/ April 11, 2011

Tip of the class

As part of my whirlwind trip of delight to Columbus, OH this past weekend the lovely Sarah, from Helen Winnemore's took me here for breakfast before my flight left. It was after ordering one of the most divine egg dishes I would ever have and gift wrapping enough colorful (and delicious) French Macarons to make me have to check my bags, that I spotted this sign at the cash register. (This was a non-table service establishment)

I will save you my soap-box on tipping in our current service culture, but rest assured that I have strong feelings about it. Also rest assured that I have accumulated enough personal experience in the service industry in my life to have earned my opinions. I will just say that this was the most refreshing, polished and completely appropriate thing I have seen in a very long time. It was (very tasty) food for thought.

I think service should be part of each of our cultures.

xoxo

12 responses to “Tip of the class”

  2. I’ve never worked as a waiter or anything where the salary is basically working for tips.

    But I love the European Way where the tip is included as part of the service. 

    A Macaroon sounds perfect right now too, btw.

  3. I’m good with this—as long as the managements pays their staff accordingly.  So many in the service industry (a lot of whom are students) rely on those tips.  So as long as management compensates I think it’s a great idea!

  5. I was trying to make an excuse to go there again today!  The staff is always exceedingly gracious and lovely…just like Anne, one of the owners, so I can only imagine that they are well-compensated.  And for those interested—they do ship!

  7. Got room on your soap box? 

    When I worked counter service – for years – I refused tips all. the. time.  Unsolicited “because you did such a great job helping me” tips.  I was paid an hourly wage, not an amazing one, but not waitstaff base. I felt it was ridiculous to allow a customer to pay me extra just for doing my job.  You don’t tip the girl at The Gap for helping you find your size and rehanging the pants you don’t want.  And yes I was a student at the time.  I also did not expect tips from curbside when I worked in a restaurant – even though the food was on my server number and meant I had to pay taxes on the assumed minimum tip.

    The tip box phenomenon makes me want to punch someone and I swear I am usually a happy, go with the flow kinda gal.  I big pink puffy heart the places that refuse to actively disallow tipping. Our local grocery is one – they will walk you to your car & unload your groceries and you may not tip. I don’t take them up on it often, but when I do, a sincere “thank you” feels perfectly appropriate. 

    Love the sweet, polite note.  Wish the sentences were capitalized – or the punctuation was gone – but that’s being totally nit-picky and besides the point 🙂

  8. I completely agree! Thanks for posting this. I agree, I love how they do it in Europe.

    I was a waitress at an assisted living center dining room where no tipping was allowed. I was proud of my work, and I could feel like I was being genuinely nice to people, not just because I wanted a higher tip. It was the sweetest when a regular customers would try to sneak me a dollar, or a candy bar they had bought especially for me—even though it was small, it meant so much more than a standard 15 – 20% tip.

  11. This is how things are done in Japan – a country that has a lot of pride in the way they treat each other. I miss Japan!

  12. Hey Leigh
    Just catching up on your blog while I had a moment. Such good reads and I love hearing what you are up to! Really missed you in London:(  Will you be at the TCC in September?  Hope so!
    I totally agree with your tipping perspective- one day we’ll chat about your soap-box!  HOpe you are well:)

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