I am against the practice of tipping, I believe the employer should pay the employees what there services are worth, not leave it to the customers, but I know that in the USA, at least, the custom of tipping isn't going away anytime soon. Not tipping someone who provides you a service doesn't come off as being against tipping, it comes off as being cheap.
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It seems odd and unfair that most of us tip $10 or more to a restaurant server who takes our order and brings us food prepared by someone else but then turn around and begrudge a tip to someone who runs down the dock in a thunderstorm to help us dock our $100K boat.
Wifey B: I just quoted those two paragraphs as they say a lot. You're against the practice but you still recognize it is what it is. Those who make their livings off of tips often share your view and wish they were paid more salary and didn't need to scrounge for tips. They hate the "luck of the draw" where they work and provide the same service to a table that stiffs them on the tip.
As to the absurdity of your next paragraph, what a hard hitting point. And it's not a wealthy vs modest income. It is often cultural or nationality. But it's also a lot of not giving a d... about people. I've seen some of the most callous yacht owners. They add $20,000 of fuel, pay $5,000 for three nights of dockage, and don't tip at the dock or in the restaurant. I lost it completely one day when one said, "Well, I'll never see them again so why waste my money like that."
A little rant coming and i apologize in advance. I'm amazed sometimes to see how out of touch with live of the poor so many wealthy and even just middle earning people are. Get in touch, talk to them, get to know others not in your situation. If you're on this site and own a boat, you're doing better than most in life. So many struggling just to survive and actually enjoying life is beyond their present reach. It hurts me. i take it very personally as someone who grew up in poverty, who depended on tips and the kindness of others. For a moment don't take this following statement as political even though one candidate used it in his campaign, just take it as a basic statement of humanity. No one working full time, 40 hours a week, should have to live in poverty. Global poverty is staggering. Poverty isn't the minority.
The waitress, the dockhand, they're trying to escape and build a life. They may have one or more kids at home. They may have been abused as a child or even an adult. I give money to United Way and I don't know where it's going. But when I tip, I'm giving to someone who is working to try to make a living. Am i a sucker for a sob story? Darn right I am. Not as much as the other B though.
I think you judge a society based on how the least among it are fairing. The poor, the elderly, the sick, the children, the disabled. I never feel personally like I'm doing enough. So, curse me all you want when I overtip, but it's not going to stop.
So short answer is I think $5 to $20 is appropriate but often tip more. Thanks for indulging my long answer, although guess you guys had no choice. Thanks anyway.