Tip Anxiety

The other night I discovered that you can order pizza ONLINE!  Since I have a bit of phone anxiety (I’ll post about that another time), ordering a pizza online is just beyond fabulous.

Since Tate and I rarely carry cash, I chose the option on the screen where you can pay by debit card (also beyond fabulous), but! there is the part that asks if you want to add a tip, and yet another one of my silly anxiety rears it’s ugly head.

Tip anxiety! (dunh, dunh, duuuuuhhhhhh)

I want to tip what’s acceptable.  I hear that you give 15% if service is average, 20% or more if you receive excellent service.  My stomach gets all fluttery just thinking about how this applies to the pizza man especially when you’re ordering online!  What if the driver sees that I’ve already tipped and thinks that it’s lousy and decides to hock a giant loogie on my pepperoni, mushroom, and black olive pizza?!  Or!  What if they take forever and a day to deliver the pizza, then I’m screwed in doling out the proper punishment of a crappy tip because I ALREADY PAID THE TIP

(By the way, even if they did deliver the pizza hours after I ordered, I probably wouldn’t give the driver a crappy tip because he might remember us the next time we ordered and somehow get his revenge on my pizza!)

Oh the TIP ANXIETY.  Stomach pains!

This is also a problem at carry-out/fast foodish type restaurants.  One of my most favorite places on Earth is Sonic.  If you’re not familiar with Sonic, it’s a drive-in style fast food restaurant where your food is brought to you by a carhop.  As I sit waiting for my food to arrive, my palms start to sweat and I feel a lump in my throat and my stomach starts to gurgle.  Do I tip?  If so, how much?  And why should I tip, they’re just delivering the food!  But if I don’t tip…I don’t want to EVEN THINK of the consequences.  Also, tip jars at places where you order from the counter boggle my mind.  I don’t think they should get a tip simply for ringing up my order and putting my food on a tray.  Again though, I worry that if I don’t tip they’ll eventually get their revenge.

Tip anxiety also struck last week when I got my hair all done up purdy like.  I got the bill, I saw the amount, I couldn’t breathe, just trying to quickly do the math in my head.  I know how to figure a tip, but whenever I’m put on the spot and the perky cashier is standing there waiting for me, politely smiling, as I stare, dumbfounded, at this little receipt as if I’ve never seen those new symbols–numbers!–before.  I’m completely embarrassed to admit this, please don’t tell ANYONE, but I once left a $20 tip for my hair stylist in Knoxville because I did the math WRONG.  I was so nervous, I didn’t even realize how ridiculous $20 was for A TIP until I was in the car and suddenly regained my ability to figure a tip in my head.

There are instances too numerous to count where my tip anxiety has or could come into play.  I’d never use a skycap or bellhop to help with luggage because of that awkward moment after they’ve lugged all your bags and then they just stand there waiting for a tip.  Thank goodness I don’t live in a city where taxi cabs are a primary means of transportation, I couldn’t bear to have to figure a tip!  Have you ever been someplace where there is someone in the bathroom handing out towels for you to dry your hands after you used the restroom!  That is THE WORST.  I’ll hold my pee to avoid having to deal with a washroom attendant. 

I did a little research and found many websites that explain how much to properly tip.  While this information is helpful, it doesn’t give me the ability to do math in my head under pressure.  I found one website that has tip cards!  Genius!  My luck, though, I’d lose the tip card, emptying the contents of my purse frantically searching for it and SWEATING.  All the while, the cashier stands there wondering why I don’t just figure the tip in my head and not-so-secretly thinks I’m an idiot.

70 Responses to “Tip Anxiety”

  1. I get tip anxiety when I know that the person doing my hair is the owner of the salon…apparently, it’s rude to tip the owner but at the same time I’m too afraid not to!

    Alison’s last blog post..The Moments to Come

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  2. I have it too…. I can’t calculate either especially under pressure.

    ~JJ!’s last blog post..Oh dog!

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  3. I love that you can order pizza online and I totally understand about the phone anxiety thing. C and I would argue over who had to call and order the pizza and it usually ended with me deciding I didn’t want pizza that much after all… making myself a sandwich.

    At Sonic I pay with the little credit card machine thingie built into the menu so that I don’t have to deal with the thoughts about whether I’m suppose to tip the girl bring me my food. I never understood why people would tip at sonic. After all, it’s a fast food place. I’m sure those kids get paid as much as they would at any other fast food place and walking my food over to my car is not really that much of a service… so.

