[ThirdOfFive]

You see it a lot this time of year. Service folks trolling--not just for tips, but that extra Christmas gratuity.

I ran across that example about a week ago at our mail station. A large, hand-lettered sign "introducing" our new (actually about a month old) mail person, followed up by a cute little holiday greeting card in the mailbox with a peppermint candy taped to it. Saw the same thing last year: different person but pretty similar modus operandi. And it is not limited just to that. I saw a business about two weeks ago with a tip jar festooned with Christmas-y stuff. Our paper deliverer dropped off a similar message a short time back. Message in all cases is pretty hard to miss. I'm sure there are plenty of other such examples.

Look. I don't oppose tipping, nor do I begrudge doing so when situations warrant. I tip routinely for transportation services, car service, wait staff attendance, etc. From what I've read here over the last few years I tend to tip significantly more than average. But a tip is a GRATUITY, not an obligation. And the root word of "gratuity" is grateful. Should we be grateful to someone who we may never even see, or see on very rare occasions, for just doing their job?

I give a Christmas gratuity to our garbage guys, as well as to the lady who comes by on a regular basis to eradicate my pests. In going on four years now I've seen only two cockroaches, both dead, and the complete absence of other six-legged critters, and those garbage guys go above and beyond for what I assume is very little pay. Other than that...? I suppose there is the possibility that not tipping the mail person might lead them to assure the best service to those who DO tip, but that isn't tipping at all, but protection money.

How do others feel about giving gratuities to folks that you might never see, but who obviously expect it? For my part, it makes me feel a bit taken advantage of.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

You see it a lot this time of year. Service folks trolling--not just for tips, but that extra Christmas gratuity.

I ran across that example about a week ago at our mail station. A large, hand-lettered sign "introducing" our new (actually about a month old) mail person, followed up by a cute little holiday greeting card in the mailbox with a peppermint candy taped to it. Saw the same thing last year: different person but pretty similar modus operandi. And it is not limited just to that. I saw a business about two weeks ago with a tip jar festooned with Christmas-y stuff. Our paper deliverer dropped off a similar message a short time back. Message in all cases is pretty hard to miss. I'm sure there are plenty of other such examples.

Look. I don't oppose tipping, nor do I begrudge doing so when situations warrant. I tip routinely for transportation services, car service, wait staff attendance, etc. From what I've read here over the last few years I tend to tip significantly more than average. But a tip is a GRATUITY, not an obligation. And the root word of "gratuity" is grateful. Should we be grateful to someone who we may never even see, or see on very rare occasions, for just doing their job?

I give a Christmas gratuity to our garbage guys, as well as to the lady who comes by on a regular basis to eradicate my pests. In going on four years now I've seen only two cockroaches, both dead, and the complete absence of other six-legged critters, and those garbage guys go above and beyond for what I assume is very little pay. Other than that...? I suppose there is the possibility that not tipping the mail person might lead them to assure the best service to those who DO tip, but that isn't tipping at all, but protection money.

How do others feel about giving gratuities to folks that you might never see, but who obviously expect it? For my part, it makes me feel a bit taken advantage of.

I never see the woman who delivers the Daily Sun. She does an outstanding job never missing a day and always double bags the paper if it is going to rain. I send her$100 very year.

[retiredguy123]

Trolling for gratuities or asking for a gratuity are huge turn-offs to me that don't work. You will never feel "taken advantage of" if you don't tip someone who you don't think deserves it.

But worse, is a mandatory gratuity, like some restaurants apply to a large group. If it's mandatory, it is not a gratuity. I would suggest that, before making a reservation, you should tell the manager that you do not want an automatic gratuity added to the bill. Your group will tip according to the level of service, or you will go somewhere else.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Trolling for gratuities or asking for a gratuity are huge turn-offs to me that don't work. You will never feel "taken advantage of" if you don't tip someone who you don't think deserves it.

But worse, is a mandatory gratuity, like some restaurants apply to a large group. If it's mandatory, it is not a gratuity. I would suggest that, before making a reservation, you should tell the manager that you do not want an automatic gratuity added to the bill. Your group will tip according to the level of service, or you will go somewhere else.

Absolutely. If "mandatory gratuities" are needed to augment the wages of service staff to the "livable" (however that is defined) level, then the employer should include that in the service staff's wages in the first place.

[JGibson]

What kills me is places like Ace, Publix, Petsmart, Panera, Walmart, etc. begging for money at the register.

It makes it so awkward for the employee and customer.

Just put a jar out with a sign.

[shut the front door]

What has gotten ridiculous is the Door Dash and grubhub drivers expecting the tip before you get the delivery. There have been hundreds of posts on social media about drivers choosing not to deliver your food because you didn't include a tip on the order.
Last I checked, tipping is done AFTER the service is completed. You don't tip the waitress in the restaurant when you place your order. You tip according to service. I stopped using food delivery services after reading about the attitudes of the drivers.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

What has gotten ridiculous is the Door Dash and grubhub drivers expecting the tip before you get the delivery. There have been hundreds of posts on social media about drivers choosing not to deliver your food because you didn't include a tip on the order.
Last I checked, tipping is done AFTER the service is completed. You don't tip the waitress in the restaurant when you place your order. You tip according to service. I stopped using food delivery services after reading about the attitudes of the drivers.

Tedens ticken (with apologies to my Norwegian friends...)

Today, more so than ever in my experience (which goes back to Truman) it is all about MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! People expect a "living wage" from doing things like slinging burgers or stocking shelves. If they don't get what they think is enough, they think nothing of holding others hostage (which is what this non-deliveries to folks who don't add a gratuity to their tab) is.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by JGibson

What kills me is places like Ace, Publix, Petsmart, Panera, Walmart, etc. begging for money at the register.

It makes it so awkward for the employee and customer.

Just put a jar out with a sign.

As a customer, it's not awkward unless you choose to feel awkward.