I'm sure there's a reason!

[mare mare]

Should I tip the carhops at Sonic?
Why do they have a drive-thru and still send the carhop out to your car?
Why is there braille on the drive-up ATM?
Why do States have a law that we buckle-up in our own car (I do buckle-up)but they don't mind if someone wants to smoke in their car (with the windows up) :loco: while driving children around? Why don't school buses have seat belts? Just some things I've always wondered about!
Any comments????

Mare Mare:)

[jaime15]

I would have to say that as many schoolbus wrecks that happen, everyone of them need shoulder straps.

And as a child who's father smoked in the car, without rolling the window down, turned me into a non-smoker as an adult. I swear I think it caused me to get carsick to this day. But don't let hubby read this!! He's a smoker.....but luckily outside.......:)

[ihurttoo]

I have always wondered if we are suppossed to tip at Sonic too!! So glad you asked! I hope someone out there knows! I have no idea on the rest of it either!

[ShePurzz]

Ugh... what is sonic first of all.

Tipping -- has been a real thorn in my side for as long as I can remember... I do tip, but I hate it. I think a restaurant should pay their employees, just like other businesses do. Then the customers who come there to eat don't have to pay their wages in addition to the food they are buying. THAT has always bothered me that a business owner can get away with paying a couple of dollars and hour and the customers pay the rest -- oh, I know, there are waiters and waitresses out there who are going to come unglued over this post, but I still maintain that if the guy wants to own the business, HE should pay those people who work for him -- not the customers who eat there.

McDonald's pays their employees -- same with dozens of other fast food restaurants -- and they clearly make money -- I don't believe for a minute that the restaurants that charge upwards of $20 per meal can't afford to pay their own employees.

As to tipping -- it isn't a tip if it is required of a customer -- or expected of them for that matter.

I believe that TIPPING is what a person does when they believe that the person doing them a service is doing something special for them -- not just because we ate at their table.

Now, before you go beating me up with the keyboard -- we tip -- and we tip fair, but I still hate it... I resent it and I will not be forced to tip anyone who doesn't provide good service -- and I remain firm in my position that the EMPLOYER is the one that is making out like a fat rat -- and the customers are paying not only for their food, but for the waiters and waitresses paychecks as well. ugh... really a sore spot for me..


Now, as far as all the other tipping -- Again, it doesn't seem that ANYONE does anything for their paychecks anymore -- they COUNT ON the tips to bring home the bacon. Doesn't anyone just give good service because it is the right thing to do? I mean, you go to get your hair done, you tip the girl that washes your hair, the girl that brings you a cup of tea, the girl that cuts your hair, the receptionist, the lady coming in after you, the... okay, so I went a bit far..

Tipping EVERYONE has taken away from the fact that TIPPING is a sign of having received some 'extra special' treatment and that you want to THANK THEM...

Not surprised if there are other anti-tippers hiding out there somewhere -- come on out of the closet... don't let me get bombarded all by myself.

:smile tee

[mare mare]

Sonic is a fast food place where you drive up, park, order from your car and car-hops(some of them on rollerblades) bring your food to your car. They also have a drive-up line, but they still have a carhop bring the food out to the car.:loco:
Talking about Mcdonalds... Did you know that if you go to high school and work at Mcdonalds, they will pay you to do your homework!
I agree waiters and waitress' need to get paid minium wage! From what I understand, if their tips and hourly wage ($2.15? an hour) doesn't average out to equal minimum wage, then the employeer is supposed to pay them the difference. Correct me if I'm wrong!!

[ihurttoo]

Ugh... what is sonic first of all.

Tipping -- has been a real thorn in my side for as long as I can remember... I do tip, but I hate it. I think a restaurant should pay their employees, just like other businesses do. Then the customers who come there to eat don't have to pay their wages in addition to the food they are buying. THAT has always bothered me that a business owner can get away with paying a couple of dollars and hour and the customers pay the rest -- oh, I know, there are waiters and waitresses out there who are going to come unglued over this post, but I still maintain that if the guy wants to own the business, HE should pay those people who work for him -- not the customers who eat there.