    K’s last blog post..New sewing machine

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  4. I am the WORST at math.. ANY math. I held a 3.65 GPA from Indiana University (went to school while handling 5 children ages 7 to newborn.. yeah, i’m ALL THAT.. mm-hmm) anyway.. Math.. not so much. SO, heres how I remember how to tip.. 15% is easy.. we can ALL figure 10% easily, right? just move the decimal. well.. HALF that (which is also easy) and add it to the 10%.. wha-lah! 20% even easier, DOUBLE the 10%. Yay!

    CauseImThaMommaThatsWhy’s last blog post..Once upon a few days ago, a Good Samaritan did a Good Thing

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  5. If I’m feeling the pressure here is what I do. An easy way to figure 20% is just divide by five. This is the general rule I follow. Service not so great ? I deduct a little. A little better that average, I stick with the 20. Outstanding service ( so rare, *sigh* ) I just go with my gut and generally tip above and beyond what I think the service person is expecting. Hope this helps!

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  6. I used to go to Sonic everyday after school in high school..cherrylimeade slush..yum.. we would tip every freaking time. It was high school and somehow we thought we had money to blow.
    I so wish we had online pizza ordering here..I don’t know why our town is still living in the dark ages. It would save so many arguments on who’s gonna call and order.

    Jean’s last blog post..Randomness and an Update

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  7. I’m so with you on the pizza tip thing. Why would I prepay a tip when I have no idea what is going to happen? For all I know, the guy might decide his job is done and just sit in his car eating my pizza. I can’t tip BEFORE I get the service. Just can’t.

    I have to admit, I don’t really have trouble figuring out how much. I just move the decimal point to the left two spaces to get 10%. If the service was good, I double it. If it was bad, I don’t. If it was average, I round to something in the middle. Works for me, just so long as I don’t have to try to be psychic and predict how much I should tip.

    Burgh Baby’s Mom’s last blog post..Yes, We Have Two Dogs

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  8. Anxious Phone Users Unite!

    whoorl’s last blog post..A Word Of Caution

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  9. I can understand the anxiety. I dislike the tip jars, it feels like professional panhandling.They want to make you feel obligated to put something in just because it is there. I was with my young niece at a coffee shop and there was a tip jar. She was telling me I should have contributed. When asked why, she simply said “because it is there” I think those will eventually become “mandantory” to tip because the new generations will be hard wired to think that way.

    As a teenager, I remember co workers putting out tip jars at establishments when the manager was away as it was not company policy to have a tip jar. They just wanted to see how much they could get. Once the manager returned, the tip jar was returned to its hiding spot and the money pocketed.

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  10. Sonic is also my favorite place but I sometimes go across the street to the wendys instead because I don’t want to do the tip thing.

    my moms friends’ son worked there and said, yes, they rely on tips but ten percent is plenty according to the management, but if you go for a cherry limeade at happy hour, a dime tip just sounds bad and then you’re tipping more than the soda costs and it’s just easier to get a dr. pepper at the wendys.

    Oh, and then if I have to charge, they automatically charge it to the amount and then I have no cash to give for a tip, I feel horrible. That’s why I send my husband all the time. Let him deal with all that.

    Andria’s last blog post..Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

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  11. I know the hair bill thing…oh man, nothing worse. Holding my breath as she rings up each *service*, HEY I thought that conditioner was FREE! I have a hard time fiquring tips on the spot too.

    The solution? A CALCULATOR watch! What could be more convenient during those akward moments? The cashier will be so impressed with your watch, she won’t even notice you sweating!

    mandy’s last blog post..and…

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  12. I use the “tip calculator” on my cell phone. Yes, this is a real thing that is actually on my phone.

    I pretend to have to check a text message (by the way, I have never sent nor received even 1 text message…ever). So anyway, I pretend to check a text and figure it out on the phone real quick.

    Thank God for technology. I can’t do math in my head and I don’t want to look stupid counting on my hands.

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  13. I don’t order online pizza. We did that once and it took forever for the guy to get there (we lived in a HUGE popular apartment complex so not sure why he got lost).

    We just call for deliver from the pizza place down the street. In our area there are tons of private pizza places owned by families and have much better pizza anyway, so we just order from the pizza place across the street. They are totally nice and know us.

