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Discussion » Questions » Life and Society » Other than servers in eating/ drinking establishments, who was the last person you gave a tip or gratuity to?
Jane S

Other than servers in eating/ drinking establishments, who was the last person you gave a tip or gratuity to?

Did you tip because it was expected? Was the amount based on the service you got or wanted to get? What are your thoughts on tipping culture in general? ( If you live in a place where tipping is not the norm, we probably already know your thoughts).

Posted - Thu at 8:46 AM
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Responses


  • 11895

    I always give a $10 gratuity to my Smoke Guy. The first couple times he tried to refuse to take a tip because he figured he was just doing his job. But I think if I called it a gratuity he would have been more open to. I think it shows appreciation for good service better than the word tip. Cheers!

      August 14, 2025 10:14 AM MDT
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  • 11906
    Oh great. Now you've created another category of people we're supposed to tip. :) My feeling is that if a person is doing their job or is a self employed person who sets their own prices, I shouldn't be expected to tip. But there are so many gray areas and new places where tipping is encouraged. Pretty soon we'll be tipping the cashier at the grocery store and the bank teller when you cash a check.
      August 14, 2025 7:56 PM MDT
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  • 10891

    The last person I tipped was my barber (back in 2013 or 2014 - when I had hair).  I tipped him $1 (all I could afford at the time) for a job well done. 

     

    Tipping is Ok, but ONLY if it is deserved (meaning going beyond just doing the job one was hired to do).  Back when I was a newspaper carrier, I enjoyed getting tips ... but I didn't expect it.  I gave the same service to each and every customer - whether they tipped me or not.

    Tipping should NEVER be expected or forced on the customer.  It is up to the establishment to pay their workers a decent wage. 

    If someone doesn't do anything to deserve a tip (e.g. the person at a fast food window, a store clerk), they should not get one.


    If I could afford to eat out, I would refuse to patronize any restaurant that required mandatory tipping.  I worked hard to earn my money... so should your employees!  It's called work ethic!

    I don't understand why a person would work for just tips (or below minimum wage + tips).  If the employer refuses to pay a decent wage (without tips), don't work for them.  

      August 14, 2025 10:20 AM MDT
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  • 11906
    My guess is that tipping actually provides a higher income and gives employees more control over their earnings. As a corporate employee we never knew what anyone else was making or how our raises were decided. For all we knew the office slacker could be the highest paid. And in some other jobs, pay might be based strictly on seniority,  not on productivity. So, I can see the possible advantages for the employee, but as a customer I find tipping awkward and inconvenient. 
      August 14, 2025 7:41 PM MDT
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  • 10891

    I was a union employee so we all knew what everyone made.  As with many unions, the slackers got paid the same - even though they did no work (next to impossible to fire a union member).  As the manager I had to take on their work load - even though most of them made more than I did.

    No one should have to live off of tips.  No customer should be forced to tip (no customer likes to feel awkward or taken advantage of).  Employees should have to pay their employees at least minimum wage or they shouldn't be in business.

      August 15, 2025 9:33 AM MDT
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  • 35553
    Delivery driver 20% rounded to the next $5 amount. 
    The tip is expected.  I add it at the time of ordering.  
      August 14, 2025 12:02 PM MDT
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  • 3198
    To my BFF, "THANKS."  :  )
      August 15, 2025 9:22 AM MDT
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  • 4747
    I tip the lady who cuts my hair.  She is always super sweet and friendly, does an excellent job and when I lived in NYC but was visiting PA unexpectedly, she would always fit me in if I needed a haircut.  Now that I'm living down here, I still tip her.

    I will also tip the UPS driver $5 if he makes a delivlery and takes something that I'm sending out that already has a label so I don't have to make a trip to the UPS store.   
      August 15, 2025 1:54 PM MDT
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  • 44798
    A valet at a hospital a few days  ago.
      August 16, 2025 6:52 AM MDT
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  • 11906
    Is that where you've been?
      August 16, 2025 9:13 AM MDT
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  • 24135
    Bear with me --  :)


    For one of my once -a-week jobs, I drive about 25 minutes to get there. Along the way to the job and back home, there is a "Classic Cars Sales" business/car lot. 

    Seeing the myriad of individual styles of cars excites me and makes me smile each week, driving to and from work.

    It brings back to me my growing-up years when I loved seeing cars all look very different from one another. And just like when I was a child, I especially light up when there is an Edsel there!

    With how the last 18 months-or-so have been for me with many losses in my life, I, about a month ago, had bought a greeting card with a classic car on it, wrote a note with the points I've shared here, and enclosed $30 for the business owner.
    In the note I said for him to do anything he wishes with the money. I just wanted him to know that seeing his cars each week bettered my life.

    Edsel — The Makes That Didn't Make It


    This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at August 16, 2025 9:14 AM MDT
      August 16, 2025 7:28 AM MDT
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  • 11906
    That is so sweet! I like hearing about a tip that doesn't feel obligatory. Until the last few years, I owned a condo where the caretaker was not allowed to accept tips from the residents. When I moved out, I handed him an envelope of cash, and told him that he could accept it because I was no longer a resident. He didn't want to take and I explained how much I appreciated the way he went above and beyond his job for me and other residents. He took the envelope, saying I don't  do it for money, I do it because you're my friends. 
      August 16, 2025 9:25 AM MDT
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