Is Holiday Tipping Expected for Service Providers?

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Discussion Overview

The thread explores the topic of holiday tipping for various service providers, with participants sharing their personal experiences and thoughts on whether or not to give tips during the holiday season. The conversation includes differing opinions on who should be tipped and the appropriateness of such gestures.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their experience of tipping their UPS guy and mail carrier but feels guilty for not tipping others like the newspaper deliverer and pool guy.
  • Another participant mentions consistently tipping their hairdresser and gave an extra tip during the holidays, feeling awkward about the amount.
  • One user expresses that they do not typically tip service providers during the holidays, citing a lack of personal connection with them.
  • Another participant notes that they feel pressured to tip their paper delivery person, despite believing that tipping everyone is excessive.
  • One participant argues that tipping is unnecessary for certain service providers, as they are paid for their work, and suggests that appreciation should not be monetary.
  • Several users mention that tipping is a personal decision based on the quality of service received and individual feelings towards the service provider.
  • One participant discusses their intention to tip their mailman and garbage men, highlighting the importance of recognizing good service.
  • Another user points out that they do not have regular service providers and prefer to show appreciation through baked goods rather than monetary tips.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ significantly among participants regarding the necessity and appropriateness of holiday tipping for service providers. No clear consensus emerges on this topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants share a range of personal experiences and feelings about tipping, reflecting diverse backgrounds and relationships with service providers. The discussion highlights the subjective nature of tipping practices.

Who May Find This Useful

This thread may be of interest to members of the consultant community who are navigating similar questions about holiday tipping and seeking perspectives from others in their network.

BethCooks4U said:
I am glad to see everyone tips waitresses/waiters even when they don't believe in tipping others. I tend to agree with what has already been said about tipping service people (mail, garbage, etc.) - I don't tip them - I don't see them and I know they get a good wage. I tip my hairdresser and nail person when I see them so that's taken care of.

As far as waitstaff is concerned, I always tipped but have substantually increased the amount since my sons started working those jobs. They make less than half of minimum wage per hour and the government charges their taxes according to the restaurant's sales that day - it is taken out of their measly check. Unless the waiter/waitress is really bad please tip them.

Now places like McDonalds do pay their people at least minimum wage so that's a different story.



...Speaking of McDonalds - if you are ever traveling through Mebane NC do not stop at the McDonalds off of exit 154 (I40/85). My son went there yesterday to get us lunch and the girl recognized him and said "I'll get you a different tea". When he asked why she said that she had SPIT in mine because she doesn't like it when people ask for no ice. Her manager told me that she denied the incident and that she and my son didn't get along in HS and he made it up. My son gets along with everyone (I am know as "Tom's mom" and everyone tells me how great he is so it's not just my opinion) and has never/would never say that if it wasn't true. In fact, he said he debated whether to even tell me about the incident.
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That is just nasty. I mean how hard is it to get tea without ice? And if I was her manager I would fire her so fast if she did it in yours how many others did she do it to:yuck:
 
Jean DeVries said:
HI!

I tip my hairdresser every time (he's a hair god), but I gave him extra tip this week when I went.

I felt kind of awkward, though, because I too had read all of the stuff about how much you should give your service people as a Christmas gift. My tip wasn't that good.....

He knows I love him anyway (I hope) :)

Jean
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And your hair looks so nice even upside-down! :) He is good! :)
 
BethCooks4U said:
I am glad to see everyone tips waitresses/waiters even when they don't believe in tipping others. I tend to agree with what has already been said about tipping service people (mail, garbage, etc.) - I don't tip them - I don't see them and I know they get a good wage. I tip my hairdresser and nail person when I see them so that's taken care of.

As far as waitstaff is concerned, I always tipped but have substantually increased the amount since my sons started working those jobs. They make less than half of minimum wage per hour and the government charges their taxes according to the restaurant's sales that day - it is taken out of their measly check. Unless the waiter/waitress is really bad please tip them.

Now places like McDonalds do pay their people at least minimum wage so that's a different story.