    As far as the tipping…I can figure 10% easy…then if it was exceptional service I add a few dollars to make up the difference. If it was good service around holidays we give even more and don’t bother calculating…we have went so far as giving as big a tip as our bill before.

    Sandy’s last blog post..Technical diffictulties

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  14. I have not had my hair cut professionally in years and I dread the tip thing too! Do you have to tip even if it’s Supercuts??? My problem isn’t so much figuring out the tip, but WHO to give the tip to and when! What if they’re busy with another customer by the time you get to pay??

    I agree with the person who suggested doubling 10 percent or adding half for 15. Round up, so you’re working with even dollar amounts, and there you have it :)
    jen’s last blog post..Orange

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  15. By the way… if your Pizza is delivered LATE.. 9 and a half times out of 10 it is NOT the delivery drivers fault!! The drivers work for tips.. oh yes they do.. they make SQUAT per hour.. oh, and that “delivery charge” on your reciept.. NO, the driver does NOT get that.. they may get a portion of it.. like 50 cents, seriously. And DONT count that as part of your tip, they are using their GAS.. and no, aside from the measly 50 cents, they dont get reimbursed for gas. The driver gets your pizza NO FASTER than the KITCHEN makes it. And believe me, that driver wants to get your pizza to you faster than YOU want it!! So, if your pizza is late, dont punish the driver .. really. If its cold, well, thats another story all together. Although, keep in mind, the driver takes the delieveries that the store manager assigns. If the manager gives the driver too many and your pizza gets cold, its still not the drivers fault.
    IN SUMMARY… if your pizza is late, or cold, or the order is wrong, DO NOT punish the driver by NOT tipping or UNDER tipping.. call the store and complain to the Manager and get some free food or something.. punish the right party. dont take it out on the driver!
    (can you tell Ive worked for tips, or know someone who works for tips, or know someone who DELIVERS PIZZA!!!)

    CauseImThaMommaThatsWhy’s last blog post..Once upon a few days ago, a Good Samaritan did a Good Thing

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  16. I went back to always keeping a little cash on me. That way I can order online, skip the online tip, and give the person cash for a tip.

    I lurve my hairdresser so much that I just tip her whatever I’m so appreciative of the great cut she gives me. I’ve had some HORRIBLE hair cuts in the past and there is no amount of money that can make up for having to grow out a hack job. (Hello..took two years!)

    While I do look at the bill to kinda gauge what to give, I’m trying to get away from the “rules” and give from appreciation. If they did a great job, well I appreciate it by a generous tip. If not, well, I don’t give much.

    Queen of Shake Shake’s last blog post..He Dared to Question My Marine Biology Authori-tay

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  17. I usually don’t panic about tipping, I just forget to do the actual tipping itself. I constantly walk away from a situation and think “Oh crap, I forgot to tip them.”

    The worst one was getting ready to board a cruise ship and those guys come out to take your luggage for you. We had flown from Calif. to Florida with two small kids and decided to bring this massively large suitcase instead of having to keep track of three smaller cases.

    The guy comes up and I’m joking with him that it’s his lucky day that he’s stuck with our 70 pound suitcase, take care of your back, haha. I then turn to deal with the kids and forget to tip him. The Man asked me about it later, and we figured we would just never get our luggage that cruise.

    Luckily it was a Disney cruise and they use 68 year old men to help get you boarded, and they tend to be less vindictive.

    all things BD’s last blog post..If I Were Truly Superstitious…

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  18. I don’t have tip ANXIETY so much. In fact, hubby usually turns to me when it comes to tipping (since I worked in the food industry and all)…but I can tell you this…

    When it comes to the pizza guys I don’t tip…MUCH. Their tips are sort of figured in through your surcharges (and the fact that your pizza costs an arm and a leg)…so I usually just add $1-$1.50 onto the total.

    When it comes to hair I OVER tip. Depending on the cost of the haircut and whether I really liked the stylist. The last time I got my haircut (over a year ago) I tipped her $10 because she did so great and I liked her. Generally, though, I tip $5 for a $40-80 haircut.

    When it comes to waiters and waitresses. My standard is generally this: $1/person for lunch, $2/person for dinner (half of that for small kids that don’t eat big). That is my BASIC rate for poor service. From there I go up if the service was good-great. It’s a lot easier than figuring percentages ;) It’s what I always considered fair when I was in waitservice.

    The major difference in food service is when you get to a fancy restaurant/higher price. For those I set my basic rate just a little higher to accomodate for the higher cost of food (Usually a minimum of $5 for 2 people).

