Is Tipping Your Cable Technician Expected?

[Cyrus]

Was it supposed to mean anything in the beginning?

[Begin Rant]

Well, if this is so then I think Japan has it right. If I had my way, tipping would be illegal and everyone would received a salary commensurate with the abilities required for their job. If you don't like the service at this restaurant, don't go back. It's the same thing as if you don't like the food. You don't go to the kitchen to tip the cook, do you? No. You just don't return if you don't like it. Food and service is a package and there's no reason to tip one employee and not the other.

That said, I do tip servers exactly the same percentage of the bill 98% of the time, as I am expected to according to the high priests of the service industry. I have done it for years. But it's only because I realize that many of them don't get minimum wages, as permitted by some irrational law. Virtually everyone else already gets paid what they are worth and don't need to be tipped. I don't get tipped. You don't get tipped. Down with tipping.

[End Rant]

This issue has got you on tilt.

 

[JasonRox]

Why? Would you tip the plumber, or painter, or anyone else who you're already paying to install something in your home?

No, they don't give you free HBO.

 

[Orefa]

This issue has got you on tilt.

Ding!

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Well, if this is so then I think Japan has it right. If I had my way, tipping would be illegal and everyone would received a salary commensurate with the abilities required for their job. If you don't like the service at this restaurant, don't go back. It's the same thing as if you don't like the food. You don't go to the kitchen to tip the cook, do you? No. You just don't return if you don't like it. Food and service is a package and there's no reason to tip one employee and not the other.

Most jobs where people get tipped are low paying sorts of jobs to begin with. Even if they were to get higher wages their employers wouldn't be able to pay them as much as they get in tips. Tips and the potential to make rather large sums of money from tips for working a rather menial position that would not make much money otherwise is the whole reason why people take these jobs.
Most people who receive tips at their jobs also "tip out" the cooks and busboys. The ones that don't will probably find that they are getting fewer tips as the orders for their tables seem to not come as fast as they used to and their tables are never cleaned up for them fast enough to seat new customers in a timely manner.

 

[Moonbear]

Most jobs where people get tipped are low paying sorts of jobs to begin with. Even if they were to get higher wages their employers wouldn't be able to pay them as much as they get in tips. Tips and the potential to make rather large sums of money from tips for working a rather menial position that would not make much money otherwise is the whole reason why people take these jobs.
Most people who receive tips at their jobs also "tip out" the cooks and busboys. The ones that don't will probably find that they are getting fewer tips as the orders for their tables seem to not come as fast as they used to and their tables are never cleaned up for them fast enough to seat new customers in a timely manner.

Oh, so they have a whole racket going, huh? Does that mean if I don't like the food, but the service was still good, I should stiff the server and tell them to take it out of the cook's cut?

 

[Cyrus]

You should send it back moonbear. Honestly, I would. I am not paying money for bad food. Unless the waitress is HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT, then ill just shut up and eat it with a smile. That happened to my friend and I once, she was like did you enjoy your meal, we were like it was great thank you , when we walked out the door we just looked at each other and said great food my ass. (I think it was a Hooters...)

 

[Moonbear]

You should send it back moonbear. Honestly, I would. I am not paying money for bad food. Unless the waitress is HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT, then ill just shut up and eat it with a smile. That happened to my friend and I once, she was like did you enjoy your meal, we were like it was great thank you , when we walked out the door we just looked at each other and said great food my ass. (I think it was a Hooters...)

If it isn't inedible, I don't bother sending it back (I did that once, and then everyone else is done eating before your food comes back, so it just isn't worth bothering), though if there is something wrong, I usually do let the server know, just so they know to give the feedback to the cook to correct the problem. One example was ordering a burger at one of those chain restaurants. I know they don't usually cook them rare, so I specifically asked the waitress about that when I ordered and she said I could order it rare, so I did. It came out not just medium, but fairly well-done. I was too hungry to bother sending it back, and it wasn't like I was surprised they couldn't cook a burger rare there, but when the waitress came around, I let her know that it wasn't rare. I ended up deciding to get a dessert that day too (yeah, I was really hungry), and when the check came, she told me she comped me the dessert since the burger wasn't done right...so I added the cost of the dessert to her tip. It was a nice gesture, and I hadn't asked her to do anything about the burger, just let her know so she could inform the next customer correctly, and I was prepared to pay the price for the full meal, so it didn't really matter. Besides, I suspected she must be new to have made that mistake, so figured it would show her that it's worth it to do the right thing for the customer even if they don't ask for it.