McDonald's pays their employees -- same with dozens of other fast food restaurants -- and they clearly make money -- I don't believe for a minute that the restaurants that charge upwards of $20 per meal can't afford to pay their own employees.

As to tipping -- it isn't a tip if it is required of a customer -- or expected of them for that matter.

I believe that TIPPING is what a person does when they believe that the person doing them a service is doing something special for them -- not just because we ate at their table.

Now, before you go beating me up with the keyboard -- we tip -- and we tip fair, but I still hate it... I resent it and I will not be forced to tip anyone who doesn't provide good service -- and I remain firm in my position that the EMPLOYER is the one that is making out like a fat rat -- and the customers are paying not only for their food, but for the waiters and waitresses paychecks as well. ugh... really a sore spot for me..


Now, as far as all the other tipping -- Again, it doesn't seem that ANYONE does anything for their paychecks anymore -- they COUNT ON the tips to bring home the bacon. Doesn't anyone just give good service because it is the right thing to do? I mean, you go to get your hair done, you tip the girl that washes your hair, the girl that brings you a cup of tea, the girl that cuts your hair, the receptionist, the lady coming in after you, the... okay, so I went a bit far..

Tipping EVERYONE has taken away from the fact that TIPPING is a sign of having received some 'extra special' treatment and that you want to THANK THEM...

Not surprised if there are other anti-tippers hiding out there somewhere -- come on out of the closet... don't let me get bombarded all by myself.

:smile tee

You go girl!! Tell it like it is!! I am with you! I and my friends have always said this. Like you, I still tip, and tip well, because I dont want the innocent waiter/waitress to suffer because I buck the system. However, I whole heartedly agree that the system needs to be changed! Thanks for bringing up this issue. (Even though I will be in the doghouse with you, at least I will have good company in there! :smile tee ) Hugs, Amy

[dg2901]

Tipping---not sure about other countries, however in America its customary to tip those that provide you with a service. I tip depending on how well the service is/was.

Braille---Braille is on the ATM's because eventually (some areas already provide this service) those with vision problems will be able to plug a headset into the machine, hear whats on the screen, and complete their transaction accordingly w/o the help of others. Without this service, those with vision impairment now have to rely on someone else helping them with their ATM transactions thus violating their right to privacy.

Smoking--its gross to think that people smoke in cars with the windows rolled up...ick! I'm married to a smoker..he would be risking life and limb if I ever caught him smoking in the car or in the house.

Seat belts--In VA the handicapped school buses do infact have seat belts. It makes no sense to me though why all school buses dont provide this safety feature. I'll have to ask my MIL--she's been a school bus driver going on 30 years now.

:)
D

[mary124]

I believe in tipping, my son is a driver for Papa John's Pizza! They depend on their tips-- they do get miminum wages. Even we we go out to dinner, (My husband and I try to go out once a month on a date) we tip the waiter/waitress depending on the service/meal.

Smoking- My husband use to smoke in the car (with the window 1/4 rolled up - stilled bothered me, never in the house- at least in our new house) I'm a non-smoker; our kids are non-smokers. (my husband is now a non-smoker!!).

Seatbeats in schoolbuses-- In Texas- we don't have them!

[pingpong]

It's interesting that the handicapped school buses in VA have seat belts. Perhaps if all of the school buses had seatbelts there would be less need for handicapped school buses?

[sacausa]

I was born in South Africa (extended family is still there) and we only tip waiters/waitresses there.

It was really foreign when we first moved to Ottawa, Canada (now live in Fl) and we had to tip hair stylist etc.... sooooooooo weird.

I got my hair cut today, and the total just for the cut was $70, so with the tip it made it $84.........don't know if it's just me but I think there's a big difference between those two totals!