    As you can see, I have a system and so my anxiety is never very high *lol*

    Sadie’s last blog post..Happy Birthday K!!!

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  19. I always ridiculously over tip, cause i can’t do math either. I have a tip calculator on my cell phone. You should check and see if you have one on yours.

    Cassey’s last blog post..Number 4

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  20. I share your pain! I don’t have a great solution, but I was hoping it might help to know that others walk in your shoes! I hate when I get my hair done, and then stand there like Bambi in headlights trying to figure the tip–I usually end up screwing it up! I do not tip in the tip jars at the counter. It makes me feel cheap, but I don’t like tipping someone to just do their job. I think I would leave the tip off of the pizza delivery and keep singles on hand to tip when they get there. I tip a couple of dollars per pizza.

    My DH has phone anxiety too, and drive-thru anxiety. He can’t handle asking for the kids burgers plain, the extra ketchup, etc., etc.

    Mom24’s last blog post..Is the glass half full, or half empty?

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  21. My wife is adamant about tipping well. If you order online though they include a delivery charge, but the guy delivering probably never sees that. I usually tip a dollar per pizza.

    Maybe I’m cheap.

    ~Jef

    Edge’s last blog post..Daddy! It stinks turn on the vent!

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  22. I have the same problem. I basically forget that I even know what a number is. The tip card helps, although then I feel dumb pulling the thing out in front of strangers. They might think I’m number stupid.

    I put the card in the same holder of my wallet as my debit card, since that’s the card I use most often. So, it’s right there for me, when I pull out the card.

    Phoenix’s last blog post..5 Things and six words

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  23. i’m the exact same way. i have both phone anxiety and tip anxiety. luckily, hubby does most of the tipping since i don’t get out much (wow, that sounds really sad when i type it out!), and we’re usually together when a tip is required.

    the phone thing…yikes! it took me since moving to Ottawa for University in 1994 until now to feel *somewhat* comfortable ordering pizza over the phone (up until i moved to the city, my parents always did the ordering). even now, if i have to order something by phone, i have to go to a room by myself to do it….i’m so weird! but i’m glad i’m not the only one! ;-)
    cate’s last blog post..poopy croup

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  24. I’m bad at it too. I love restaurants that have the list of 3 at the bottom, 15% 18% and 20%…lifesaver. But, not everyone does that.

    I think my biggest error of the day is when I tip $1 on my $1.75 coffee at the Java Hut….but they always have it ready for me when I pull up…they see me coming and prep it EVERY time. Well deserved, I think.

    Jen’s last blog post..R.I.P

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  25. Oh, I totally get tip anxiety. The other day I picked up take-out and wondered if I should tip (I didn’t). I’m also unsure why we tip some people for doing their job and not others - why do I have to tip a waitress or a hairdresser, but not a salesgirl who brings me sizes? The whole thing makes me head hurt.

    andi’s last blog post..My feud with Mama Nature continues

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  26. I once got a little card from Costco that is a tip calculator. It gives you a rough amount from $0-$100 spent and then calculates a 15% and 20% gratuity for you. I use it all the time when I’m at the salon or anywhere else that requires tipping.

    I had horrible tip anxiety before that. We always order pizza on-line and pay the gratuity through that too :)
    Tonya’s last blog post..THE WILD ANIMAL PARK

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  27. I carry my tip card everywhere, because like you, I am math challenged. And, how funny that in my insanity last week I carried on a lengthy conversation with a Sonic car hop…we’re 1/4 of a mile from the land of Cherry limeades…and eat there far too often.

    Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..Prom Night 08

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  28. There is nothing worse than standing at the door with the pizza guy staring at you while you try to figure out how much change to ask for. I almost always overtip because I’m trying to add the amount of the tip to the amount of the pizza and then subtract that from the amount of money I’m holding.

    And the hair salon thing. Blerg. Forget the stylist, what about the hair washing girl? And do you tip them when they wash your hair or when you’re done with your appointment. And if you wait to the end of the appointment, are they going to glare at you the whole time you’re getting your blow out?

    And what’s the best way to ruin a massage? Stressing about tipping the whole time.

    I clearly have problems. I’m glad I’m not the only one.

    Stimey’s last blog post..The Experiment

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  29. I had no idea the pizza delivery guy didn’t see that money. I’m feeling a little guilty right now!

    Rosie’s last blog post..This? Is 13 elephants kind of awesome!

