People frequently tip my BMW dealer courtesy van driver $5 or more. Am I a cheapskate for not tipping?

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I'm not, nor have I ever said, that I'm against tipping anyone. I'm just against tipping everyone, which is where we're headed.

I get your point, but at the same time it's never going to end if everyone just keeps doing it – it's not like these peoples' employers are all of the sudden going to see the light. They'll take it as long as we'll give it to them.

Here in the US, tipping is a courtesy that is now not federally taxed. If I drive up in a pretty BMW, I feel guilty if I don’t tip well. Even if I’m with my friend in her 5 year old drove to death Prius, I tip generously because I’d just rather be seen as a good tipper than a miser.

[Phillies8008]

And that's the problem: businesses count on you being shamed into paying for their labor expenses.

I'll always tip waitstaff since their wages are structured such that they have to have tips, and I'll tip for truly exceptional above-and-beyond service. But someone who hands me a sandwich? Nope, sorry. If that makes me a miser, then a miser I shall be.

[Brandoch]

So keeping up with the Joneses.

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

And that's the problem: businesses count on you being shamed into paying for their labor expenses.

I'll always tip waitstaff since their wages are structured such that they have to have tips, and I'll tip for truly exceptional above-and-beyond service. But someone who hands me a sandwich? Nope, sorry. If that makes me a miser, then a miser I shall be.

Since you drive BMWs, you’re certainly not a miser. I, personally, don’t want to be seen as a tip miser. A nice tip can make somebody’s day.

[wb8164]

To me, the shuttle driver is much different than someone collecting cash at a fast food/coffee shop. You're probably spending 25 minutes with them minimum, chatting, giving directions, or whatever. If they're pleasant and engaging, they're definitely going above and beyond. $10.00 isn't a great deal of money these days. I'll typically say "grab a beer on me" as I give the tip, which with today's prices, isn't too far off the mark.

And now I'm done, promise ;^)

[Phillies8008]

I'd agree that tipping someone like the van driver isn't the one that really rustles my jimmies, but rather the torrent of requests we get these days from people who've essentially done nothing to earn a tip. This poor theoretical guy is probably unfairly judged guilty by association.

[mjr24]

No loaner? No tip.

If they are too cheap to buy cars for loaners then they should pay a better wage for their van driver.

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by mjr24

No loaner? No tip.

If they are too cheap to buy cars for loaners then they should pay a better wage for their van driver.

So the theoretical van driver gets the punishment because the dealership owners are too cheap to buy loaners?

[maticCRO]

No,, he doesnt get punished, its just that he doesnt deserve a tip.
Going by the logic that anyone who does something well for you or gives you their time and effort, you could tip the whole world, from your doctor who examines you and prescribes you some pills for your headache, to the bus driver who drives you safe every day to your job, or the stewardess who brought you three meals during your 15h flight to Australia?? You get the point? Where does it end then??

[Janjohn]

I get the point. My doctors, pharmacists, and airline staff are generally paid much more than van drivers, uber drivers, or servers. I tip for the service if I get to my destination safely, if I get my meal at the appropriate temperature and a short wait, and at the hair salon because nothing recuperates slower than a bad hair cut.

[pshep138]

I'd tip. $5 isn't going to change my life in any way, but I bet those tips go a long way for a shuttle van driver at a car dealership.

I've worked for tips at several points in my life. Now that my financial situation is a lot better and more stable, I tip very generously and often. We had a BMWCCA meeting last weekend at a new brewery in our area; I had one beer for $7 and tipped $10 because we were a large group and our waitress was very attentive and did a great job. Nothing looks worse than a bunch of people rolling up in late model BMW M cars and then being bad tippers, IMO.

[FLX4M]

My dealer gives you a free Lyft ride but you still have to tip as the dealer doesn't.

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by Janjohn

So the theoretical van driver gets the punishment because the dealership owners are too cheap to buy loaners?

Yes. I am already being inconvenienced because of no loaner for an expensive car. I personally would never take my car to a dealer who didn’t offer loaners. I’ve never even heard of that.

Tip culture has gone way too far in today’s society.

[Maxx Power]

Listening to all these comments, I am so glad we don't have tipping in Australia. Instead we have a proper minimum wage.

Back in the "cash society" days, there used to be a tip-jar where you would throw your loose change (we even got rid of the 1c, and 5c coins so there wouldn't be any change), but these days the only place you see it mentioned is at a restaurant where they 'may' have a line on the bill where you can add a tip (hardly anyone does, unless it actually was above service).

One of the biggest confusions for people visiting the US is tipping. When, where, and how much...
(Well, apart from Miles/Inches, Fahrenheit, Gallons, etc.. )

[Efthreeoh]

I tip my barber 50%. He uses a straight razor on my neck...

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I tip my barber 50%. He uses a straight razor on my neck...

After reading 4 pages of this thread this is the best post yet!!!

[Phillies8008]

Never be rude to people who handle your food or, it would seem, hold very sharp pieces of metal against your throat. Seems like good advice to me.

[pshep138]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I tip my barber 50%. He uses a straight razor on my neck...

Same, or close. I tip $10 on a $24 cut/shave.

[pbonsalb]

Every job seems to be a tipping job these days. In many lesser developed countries, a lot of workers depend on tips. Maybe the USA is becoming a lesser developed country where workers are not paid enough to get by.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Every job seems to be a tipping job these days. In many lesser developed countries, a lot of workers depend on tips. Maybe the USA is becoming a lesser developed country where workers are not paid enough to get by.

"Becoming"? There's an entire tranche of society that literally can't survive without government assistance, all so that employers like Walmart can underpay them and post massive profits. I have no idea why we tolerate subsidizing huge, multi-billion dollar corporations.

[pbonsalb]

I agree this does not make sense in what is supposedly the richest country in the world. Sometimes it seems like the working class are paid just barely enough to not start a revolution while the rich get richer and richer. The world will not become a better place this way and the USA is setting a poor example. With billionaires running the country who are self interested and entirely out of touch with the average worker, nothing will change soon. It almost seems like wide scale looting before the house of cards comes tumbling down. 38 trillion national debt and trillion dollar deficits are not sustainable and no one seems interested in doing anything about it.

[pshep138]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

"Becoming"? There's an entire tranche of society that literally can't survive without government assistance, all so that employers like Walmart can underpay them and post massive profits. I have no idea why we tolerate subsidizing huge, multi-billion dollar corporations.

A huge percentage of the population has no idea this is happening. I haven't shopped at a Walmart-owned business for 15+ years now after watching a documentary called Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price back in probably 2011 - 2012. It lays it out very well that we're all subsidizing Walmart with our tax dollars to buy cheap goods from China.