So for those of you who don't enjoy tipping, South Africa would be a good place to go on vacation lol

I always wonder when I do "pick-up" at my favorite restaurants if I have to tip the person who rings up my order. Or when the person brings out my order to my car at a place like Chilles, I always tip them but still wonder if I should...... so I started just tipping flatly $2 at places like that... instead of the standard 20% at restaurants.

The first time we went to McDonalds we just left our trays on the table and didn't throw it out.........since that also wasn't customary for us to do.

[chainsaw]

The worst thing you can do to a waitperson if their service is bad is to leave them 1 penny instead of nothing at all. 1 penny is more upsetting to a waitperson than no tip at all. I have been a waitress in the years past, and that is worst. It is very depressing when you get your paycheck from the restaurant for a 40 hour week and it is only about $86 before taxes. Because you get your tips daily(so you always have money) and then you have to claim per hour the difference between your hourly pay and the minimum wage, but when you get that paycheck you forget about your tips, and you think "gee, that isn't very much for 40 hours", then you remember the tips. If anyone out there has never worked in a restaurant as a waitperson, it is not easy. The waitperson is the person who ALWAYS gets yelled out for things that are not their fault. All they do is serve the food. The cook is the one who prepares it.
Kim (chainsaw)

[chainsaw]

Sonic's? Yeah! I love that place. Don't have many here in PA. though. Did find one, have to see how far it is from home though. Their onion rings are good (before IC). And their bugers are so big, but very good. When we lived in the Columbus, Ohio (home of OSU Buckeyes) area and we would travel down to see my mom in Southern Ohio (by the Ohio River) we would stop at Sonic's in Nelsonville, Ohio. Nelsonville is home to "Rocky's Boots". Just in case you all didn't know that. Another thing for those who collect "Dolls" and may have a "Lee Middletown Original Doll" in their collection, Lee Middleton had her shop in Southern Ohio in a town called Belpre (down by the Ohio River). She was also my cousin. She passed away back in 1997. Just a little bit of Ohio history for everyone. Not that anyone probably cares to know that.

Kim (chainsaw)

[mare mare]

Hi Kim,
Sonic Onion Rings!!Yum,:evilsmile I could eat them for breakfast! (better not!!) I 've been a waitress/hostess/bartender too!(it's been like 20 years ago) Some of the public can be so rude!! You'd think that their not human!! Most people are humane!! I did make some good $$$. But you definately work for it! If you look at my feet now, they tell the story!!
Do you know if the carhops at Sonic get paid minimum wage?
These are proclein dolls? I don't collect but I love dolls!

Mare Mare

[ICNDonna]

Actually, I believe the Federal minimum wage is now something like $5.15 per hour; some states have minimums that are over $7.00 (happily, Oregon is in the latter group.).

I grew up in a restaurant managed by my parents and was a waitress at a very young age. As soon as I grew up, I started looking for something easier --- being a waitress is hard work! I always tip generously for good service and the minimum if the service isn't quite as good. I totally do not like it when the restaurant bills for the tip with the meal!

Donna

[sacausa]

Kim, not sure if that first part of was directed at me or not... I never tip someone only a penny, I was saying that I tip someone two bucks for just ringing up my order... no table service at all. Personally I always leave a pretty high tip to waitstaff... and I tip the pizza delivery person $8 for a $14 pizza... I think people were just expressing their opinions about the management not the waitstaff.

Mare Mare, Lee Middleton Dolls... to my knowledge are not porcelain.. people often collect them or buy them for their little girls as each doll has a story/name etc. and there are different outfits you can buy for them.. They are very cute!

[chainsaw]

When my cousin Lee Middleton was alive she did make porcelain dolls. I have no idea if they still make them now or not. Also, the "tip" thing was just for anyone, no specific person. WOW! $8 tip for a $14 pizza, that's pretty good.
Kim

[kuntrygurl78]

I used to work in a collectibles store in Champaign. We sold Lee Middleton dolls and they were very popular. Interesting that someone here was related!