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  30. I tip my hairdresser a rediculous amount when she does a good job. Hey, it means I don’t look like an asshat. She’s come to realize that the amount of her rediculously huge tip is in direct proportion to how much I like what she did. But she’s really good so she often gets 50% (sometimes more like when she fixed the color that the other guy did…)

    The delivery guys? It depends on the weather. In Upstate NY it can be pretty crapperiffic weather and if its that bad they get $5 plus like a dollar per item and rounding it to an even number in my check book or if its cash they get $5 plus. If its nice out they get $2 pluse a dollar per item.

    Sometimes I just hand them money and tell them to keep the change cause I have better things to do than wait by the cold door…

    CourtneyRyan’s last blog post..sorry to gloat

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  31. I hate the whole tip thing, it makes my head hurt! I hate giving tips to people I know. We used to eat at a resturant and the waitress was a very sweet girl we saw all the time. Come tip time I freaked out, the service was always great, she spoiled us, but I didn’t know how much to give her. I didn’t want to look cheap but I didn’t want to put her through college either! I would usually hand the money to Little Miss and let her give it to her along with a big hug. It worked, she would put the money in her pocket and never look to see how much it was. That only works for a cute kid and when you know the people, otherwise I leave it to hubby.

    justmylife’s last blog post..What a CRAPTASTIC weekend!

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  32. *Quote* ~ “When it comes to the pizza guys I don’t tip…MUCH. Their tips are sort of figured in through your surcharges (and the fact that your pizza costs an arm and a leg)…so I usually just add $1-$1.50 onto the total”
    OH MY WORD people!! The delivery guy doesnt get that “delivery charge”.. the STORE gets that.. they use it to cover liability, etc etc.. Pizza delivery guys get paid like $6 an hour !! If anything, delivery people should be tipped MORE.. after all, they are using THEIR vehicle and THEIR gas to bring food to YOUR door.
    Delivery drivers (not just pizza, but any delivery drivers) are working FOR TIPS. Their measly hourly wage barely covers gas and insurance.
    *sigh*

    CauseImThaMommaThatsWhy’s last blog post..Once upon a few days ago, a Good Samaritan did a Good Thing

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  33. Former Pizza Delivery Chick (And waitress), here.

    I live in the land of the cheap (Utah) so you may want to take this with a grain of salt.

    $5 tip for pizza delivery was big. $1 was cheap. $2-3 was average. If it is still the same as it was when I was working, delivery drivers make a full wage plus tip and gas ration. It isn’t like a waitress who is making 2.00 an hour, so you don’t have to stress as much.

    I get my hair done by the salon owner and only recently found out that I shouldn’t tip her (which pisses me off that she didn’t tell me that, actually.).

    I usually end up tiping 15% if I can, but often it’s so expensive I can only afford 10%. So? $10-20 for the hair dresser.

    I DO NOT DO TIP JARS. PERIOD. THE END. I would never have expected it working a counter and that is just ridiculous.

    For waiting? I have such sympathy for waiting that I usually leave no lower than %5, even though I probably shouldn’t tip at all. Usually I end at %15-20.

    And?

    I know that there are horror stories about “Revenge” on food. I am SURE that it gets done, but I have NEVER SEEN IT HAPPEN. I have never done it, even when someone pisses me off.

    You would lose your job and the establishment could get majorly fined so it just wasn’t worth it.

    Again, just my pov. (Wow. That was freaking long)

    Loralee’s last blog post..I’m just big-boned! Really!!

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  34. oh thank the heavens i am not the only one with this disorder.

    i can’t tell you how many times i have messed up my tips with my hair girls. i actually had to quit going to a girl bc i tipped too much and was too scared to go back and give her the app. tip!!

    and sonic - oh sister!! i just send the husband now!!

    for the record - i went through MAJOR sonic withdrawls when we moved to nyc. seriously the husband flew me out a cherry limeade once or twice!!

    i knew there was a reason i liked you so much…good ole sonic!

    amanda’s last blog post..mini weekend getaway

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  35. Crap. Your suppossed to tip at Sonic? Sorry I need to sit on this one a minute.

    Marti’s last blog post..Update on friend

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  36. I have THE WORST tip anxiety ever. It has nothing to do with the math under pressure….that I’m good with. It has to do with the guilt that comes from thinking that I might not be tipping ENOUGH. What if the standard got changed to 25% and no one told me?!

