We’ve Reached Our Tipping Points
It was Thursday afternoon and I had a million errands to run. Suddenly I hit that mid-afternoon wall and all I wanted was a grande non-fat two Stevia latte.
When I pulled up to the Starbucks window I held out my credit card, but the drive-thru barista shook his head.
“Just one more question,” he trilled, handing me a card scanner attached to a super long cord.
I knew what was coming and I knew what my answer would be.
Would you like to leave a tip? 15%, 20% or 25%
There at the bottom was my answer NO TIP.
I clicked it and handed it back. He stared at me. I flashed him a weak smile.
It takes fortitude and a healthy dose of cheapness to gaze into the pleading eyes of a worker and refuse to tip them. But I’m getting pretty good at it.
There was a time when I would drop a buck in the ubiquitous tip jar. But the new digital coercion, with overly generous suggested tips ranging from 15 to 25% are greedy. So I’ve made my decision:
I will not tip one penny for counter service or takeout.
I guess you could say I’ve reached my tipping point.
Look, I appreciate good service but the job of a well-paid drive-thru Starbucks coffee jockey is simple. He or she types in the order, someone else prepares the beverage and the window person hands it over.
Sometimes he will ask, Do you want a straw with that?
Why are we being pressured to tip workers doing exactly what they are paid to do? Wait staff is different. So are actual bartenders. Bellmen, too. Pizza delivery guy. These workers earn sub-minimum wage because they earn tips.
Your hair stylist, manicurist, bikini waxer and dog groomer are all service industry folks who help you - or your dog - look good with their skill and extra touches. Tip them lavishly.
But the counter worker at a coffee shop?
A story one year ago in USA Today reported on Starbucks salaries:
Facing twin pressures of a union challenge and a labor shortage, Starbucks announced Wednesday it is hiking wages for U.S. employees.
All hourly pay workers will make at least $15 an hour and average nearly $17 an hour in summer 2022. Some of the pay increases will start before the summer, the Seattle-based coffee giant said.
Starting in late January 2022, employees with two or more years of service could receive up to a 5% raise and those with five or more years could receive up to a 10% raise, Starbucks said.
On top of decent wages, Starbucks offers tuition reimbursement and paid leave time.
Sounds pretty sweet to me. And not a job that needs tipping.
Same goes for Apple employees. Yet one Apple Store location in Maryland reportedly wants to add a place for customers to add in a 4 to 5% tip when they purchase an Apple product in the store.
News flash: Inflation is hovering around 5%. People are struggling. Trying to guilt customers into larding more money onto small purchases is wrong. Some of us don’t care if you stare at us and if the guy behind us in line thinks we’re cheap.
Here’s a tip: You want customers to give you 20% of their bill? Wait tables. Valet cars. Groom a dog.
The simple act of handing a drink through a window is not going to do it
