and gets 10% of their meal paid for by the server. Also, they normally have very good memories for faces.

championoftruth
i don't buy sandwiches i would rather make 10 sandwiches by myself for the same price as made by some sour faced pimply girl.in any case eating a pubic hair is not fatal.hair is unreactive protein.humans have hair all over.eating makes no difference.no person has ever died after eating a pubic hair.

edit on 16-3-2014 by championoftruth because: (no reason given)

Wow. Your standards are interesting. I don't think I'd actually want a cash tip from a wallet in the pocket of somebody who views pubic hair as an acceptable source of protein.