    The only place I don’t have tip anxiety is tip jars…those just make me annoyed, and I don’t feel obligated to put anything in them.

    Maggie’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday - A Little of This, A Little of That

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  37. Yes, add me to the list of tip fretters. Restaurants I can handle because they leave you the bill and you have some time to think about it. I just figure out 10% and then double it. If it isn’t great service, I give a little less (or a lot less depending on how bad).

    I get a cut/highlight every 3 months. The charge is $55 and I give a $7 tip. So that is about 15%? I know I should probably give more, but I am such a cheap SAHM that the whole $55 charge just freaks me out and makes me feel guilty in the first place (I know, it is so less expensive than other salons..and this is the NICEST and trendiest salon in our area!).

    Oh, and tip jars? No way. Never. I think this tip thing is getting out of control! Plus sometimes they don’t even know what you did or did not give because they either aren’t looking at you or they can’t see how much you threw in (remember George Constanza’s predicament in the pizza shop?). So it doesn’t make sense to me.

    Irene’s last blog post..This and that..

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  38. I have a tip calculator in the tools part of my cell phone. It works great and gives the right amount everytime. Lots of times I round up, then I feel like a big tipper…LOL

    Heather’s last blog post..Thanks Amey!!

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  39. I have the same tip issues (and phone issues), but I discovered the joy of online pizza ordering a few years back and spend the time while waiting for the pizza to sort out the tip question (except for those who let you put it in at time of ordering).

    Sonic? Oh, shit. It never occurred to me to tip (OK, once it did), but they already charge too much. Ditto for the tip jars. Sorry, but until I get to put one on my desk in my cube, nope. I try to be very generous when I know people are working for tips, but not when it’s the dreaded tip jar.

    (the other) Maggie’s last blog post..Weekly Winners Sunday 4/20/08

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  40. I calculate a 20% tip by doubling the first number (bill = $40; 4 x 2 = $8 tip). If the number is in the middle, I usually round up.

    I do not mind tipping at the usual places like restaurants and hair salons. I even tip well. But I do not go out of my way to tip others that are paid a salary to provide a service - like the trash collectors for example. I actually canceled our Boston Globe delivery because the delivery person would only put the paper on your doorstep if you tipped. A tip should not be required for good service. Reading online is better for the environment anyway.

    Beth’s last blog post..daily photo (365/48)

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  41. /sigh

    I hate tipping. HATE HATE HATE. Did I mention that I was a waitress for 8 years? I lived on those tips, but now I hate it.

    I typically tip higher percentages at lower cost restaurants and lower tip percentages at higher priced establishments. I never found it fair that you would get less money for the same job just because the company charged more. Needless to say, the best waitresses in my area work in a diner. It doesn’t bother me at all to leave a 50%+ tip there.

    The hairdresser thing bothers me though. The other day I went to get my hair done at a new place that I expected to pay $60-$80 for my cut and color. I was even quoted that on the phone. Well the girl told me I needed to have a certain conditioner on my hair, but neglected to tell me that it cost money. When I went to pay my bill was $140. I about DIED. So I gave her a $10 tip and felt sick. If I knew it would have been $140 I wouldn’t have went. That was my grocery money for this upcoming week. Gone. I never tip well at the hairdresser. I hardly ever go and think it is very overpriced. /sigh

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  42. I have this same thing. Cannot calculate it to save my life. I always overtip. And when traveling with hubs one of the things I love about him is he knows exactly how to do it - he is generous and he does the math in his head and never screws it up.

    amy’s last blog post..Tax Time!

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  43. I have the same problem with tipping. I never know what to give someone. It’s hard for me to tip someone that cuts my hair for 30 minutes and makes $30.

    I LOVE Sonic! I don’t know if I could move some place with no Sonic. We send someone down either in the morning or during happy hour to get our drinks.

    April’s last blog post..Haiku Friday

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  44. ugh, I hate tipping. I hate the little jars at Starbucks, like they deserve a tip for ringing up my purchase and putting it in the cup?
    I also never know what to tip for other things. Furniture delivery and set up? WHO knows!?
    I don’t tip at Sonic. I mean, they’re just bringing the food to me and I don’t know if I should leave a tip just for them walking 20 yards to my car…

    Devan’s last blog post..Guess who?

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  45. I feel you on the tip anxiety. My tendency is to err on the side of being too generous. I tell myself I’d rather be out a few extra dollars than worry that I have shorted someone . . . pay it forward, good karma, stuff like that.

