Tipping Gone Mad

[scott h]

11 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

Wait staff at high end restos can easily make 6 figures on up.  How about a doorman in a big city?  You have to know someone to get the job.  Ritzy hotel workers who stay for years?

Great point! 

But I think that there are a lot more greasy spoons in Kalamazoo Mi, Boring Or. and Tightwad Mo. than there are Ritz-Carlton.

As usually the hard part is, do you tax all to get the few? Or let the few take advantage of the system so the majority get a break......It would give Solomon a headache to decide 

[JJReyes]

1 hour ago, OnMyWay said:

While all that may be true, I think you are overlooking another segment of the tipped workers.  There are a lot of highly desired tipped jobs where the worker can earn a lot.  Wait staff at high end restos can easily make 6 figures on up.  How about a doorman in a big city?  You have to know someone to get the job.  Ritzy hotel workers who stay for years?

True.  Doormen and their assistants parking guest cars in Las Vegas casinos were making so much money the management stopped paying salaries.  Several big casinos started collecting a percentage of their tips.  

My sister was a sales manager at the former Manila Mandarin.  She told me the story of their senior doorman.  He was promoted to a supervisory position, but after a few months, asked for his old position back.  The higher supervisor's pay was less than half his earnings as a doorman due to the generous tips.

Edited September 10 by JJReyes

[Mike J]

On 9/10/2024 at 6:58 AM, scott h said:

But I think that there are a lot more greasy spoons in Kalamazoo Mi, Boring Or. and Tightwad Mo. than there are Ritz-Carlton.

Hey now, let's not be picking on Boring, Oregon.  A nice quiet, but not boring, little town.   This is also where the "North American Bigfoot Center" is located which is very  exciting.   

Edited September 11 by Mike J

[Possum]

On 9/9/2024 at 11:16 PM, Possum said:

Next time my wife decides to have a gathering here for friends and family I am going to put a tip canister on the back of the toilet. She's planning one for Saturday for her birthday. I'll let everyone know how that works out.

Well, I had my CR tip box displayed in the toilet in our garage where her friends gathered and not one of those biddies left a peso. 

[JJReyes]

8 hours ago, Possum said:

Well, I had my CR tip box displayed in the toilet in our garage where her friends gathered and not one of those biddies left a peso. 

We have encountered tip boxes in some countries at public toilets.  This is to compensate staff who are required to keep toilets clean.  (I suspect some are concessions based on the user volume.)  Places in Europe like train stations require one Euro at the entrance to access a commode, WC, CR or whatever you want to call them.  My wife and I set aside all our one Euro coins in a separate pocket to make sure we always have a few.

[scott h]

8 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

We have encountered tip boxes in some countries at public toilets.

There are certain places here with the same but with attendants to insure collection. Usually gas stations and most tourist spots. The one that come most vividly to mind is at the palace in the sky at Tagaytay. I recall entering the facility, doing my (standing) business and exited. Upon leaving I was accosted by a guy who said "5 pesos". (as usual no "please"). The thing is this guy was dressed like one of those bums who stands outside and opens the door to a 7-11 with a battered cup. My initial reaction was a shakedown, so I just chuckled, shook my head and kept going. 

[Clermont]

17 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

My wife and I set aside all our one Euro coins in a separate pocket to make sure we always have a few.

Beggar that, no discount for seniors.

[JJReyes]

8 minutes ago, scott h said:

There are certain places here with the same but with attendants to insure collection. Usually gas stations and most tourist spots. The one that come most vividly to mind is at the palace in the sky at Tagaytay. I recall entering the facility, doing my (standing) business and exited. Upon leaving I was accosted by a guy who said "5 pesos". (as usual no "please"). The thing is this guy was dressed like one of those bums who stands outside and opens the door to a 7-11 with a battered cup. My initial reaction was a shakedown, so I just chuckled, shook my head and kept going. 

More than 50 years ago, my wife and I were traveling through Europe.  She entered the toilet at a museum and there was a couple seating next to a table eating croissants and having coffee.  The woman banged her hand on the table, meaning you had to leave coins in the plate, before using the facilities.  She wasn't shocked over the demand for money.  But having breakfast inside a toilet was unheard of in the United States.  So were Turkish toilets, but that's another story.

[Mike J]

10 hours ago, Possum said:

Well, I had my CR tip box displayed in the toilet in our garage where her friends gathered and not one of those biddies left a peso. 

Maybe a sign "CR paper 2 peso - see attendant"  

[JJReyes]

8 minutes ago, Mike J said:

Maybe a sign "CR paper 2 peso - see attendant"  

I used to wonder why office workers at Philippine companies had a roll of toilet on their desk.  My assumption is the company CR had non.