 

[mattmns]

Hmm, I think I remember a prono starting out with the same scenario.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Hmm, I think I remember a prono starting out with the same scenario.

yep. Saw that.

baow tikka waow waow..

HRW: Ooh, I'd really like to get ALL those channels...
Cable Guy: Sure. But that will be.. you know.. extra...

baow tikka waow waow..

HRW: What do you think I would be missing if I didn't get Showtime?
Cable Guy: You might miss something like this..

baow tikka waow waow..

HRW: Like that? Oh, no, I don't want to miss that..
Cable Guy: Or this...
HRW: Do you think I would.. ooh.. miss this..?

baow tikka waow waow..

(seven minutes later)

Cable Guy: OK, 14 extra channels. I'll just need your signature.

 

[Evo]

yep. Saw that.

baow tikka waow waow..

HRW: Ooh, I'd really like to get ALL those channels...
Cable Guy: Sure. But that will be.. you know.. extra...

baow tikka waow waow..

HRW: What do you think I would be missing if I didn't get Showtime?
Cable Guy: You might miss something like this..

baow tikka waow waow..

HRW: Like that? Oh, no, I don't want to miss that..
Cable Guy: Or this...
HRW: Do you think I would.. ooh.. miss this..?

baow tikka waow waow..

(seven minutes later)

Cable Guy: OK, 14 extra channels. I'll just need your signature.

 

[honestrosewater]

Seven minutes?

 

[Math Is Hard]

Seven minutes?

Hey, I'm just bring honest.
oh, I believe the name of that film was "Cable Ready".

 

[honestrosewater]

Hey, I'm just bring honest.
oh, I believe the name of that film was "Cable Ready".

I wasn't actually complaining. I was going to say something else, but my good angel won.
She's only supposed to work Mondays.

 

[Kazza_765]

People don't tip here. Well, hardly ever. If you go the bars at the casino, they leave your change on a little dish so you can leave them a tip if you want, and some of the really really high class restaurants expect it (not that I can ever afford to eat there). But otherwise people here get a wage for their job and that's it.

Now, if someone goes out of their way to do something nice of course I'll leave them a tip. And I tip the local businesses that I frequent often. But generally here we just don't tip people.

 

[Mk]

I gave him some cookies and water that I made (I only made the cookies). You may or may not allow him to take a look and/or eat your cookies.

 

[Bimbar]

The cable guy I met ddid't know what was Kazza trafic

 

[Kalimaa23]

Perhaps as long as income is taxed (so people have to report their tips), it might just be a natural progression that tips become factored into what people charge and are paid. I wonder how it started anyway...

Here in Belgium the service is factored in the price. Tipping is unheard of. I find the idea of paying someone to be nice with you rather odd. I mean, professionalism should mean that they would have to provide good service anyway, no?

 

[Orefa]

People don't tip here.

Good!

Here in Belgium the service is factored in the price. Tipping is unheard of.

Excellent!

I knew tipping was redundant. Let's all rally against this absurd concept. Revolution! Revolution! I'm so excited! Someone get me down!

 

[FUNKER]

hey , here in new zealand you hardley ever tip anyone. its not expected in the least. but it is still a nice guesture if you do.that was directed at you moon

 

[Mk]

I knew tipping was redundant. Let's all rally against this absurd concept. Revolution! Revolution! I'm so excited! Someone get me down!

Should I used the bat or the mace?

 

[honestrosewater]

Should I used the bat or the mace?

Boo. Snorefest.

Taser or flamethrower?

 

[Curious3141]

No tipping here in Singapore. Bills come with an explicitly stated service charge of 10 %, and it's assumed that that goes to pay the service staff. Why tip on top of that ?

 

[Orefa]

Should I used the bat or the mace?

Taser or flamethrower?

Thank you. I feel better now.

 

[tribdog]

I'm an overly generous tipper. bad service gets 10 or 15 percent. If they do anything above and beyond their call of duty 20-75 percent. I once tipped a band in a bar $100 because they played a request for me.