    The only exception to the erring on the side of generosity policy is the hair salon. By the time my hair is cut, colored, and whatnot, my bill sometimes approaches $175 (I know, I know, but I am vain and salons in Chicago tend to be expensive) . . . I always mean to investigate to find out if 15% gratuity is expected for hair services, but then I’m not sure I really want to know the answer.

    mep’s last blog post..Offer it up.

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  46. My what great taste you have in pizza toppings. We order the same thing except for mushrooms on half because hubby hates them.

    Anyhoo, the tip card was so my friend. I kept in the same part in my wallet where I kept my debit card. That way it was handy. It used to embarass the shit out of hubby when I’d pull it out but at least I knew I’d be right. Now as a generally rule of thumb if the service was good I double the tax on the receipt.

    Worker Mommy’s last blog post..Why Red Lobster is the creepiest place on Earth

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  47. Great post! I travel alot, and there are even different rules in different cities. But I’m with you on the bellhop/concierege services, etc. Some hotels doen’t give you a choice. I usually tip $2 bucks per bag, and then give $5 for reservations and more for things like tickets are a hard to get into event or restaurant.

    Heather’s last blog post..Nanoseconds

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  48. In order to overcome my own tip anxiety, here is what I do:

    I always tip 20% for food service (at a sit down restaurant, not Sonic, not Starbucks). I use the calculator on my cell phone so that I don’t have to do it in my head. You could apply this to pizza delivery also. If I really really LOVED the server, I would tip up to 30%, again using the phone calc to figure it out.

    I tip $5 for each personal service received (i.e., manicure, pedicure, haircut). If I get a mani/pedi at the same time, that’s $10.

    I don’t know if this is too much, not enough, or just right, but it keeps be from being anxious about it and I receive good service where ever I go, so it seems to work.

    Good luck!

    RubiaLala’s last blog post..Full Disclosure

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  49. lordy-be! you must be my twin sister from another mother…

    i live in constant fear of the tip moment. and of having a disgruntled person leave the gift of dna on or in my food!!!

    ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

    the planet of janet’s last blog post..Fun Monday: the best thing I’ve ever done edition

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  50. I always over tip

    Im sure I come off as:

    LIKE ME PLEASE.

    MizFit’s last blog post..and the winner o’the YouBars is:

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  51. I also use the tip calculator on my cell phone. whoever put it there must have tip anxiety too, lol! It’s saved my ass on countless occasions!

    Cindy’s last blog post..Do you know someone like this?

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  52. Hey, I have a phone problem, too! Phone phobia twins, high-five!

    Oh, tips. I hate tipping. For pizzas, I figure a couple of bucks per pizza. And since I’m so nervous about this, I tend to make Paul go pick UP the pizzas instead.

    Swistle’s last blog post..Speaking of Nuclear Crab

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  53. I have the phone anxiety, too. I order everything online that I possibly can! I love it.
    For most tips, I do OK, and I’m a pretty generous tipper for good service. But hair/nail salon tips stress me out, too!

    cyndy’s last blog post..A Retirement Home for Horses

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  54. It’s rude to tip the owner of a salon? My stylist just opened her own salon and I’ve continued to tip her. Rude to tip?

    Anyway - we have a lot of the same anxiety. My husband and I *hate* talking on the phone, especially when ordering stuff. We’ve been in heaven since discovering online ordering for pizza delivery. And we usually add the tip on when they get here, because we still have to sign something. Or we write a check.

    Cathy’s last blog post..Total Randomness

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  55. We usually double the tax amount– comes to about 16% here in Washington. As for coffee, etc.– go with your gut and tip on their service, not because you feel like you have to! I don’t tip at Sonic, it is fast food…

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  56. I just tip 20%, end of story. If someone is SERIOUSLY rude or DUMB I would just leave a couple dollars, but otherwise, 20%. And, obviously you know how to do math, but the way I figure 20% super quickly is to first figure out 10%. Just knock off the last number. Like if the bill was 42.50, 10% is 4.25 and then multiply by 2 to get 20%. Is that how everyone figures it out? I dunno. Probably. ANYWAY! Just thought I would share with you how I do math. Because I know you were dying to hear.

    Karly’s last blog post..Follow Me Here, Follow Me There

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  57. I do 20% too because it is easy and I always round off. But I totally avoid bathrooms with attendants and valet parking. Ugh. Also, do you tip at the salon when using a gift certificate and how does that work? Ugh!

