by H. Mallett

Created on: June 24, 2008

The best tip I can give to people who never tip would be, your first time should be your last time. This would also include; ordering food to be delivered, staying in hotels, going to the hairdressers, or to a spa. If fact, once you have run through the service oriented businesses in your area, I would consider moving on.

The tradition of tipping goes way back. Service industry jobs are low paying, and the additional money service people earn from their tips, makes a world of difference to them and their families.

Have a listen to the following reasons that I have heard for not tipping a wait person;

* The food was lousy
* It took forever for my meal to come
* They were out of what I ordered
* I ordered my steak medium and when it arrived at the table it was rare

The above four reasons were who's responsibility? Certainly not the servers! Yet they were the people who ultimately suffered. It seems to me that non-tippers look for reasons to weasel out of paying a tip, whether it is justified or not.

Their line of reasoning seems to be, the employer's pay these people to provide this service. While it is true, they do receive remuneration, but in most cases it is not enough to live on. Minimum wage in today's world equates minimum living. The large majority of mature adults working in the public service industry are doing so because they have to. Younger people are usually doing this type of work to help pay for their education, so there is a pretty thought for you cheapskates to contemplate, the person that you stiffed today, could conceivably be your heart surgeon or a police officer, tomorrow. Let's hope that by the time they have completed their formal education and started their careers, that you are just a vague memory.
So how can you get through life without having to give extra money for nothing more tangible than a smile and thanks?

*Bring your own coffee or tea from home.
*If you must eat out, go to fast food establishments only.
*Learn to cut your own hair and do your own nails.
*Use motels only.
*Use public transportation.
*Buy your newspaper at a store or from a box.
*Don't order food in, pick it up.

What you spend in time you will save in dollars, and that alone should appeal to the frugal side of a non-tipper.

What you will miss out on, besides contributing to the economy, is the treat of having others serve you. It is a nice change to have hot food brought to the table and not have to spare a thought to cleaning it and the dishes afterward. It is a benefit to my mind to have a hotel porter not only convey my luggage to my room, but also open the door and point out where everything I could possibly need is located. These nice little luxuries in life, I am quite willing to pay extra for.

The non-tippers must not have much of a conscious, if they can accept services from others without giving a gratuity. If dirty looks and snide remarks could leave a mark, these people would be recognizable at a glance!

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