...Speaking of McDonalds - if you are ever traveling through Mebane NC do not stop at the McDonalds off of exit 154 (I40/85). My son went there yesterday to get us lunch and the girl recognized him and said "I'll get you a different tea". When he asked why she said that she had SPIT in mine because she doesn't like it when people ask for no ice. Her manager told me that she denied the incident and that she and my son didn't get along in HS and he made it up. My son gets along with everyone (I am know as "Tom's mom" and everyone tells me how great he is so it's not just my opinion) and has never/would never say that if it wasn't true. In fact, he said he debated whether to even tell me about the incident.
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That's so gross!!:yuck: Makes you want to go inside to order & keep your eyes on your food at all times!!! I have heard horror stories over the years of different places & I sometimes wonder if I really want to eat out ever again!!!
I hope the manager keeps an eye on that girl from now on to prevent that type of behavior.
 
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Stampaholic1961 said:
That's so gross!!:yuck: Makes you want to go inside to order & keep your eyes on your food at all times!!! I have heard horror stories over the years of different places & I sometimes wonder if I really want to eat out ever again!!!
I hope the manager keeps an eye on that girl from now on to prevent that type of behavior.
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Reminds me of a story back when my brother was in HS and his stupid freinds (one was a manager, the other just an attendant) from KFC would spit a logi in the egg batter or something nasty! Never went to that place when they worked there!:yuck:
 
Glad to hear the good replys about waitresses! I've grown up in the restaurant biz & have been a waitress forever.....until the last couple years! (thanks to PC!) I did work at a buffet-style restaurant for awhile; I can tell you that those types of waitresses only make about $2.50/hour, so please do tip them! I always judge by service, but do remember that they are making very low pay & depend on tips for their money!

As far as the holidays go; I take a plate of baked stuff to the post office & to my hairdresser.
 
Do you tip for the holidays?I do tip my paper delivery person as that is a job I would not want. My sister did it for 10 years. You have to go to bed early and get up every day of the year around 3:30 and pick up the papers and then deliver them in all kinds of weather. It is way to much work... I tip him $20. I am a cleaning lady and I do get tips, $10-$50, and some gift cards. My customers are friends I have cleaned for them so long. I do the extra's and they like and appreciate me. That is what it is all about.:rolleyes:
 
BethCooks4U said:
...Speaking of McDonalds - if you are ever traveling through Mebane NC do not stop at the McDonalds off of exit 154 (I40/85). My son went there yesterday to get us lunch and the girl recognized him and said "I'll get you a different tea". When he asked why she said that she had SPIT in mine because she doesn't like it when people ask for no ice. Her manager told me that she denied the incident and that she and my son didn't get along in HS and he made it up. My son gets along with everyone (I am know as "Tom's mom" and everyone tells me how great he is so it's not just my opinion) and has never/would never say that if it wasn't true. In fact, he said he debated whether to even tell me about the incident.
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Beth, I would go on the company website and report it!!
 
nikkijo said:
Beth, I would go on the company website and report it!!
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I second that!! :yuck:
 
I did. I reported it on the McDonalds USA website. Probably nothing will come of it. lol:grumpy:
 
I tipped my Fed Ex driver today with a $15 gift card for a Local Car Wash

But my real suprise game real early this morning, I took my daughter Lucy to school so that I could help her give her little gifts out to teachers and other staff member, well as I was about to leave the librarian came up to me and gave me a card and said 'Thank You' - I said what for, she said that all of the staff members wanted me to know that they appreciated the goodies that I bring in on Fridays - they really enjoy the recipes - they look forward in what new recipe that I will bringing in.

I waited until I got home and open the card and there was a $25 gift card for Wal-Mart.

I was very shocked - I have never receive a tip ever

~
 
I did. I reported it on the McDonalds USA website. Probably nothing will come of it. lol
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Don't bet on it. I have a friend who had the same thing happen in Missouri and he got a settlement out of it. One of the things he got was free food for 5 years, as much as he wanted. He tried to give that to me since he refuses to eat there ever again. lol He also got a cash settlement. He called the health department and they had caught the guy on tape.
 
Oh, you should check on the video tape thing. Maybe it was recorded. That is just so disgusting. I'm afraid to complain at restaurants because I'm afraid the cooks or someone will do something to my food.
 
The owner called me and said he would check into it further but I have heard nothing more. I am sure they will do nothing and I just hope she doesn't do/say something to hurt my son's reputation - he also works in the restaurant business - that's one reason he was so alarmed by what she said.
 
