4 ms·

The proven method is to allow tipping.

by amelius 9mo ago

joshstrange 9mo ago
Not sure if you are implying that by adding tipping you will get the employees to be more personable/pleasant. If you are: I can assure that is not the case. I would love to know what the secret is to getting people to show an ounce of enthusiasm. A family member has a bakery and getting the front of house to engage with the customer at all is like pulling teeth, and this is an above-minimum-wage job with tips. They aren't on "commission" (it's been tried) but their tips are directly influenced by the ticket price (obviously).
- eudamoniac 9mo ago
  The secret is paying them more (sometimes via tips) and firing them easily. This only works if you're very successful, of course. High end restaurants don't have this problem because the number of waiters wanting tips on $500 bills is very high, and the poor performers get the boot immediately.
- Hizonner 9mo ago
  Nobody wants to be fucking "engaged with" at your bakery. Give me my order, take my money, and let me fucking go.
  - array_key_first 9mo ago
    This isn't really true, most people do want pleasant and welcoming interactions. That doesn't mean jumping through hoops, just little things like saying hi and smiling. The opposite - silence and stares - is uncanny, and has gotten much more common in the past 10 years. Everyone notices, and it brings down the vibe. That doesn't mean forcing your workers to do X Y Z. What it means, IMO, is hiring workers who are pleasant. That would require a pay raise though, because you can't be picky at 10 bucks an hour.
booleandilemma 9mo ago
I tipped a couple times at coffee shops in the past (via tablet). Didn't receive any acknowledgement and felt like an idiot afterwards. I don't tip now.
- eudamoniac 9mo ago
  Very true observation. I've tipped quite a few times at coffee and similar kinds of shops, on the tablet when they flip it around towards you, and I've never received any acknowledgement about it. I'm not sure if they are checking ungratefully or just not checking, but I've stopped tipping in those situations. On the other hand, I don't think I've ever received exceptional service in that situation either. I'm not sure what that would even look like. Beyond some eye contact and a friendly tone, what is the tip supposed to incentivize?
  - the__alchemist 9mo ago
    I do it because coffee shop employees get paid poorly, and get little respect or status from the job. That's not fair! I second-guess it not from losing money, but by tipping, I may be incentivizing this low wage. I.e. I don't like the idea of tipping, but it's an easy way to contribute back to people who are getting hosed by our system.

The proven method is to allow tipping.

by amelius 9mo ago

The proven method is to allow tipping.

Not sure if you are implying that by adding tipping you will get the employees to be more personable/pleasant. If you are: I can assure that is not the case. I would love to know what the secret is to getting people to show an ounce of enthusiasm. A family member has a bakery and getting the front of house to engage with the customer at all is like pulling teeth, and this is an above-minimum-wage job with tips. They aren't on "commission" (it's been tried) but their tips are directly influenced by the ticket price (obviously).

eudamoniac 9mo ago
The secret is paying them more (sometimes via tips) and firing them easily. This only works if you're very successful, of course. High end restaurants don't have this problem because the number of waiters wanting tips on $500 bills is very high, and the poor performers get the boot immediately.
Hizonner 9mo ago
Nobody wants to be fucking "engaged with" at your bakery. Give me my order, take my money, and let me fucking go.
- array_key_first 9mo ago
  This isn't really true, most people do want pleasant and welcoming interactions. That doesn't mean jumping through hoops, just little things like saying hi and smiling. The opposite - silence and stares - is uncanny, and has gotten much more common in the past 10 years. Everyone notices, and it brings down the vibe. That doesn't mean forcing your workers to do X Y Z. What it means, IMO, is hiring workers who are pleasant. That would require a pay raise though, because you can't be picky at 10 bucks an hour.

booleandilemma 9mo ago

I tipped a couple times at coffee shops in the past (via tablet). Didn't receive any acknowledgement and felt like an idiot afterwards. I don't tip now.

eudamoniac 9mo ago
Very true observation. I've tipped quite a few times at coffee and similar kinds of shops, on the tablet when they flip it around towards you, and I've never received any acknowledgement about it. I'm not sure if they are checking ungratefully or just not checking, but I've stopped tipping in those situations. On the other hand, I don't think I've ever received exceptional service in that situation either. I'm not sure what that would even look like. Beyond some eye contact and a friendly tone, what is the tip supposed to incentivize?
- the__alchemist 9mo ago
  I do it because coffee shop employees get paid poorly, and get little respect or status from the job. That's not fair! I second-guess it not from losing money, but by tipping, I may be incentivizing this low wage. I.e. I don't like the idea of tipping, but it's an easy way to contribute back to people who are getting hosed by our system.