Man, this whole tipping thing is so crazy to.me, as a German.
I'm a bike mechanic and get paid very, very well for the work I do.
But I've now lost count of the amount of times that customers have tried to hand me a tip when I give them their bike back, that I would then tell them I didn't want because I get paid well.
I've now started taking the tips, but then saving all the money in my tool chest, and at the the end of every month, I donate it all to a local charity.
Im not against tipping im against tipping not be optional or the worker starves. If a business runs on tips its code for we underpay our staff and make it your problem and you will be happy with it and pay for our employee.
Hell some businesses illegally pocket the tips... I hate the culture thats formed around it but a nice bonus for a job well done I consider to be acceptable and appreciative if people can afford it, if its forced then its a problem.
I think the German up there is maybe a bit too sensitive. Tipping someone as a sign of gratitude for exceptional work is not exhausting, it should be something the tipper feels like they want to do, not compelled to do.
Like for example if you asked someone to do a rush job, and you know it would probably make their day harder and they agree to do it, tipping them over their base pay would be something a lot of people feel like would be a nice reward for helping them out.
Tipping someone that does not expect this is very much okay, I doubt many will say anything against it. But it's not the context here and it should never become mandatory, either by state regulations or even as a common custom.
Mind you also that tipping can be an awkward exchange. I once was in restaurant in rural Czechia and said I wanted to tip and they turned red, refused and said that it's not needed. Some people look at tips as some form of charity.
I mean working at a bike shop seems like a place where people would be more likely to tip out of their generosity and respect for good work vs. a burger place or something, that was the context I was in when I made my post.
But the problem is it keeps expanding to more and more ridiculous areas. Now you are asked to tip prior to getting your food you ordered and you are ordering it at the counter and picking it up yourself. It used to be that you only tipped for table service.
Canadian here, tipping is fucking exhausting. I literally have never tipped anyone out of gratitude or exceptional work.
Why am I getting prompts to tip in fucking food courts?
Order something online no tip. Order beer online the exact same way, am I supposed to tip?
Go to a restaurant with a big enough party, they add gratuity then they come around for you to pay and still ask you to fucking tip and there is no "server wage" here.
Absolutely there are different scenarios. My siding got redone and I asked if he could remove and dispose of a window AC while he had his ladders out. Did it no questions. And it was pro install so it wasn't just open the window and it falls out. I gave him $20 for his time and effort. Took him maybe ten minutes but it was a thing I've wanted done for years
It's awkward as fuck to be tipped and there is no scenario that changes that, pay should always be negotiated up front so both parties have clear expectations and respect. In your own scenario you should have offered to pay more along with the request instead of tipping afterwards.
There are some people who love the concept of tipping, but that's just them, there is no scenario where it becomes a universally good thing.
But it all started with the tipping you describe and it metastisized into this monster that keeps spreading onto more and more absurd places. Just a matter of time before my dentist asks for a tip. Fuck that shit.
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u/I3adIVIonkey 10h ago
Tipping culture in the US is actually for every service rendered?