I'm afraid to complain at restaurants because I'm afraid the cooks or someone will do something to my food.
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When I was younger, I worked full service restaurants for a few years as waitress, cook then manager. I can't imagine anyone that I worked with or who worked for me doing something like that. They would have been fired on the spot. If I found out my kid had done something like that, it would just be too bad. There's no excuse for that kind of behavior.

I have no qualms about complaining when the food is bad. If I ever found out something had been done to my food because of a complaint, I'd just be the new owner of the restaurant. lol
 
Pardon my grinchness coming out.. it's that kind of gray/dreay day in Michigan. I hate melting, dirty snow.....

The tipping thing makes me crazy. I tip waitpeople who make $2.65/hr, I do not tip garbagepeople who toss my lid of my can into the street or in the middle of my lawn. I don't tip the postal carrier: I know people who work at the post office, they make great money. I work at a wine store part time, no one has ever tipped me for suggesting an awesome bottle of wine. My hairdresser gets a tip. When I had a cleaning service, it was funny how all year long they broke things, misplaced things, and forgot to do certain tasks, but the week before Christmas there was always a card left on the stove with their 3 names on it.

Like I said, my inner grinchness is coming out, but you get the idea. Now, I have to go back working on enlarging my heart!!
 
I leave a good tip for good service when we eat out. I do give my nail lady a nice gift, she does and awsome job and we are friends, same with the lady who helps me clean and my hair dresser. I am really thankful to have them help me and just want to show them how much I appreciate them.
 
Today, for the first time ever, the FedEx guy actually rang the doorbell. He has never knocked or rang. I knew he was coming because I had a package being picked up today. He brought my heart dish. I had thought about leaving him a smal gift of something, but I thought it might actually be a different person because of the holidays and it was a pickup. Anyway, I felt a little bad for not giving him anything, but maybe if he always rang the doorbell and put things at the front door, I'd feel like tipping him!
 
JAE said:
Today, for the first time ever, the FedEx guy actually rang the doorbell. He has never knocked or rang. I knew he was coming because I had a package being picked up today. He brought my heart dish. I had thought about leaving him a smal gift of something, but I thought it might actually be a different person because of the holidays and it was a pickup. Anyway, I felt a little bad for not giving him anything, but maybe if he always rang the doorbell and put things at the front door, I'd feel like tipping him!
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Last night, at 6:15, my doorbell rang. It was the Fed-Ex Man with my heart dish! DH even said "wow, usually they just dump it by the door and run." I don't think it was the same guy though - because usually my stuff stinks like cigarette smoke, and this one didn't - so maybe that was the difference.
 
WOW. Nothing like saying I'm your driver, where's my tip. lol

My fedex person has been a woman for the last couple of months and I left a gift on the porch where they deliver - had to go out before she came yesterday. My order was delivered but the gift wasn't taken. Oh, well...
 
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BethCooks4U said:
WOW. Nothing like saying I'm your driver, where's my tip. lol

My fedex person has been a woman for the last couple of months and I left a gift on the porch where they deliver - had to go out before she came yesterday. My order was delivered but the gift wasn't taken. Oh, well...
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At least you thought about her and made the nice :blushing: gesture!
 
I don't tip extra at the holidays either. I esp. don't tip people just for "doing the job they are supposed to be doing anyway". I do tip my hairdresser and nail lady and of course waiters (because they work for tips). Are not the mail, garbage, and delivery people supposed to do their jobs to the best of their ablitiy? What ever happened to "merry christmas" here are some cookies? I dont' get it?!
 
I didn't take the time to read through everyone else's comments, but The Furry Guy and I had this discussion a week or so before Christmas. We tip generously throughout the year. I give my hairdresser a bit extra at my December appointment. We leave baked goodies for our mail carrier (which she shares with the workers back at the office) and our paper carriers. It's not really legal to give a monetary gift to mail carriers.

As for UPS drivers and many of the others, The Furry Guy has an issue with tipping someone who makes more per year than he does. I agree. It's different if you have a relationship outside of the normal deliveries, of course.

As I said, we generally tip very generously throughout the year. People at our favorite restaurants love me. :)
 
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