And for those who say they all think they "deserve" it and just do enough to get by and should "get better jobs" obviously have never been in the service industry. I think everybody needs that type of job at least once in their life to teach them the value of hard work, earning something and understanding who people really are.

I am a minister and I took a side job a few years back for some extra money. We didn't really "need" it, but it was nice. One revelation I had that changed how I thought for good was this:

1) When it's Sunday or I'm making a visit to the hospital, etc as "the minister" I get treated with respect and kindness.
2) When I was "just" a delivery guy- I got treated like absolute crap, as if I was "lower" than other people.

That's just not right and everybody should re-think how they treat people.

Good post.

Working at a Casino I can tell you ive noticed about tippers and race. I hate to be that guy but its just how things are in the casino. Not implying anywhere else.

Oh I always tip delivery drivers on the very rare occasion that I order food for delivery. I only order delivery when the weather is unbareable outside. Gas prices are too high not to tip drivers and if they will make the trip from their restaurant to my place in terrible weather, they get nice tips. I'm not that big of an asshole lol.

-Alex

In the food business there is an expression "I've got a blacktop."

I agree. As a society, everyone is very jaded these days. My brother getting sick has really changed my life in so many ways this past year. It's changed my perspective on my own health, how I spend my time and how I treat people in general. I do my best to treat everyone with kindness and compassion, especially those who aren't kind to me. It seems to me they are the ones who need some kindness the most. I have a lot of regrets of how I've interacted with some people and wish I could change it but I can't. All I can do is do my best from here forward in life.

The smallest acts of kindness can make someone's day. Over the weekend I went and bought some wood from this roadside place here in Wylie. The kid loading wood couldn't be but 17/18 years old. It was freezing out and he was loading all these cars/trucks by himself and he didn't have any gloves on. I asked him where his gloves were and he said he just started working there and didn't have the money yet but he would in two weeks when he got paid. I helped him finish loading the wood into my truck and then I drove down to Home Depot to buy him some gloves. I pulled back in and he asked if there was something wrong and I handed him the gloves. He said couldn't pay me for them, I said no need, just do something nice for someone else when you can. It really made his day I could see. He said thanks and I left. Hopefully he passes it along to someone else.

Great story, Steve. Way to pay it forward. Too many people have a "you owe me" attittude these days.

My rule of thumb.
If a service is involved whether that be a delivery or waiter/waitress serving my table i always tip. I've been in the service industry and its not great, but remember a good tip can make someones day and ruin someones night. However if shitty service is involved then they had it coming.
Money comes and goes, but kindness and impressions last forever.

I saw drive-thru mentioned earlier as an alternative to not tipping for service.
FYI
Im that guy where i go through a drive thru i pay for the persons behind me food.
Helps me kick fast food and gives a good feeling knowing i made someones day from just the littlest things.

Walk a mile in that server's shoes before you decide on the tip. If you have never been there, do not be so hasty to judge. If you ever talk to me in person, ask me about my first big tip as a bus boy and why.

If the service is good, I start at about double the sales tax on the receipt. If the restaurant is a place I frequent or has great service, I will tip 20+ percent. If my water glass stays full the majority of the time, the restaurant probably has great service as I drink anywhere from 4-8 glasses of water with my meal. If the service is crap I will tip 10 or less percent. The only places I don't generally tip at are at buffets or places that literally call your name for an order. I really don't understand why those types of establishments have a tip line on their receipts if one basically has to serve themselves. If service is crap the worst thing anyone could do is a tip a penny. Waiters/Waitresses expect people to be cheapskates or forget to tip, but a penny is the least amount one can tip and is the best way to say "Your service sucked!"

Asia is another place that is also not accustomed to tipping. I visited China last summer and was surprised to learn that tipping is not required anywhere. My girlfriend, who is from China, told me that if tips are left on tables by foreigners that waiters/waitresses will literally chase the person down and tell them that they left their belongings on the table. I also had another friend, from China, tell me that tipping can also be taken offensively and that waiters/waitresses may take the gesture as if the person paying for the meal wants something in return (which could be taken in a variety of different contexts). So if any of you happen to wait tables and wonder why some asian people do not tip well or they do not tip at all, this is probably why.

My brother is stationed in Japan and they do the same there.

I hear that a lot. Well other countries don't tip at all. Which is true, but they make an hourly wage, which our servers do not. (i realize you're not saying this, just heard it before)

I wish I didn't have to tip, but everyone has a cow if I don't.

I tip bases on service. If i get good service I tip great, but if I get shitty service I don't tip. Just my opinion.

The few fast food-ish type places I go are Chipotle and Five Guys Burgers. They have a tip jar at the register. I don't get it, like why? You did the same thing anyone at McDonald's or Domino's would do. Hell I worked at Smoothie King for almost a year during college and there was a tip jar at the register. I didn't complain about getting tips, and I always flirted with the hotties that would come in but, still. That type of tipping just doesn't make sense to me.

-Alex

FYI
Im that guy where i go through a drive thru i pay for the persons behind me food.
Helps me kick fast food and gives a good feeling knowing i made someones day from just the littlest things.[/QUOTE]

That's really cool, I live in NRH let me know next time you go to a fast food place I'll follow you ;)
Seriously though 15% tip is pretty much my standard 20% if exceptional and if its horrible I will not tip, that has happened just a few times in my life.

I tip based on how well the service was. If terrible then I usually do not tip. When I go to sonic i try to hit the drive through if they have one, but otherwise not I don't leave a tip unless I need them to bring me something else and I have cash. They get paid minimum wage and a little more if the use skates. My wife worked there in high school and told me this.