    Toni’s last blog post..What’s In A Name?

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  58. Okay, seriously with 57 comments, do you even notice my little one way down here anymore??

    Anyway, I love the tip site. I’m good in restaurants, but I never know what to tip other places–like a salon.

    MammaLoves’s last blog post..I’d Blame it on the Illness or the Weather…

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  59. Isn’t online pizza ordering awesome? Without it, we’d still be arguing over who has to call to order the pizza.

    I have the same tip anxiety, especially when it comes to not knowing when to tip. Do you tip at Sonic? I don’t know the etiquette.

    Christina’s last blog post..I Feel 27 Again (Well, 27 Plus Two Kids)

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  60. When you order online, there is already a delivery charge added to the order. Or at least there is at Papa johns. So I pay online, and tip in person. Then I can do math with a calculator!

    tommie’s last blog post..Manic and Muffin Monday…..apple spice crumb muffins

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  61. I have a phone phobia too! I love online ordering. When we do it here, they bring you the slip with your pizza and you can add the tip at that time. That takes some of the pressure off.

    I always go blank at the salon. I am always afraid if I tip less than they expect, they’ll butcher me next time for being a bad tipper, but if I leave too good of a tip, they will expect it every time. Sigh. It’s a tough one.

    Robin’s last blog post..Bubba says

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  62. My goodness sakes how do I love ordering pizza online. It has taken the frustration right on out of ordering over the phone. Sigh of happiness…

    And tipping? Yeah I don’t know. My little brother was staying with us once when the cable man came over to fix our internet problem. He left and my brother was appalled that I didn’t tip him. What the?!! Are you kidding me? In China it’s actually OFFENSIVE to tip and if you try they will CHASE YOU DOWN and give you back your money. They feel that you shouldn’t be paid extra for just doing your job well (something I actually kind of agree with–as long as you’re not a waitress and depending on the tip to make a living). ANYWAY…. yeah. I’m with you.

    Jess’s last blog post..I’ll take “Are you Insane?!” for 800 Alex

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  63. You need a phone that has the tip calculator. I love mine!

    Miss’s last blog post..100 Things (Well 55 things anyways)

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  64. *snicker*
    You are so funny. I get this tip anxiety too, even after years of waitressing, bartending and managing restaurants.. I still get it.
    I got my hair ‘did’ after 9 months of nothing and I felt so awkward that I tipped the kid $32 dollars. Hubby about had a connip.
    Oops.
    You are not alone Jennifer, you are not alone ;-)
    rachel’s last blog post..A Southern Snippet

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  65. Even when I use the tip calculator in my cell phone, I still get the anxiety. The question is 10% 15%? 20% Which one do I use, which one do I use? I tend to guestimate on the high side, too, and hubby gets PO’d so I don’t always tell him.

    SherE1’s last blog post..Teething and Fitness Updates

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  66. I love Sonic! I also tip anxiety there. Especially when I go to the drive through and the girl skates, literally, one foot out of the door and hands me whatever I ordered. I still want to tip her, but it’s just confusing. But I put up with it..because well, it’s SONIC!!

    Amanda (Shamelessly Sassy)’s last blog post..Most Humiliating Baby Names of All Time & Pseudonyms

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  67. The local Starbucks drive thru has a tip jar on the window sill. I couldn’t believe it; they already charge enough for their overpriced drinks!

    Devilish Southern Belle’s last blog post..No post yesterday

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  68. I have tip anxiety too! i don’t mind at restaurants and places where I know exactly what to tip and all I have to do is sign the receipt. But i HATE places where they don’t have a place to put the tip on the credit card receipt and so the cashier (usually the hairstylist or person who served/helped you in some way) says to you, “Would you like to add a tip to that?” i don’t know why, it’s just something about having to say the tip amount out loud, especially to the person who did the work, that makes me always tip more than i should so I won’t feel embarrassed. That’s probably why they do it that way!

    Cassie’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Monopoly Money

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  69. BTW… You’re no longer limited to ordering pizza online from one of those big national chains. If your local neighborhood pizza place doesn’t offer online ordering, ask them to check out http://hometownpizza.us.

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  70. [...] interviewing a potential babysitter is necessary, but the thought makes me even more nervous than calling and ordering a pizza.  I really don’t know what to ask (and my cynical side tells me that they aren’t going [...]

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