Are you overly generous?

[SpoonyBard]

It isn't a misconception. When I was a server I was paid $2.15 an hour. So if some guy stiffed me on my tip, I didn't make shit for that table.

But if you didn't make tips then they would pay you more, but then you wouldn't have the 'assumed' to be making tips caveat I stated in my post.

You're paid "tipping" minimum wage if your tips are equal to or exceed standard minimum wage. If you don't make at least minimum wage with tips + "tipping" wage, then your employer is required to cover the difference to bring you up to minimum wage.

It is kind of a misconception. Yes, you were paid $2.15 an hour by your employer, but if no one tipped, you would still be making at least the standard minimum wage. Granted, the benefit of those kinds of jobs is being able to make more than minimum wage through tips, and it's definitely not a reason to not tip.

there is NO reason to not tip someone for services rendered, ever, unless they smack you in the face and call your wife a bitch or something. when in doubt, if you can tip, you should. i tip at buffets, too.

I've always been of the opinion that if you can't tip, you should be cooking your own food, setting your own table and doing your own dishes.

That being said, I usually tip well for dine-in/delivery. With take out I always wonder who is actually getting it. I know when I was cooking/waiting tables if I didn't take the order and take the bill I wouldn't see any tips even if I was the one who cooked the food, brought the order out and bused the table. If there was no real established method of taking tips at a carry-out place then i've got no real idea if my money is actually getting to the people who actually made my food. That's why I pretty much just stick to looking for a tip jar.

[Nemoide]

I think I'm JUST GENEROUS ENOUGH. I like to pass on COOL STUFF that I don't really want to keep anymore: books of which I've gotten fancier editions, superhero comics from when I was a kid, DVDs of things I have no interest in rewatching...
Yeah I could sell some of my stuff, but if I have interested friends, I might as well just pass it along. I don't think I've ever regretted giving something away like that.

I generally don't lend things I **really** care about because I've been burned in the past. But I'll sometimes lend stuff that I'd be okay with losing. Or make the lendee SIGN A BLOOD OATH.

NOW ON TO TIPPING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS THREAD HAS APPARENTLY BECOME ABOUT:
When I'm eating out, I normally aim for a 20% tip just because I'm terrible at math and it's an easier target than 15%. Plus, even if the server is making minimum wage, I'm sure they're not raking in fat stacks of bills or anything. BUT when I'm at a place like Dunkin Donuts and they just have a jar, I typically will just drop my coins in there with no regard as to how shitty a tip that may be. I have no idea if you're supposed to tip at a buffet or not, but since I'm always with someone else when eating at one I talk to the other person about it and usually tip.
Tipping is a weird and nonsensical establishment. While I think you *should* tip because the food services industry isn't easy and doesn't pay well, it doesn't make any real sense otherwise. I mean, if you want to ensure quality service, you'd think you would want to tip FIRST, right? And if you knew you were never going to eat at a place again, you shouldn't tip at all, at least from a self-interest standpoint. And why is it allowed for employers to kind-of-skirt minimum wage laws in the first place; who thought that was a good idea? And why do we tip based on percent of the total bill? More expensive things are not necessarily more/harder work than cheaper things.

I'd rather live in a society with decently paid employees at food-places and then no tipping. THIS WOULD MAKE EVERYTHING EASIER!

[oxymoron]

It is kind of a misconception. Yes, you were paid $2.15 an hour by your employer, but if no one tipped, you would still be making at least the standard minimum wage. Granted, the benefit of those kinds of jobs is being able to make more than minimum wage through tips, and it's definitely not a reason to not tip.

I still don't understand why I have to pat someone on the back for doing their job. Do you tip your garbage man or the cashier at Target for doing a good job? According to you guys as long as they are rendering a service you should tip them no questions asked. If someone does a good job I'll tip them but not just because "oh, their a waiter and it's my civic duty to tip them". Granted this is coming from a 17 year old who's gone to a dine in (where I had to tip) 15>.

[KDub]

It is just a left over very out of date idea. They should just be paid the same as anyone else and it be done away with.

But it isn't and thus tipping is a part of the dinning experience.

Honestly if your waiter or waitress makes sure you have an enjoyable evening and that all of your food and drinks come out quickly and correctly then a tip certainly is a good thing to give them.

[BoneSnapDeez]

It is kind of a misconception. Yes, you were paid $2.15 an hour by your employer, but if no one tipped, you would still be making at least the standard minimum wage. Granted, the benefit of those kinds of jobs is being able to make more than minimum wage through tips, and it's definitely not a reason to not tip.

I still don't understand why I have to pat someone on the back for doing their job.

Because they are not making a liveable wage without tips. This is a simple concept.

[KDub]

Because they are not making a liveable wage without tips. This is a simple concept.

Well they are according to the government, but I'm sure many of us know first hand that isn't exactly true.

[Luke]

Yes, when it is earned.

I love Aaron's post about tipping at buffets. I imagine him walking up to random people passing out dollar bills near the mashed potatoes saying "You earned this".

Jump inside my brain and tell me that isn't funny.

[oxymoron]

Yes, when it is earned.

This is exactly what i'm saying. Simple.

[ninjainspandex]

[Because they are not making a liveable wage without tips. This is a simple concept.

should I be tipping the cashier at Walmart then?

[oxymoron]

Because they are not making a liveable wage without tips. This is a simple concept.

Not to sound like a douche but it's not my concern. I go to <insert name> to enjoy food and have a good time not make sure you can pay utilities. If that's the problem then they need to form a workers union and demand better pay. Nobody else get's to use this cop out to pay employees less.