When I met my fiance, he was a server at Lonestar. His entire adult life has been spent in the restaurant industry. He started off as a dishwasher in a local German restaurant. He eventually moved up to head chef. The owners became like parents to him, and they sent him to Germany to get his European Apprentiship. After he got back, he decided he wanted his Associates in Restaurant Management. This upset the owners. (they figured he would work for them forever and the apprentiship was good enuf).

He left there and worked at Biaggi's, TGI Fridays, Applebee's, then Lonestar while he finished his degree. He even worked at the new Bennigans. He was tired of the casual themed places, when he got a call from the owners of the German restaurant. He went back as the kitchen manager.

The owners sold the restaurant to their daughter and son in law. Neither of which had very much restaurant experience. The son in law was a physical therapist in Germany. They thought they knew what they were doing, but they really didnt. My fiance tried making suggestions, and tried all he could to make the place better, but they wouldnt listen. So one night, he had a take this job and shove it moment and quit.

Now he works in a local factory as a clerk. M-F job; day hours. He's much happier! He's still the main cook around here. I like to cook, but I dont know how to do much. He's an amazing chef! (I think that explains the 30 lbs Ive put on since I met him!)

When we go out we are very good tippers. I think it's because he was in the business for so long. I do agree with others in that the industry should pay the employees enuf so that they dont have to depend on their tips. But, on the other hand, there were many nights where my fiance would make more than $14 an hour. Cant find many jobs where you can do that just by working hard and being nice!

This is an interesting thread!

[Dixiefireball]

My first Job when i was sixteen years old was that of a waitress. its a really crummy Job but better then nothing to earn a few ex. bucks. Anyways I made two ten an hour. If i didn't get any tips so be it. the emp. didn't make it up one single bit, but yet they took out of the pay check what they thought you should had made. Its un-fair, but that is the way the system worked back in 1990 (i do pray the government has made a change by now!) I don't like giving tips either, but I do because I know what its like. Many teens and adults the same are working those crummy underpaid jobs just to try to put an ex. meal on their table, pay those bills etc. Many this is an second job for the person who is working.

I honestly believe a tip is for someone who has done something ex. special for a person, but sadly when being waited on. its hard to get a refill for your drink if needed be or anything else you need without having to flag someone down. Then a lot of times its not even your waitress or waiter.

as far as seat belts goes. It really ticks me off their not on our children's school buses you hear of just as many buses being involved in an accident as you do a normal car, or truck! They need to be place in our school system buses for our children!

Sonic pays their workers mid. wage. So if you give a tip that is totally up to you. Sonic workers are not suffering because they don't get tips like other places. How do I know? My cousin daughter worked their for two years, before going to college. of course this is in the state where I live. I'm not sure about the other states but should be the same. shouldn't it?

I don't know the answers to the other questions sorry.

Rhonda

[ShePurzz]

You go girl!! Tell it like it is!! I am with you! I and my friends have always said this. Like you, I still tip, and tip well, because I dont want the innocent waiter/waitress to suffer because I buck the system. However, I whole heartedly agree that the system needs to be changed! Thanks for bringing up this issue. (Even though I will be in the doghouse with you, at least I will have good company in there! :smile tee ) Hugs, Amy

Well, I don't know if we will really be in the doghouse if we could get the system changed -- I don't think anyone actually ENJOYS tipping just for the sake of giving away their money -- but like many others have commented, we do tip -- but I do it because it isn't the waiter/waitresses fault.

However, when I read about paying $84 for a haircut when the tip was $14 of that I want to puke! Sorry -- but if I am paying $70 for a haircut I expect that is good enough. In fact, the gal I have gone to many times when I have the money to afford her charges about $55-75 for her cuts, BUT, they have a sign at the front checkout that reads "No tipping necessary -- Haircut charges are based on our skill levels" -- I LOVE IT! If I am paying someone even $55 for a half hour hair cut (often less than that!) I think that is darn good pay...

Then consider the person getting a whopping $2.25 from the restaurant owner and having to make up the difference to get to minimum wage -- at least I can feel sorry for that person and hopefully get them to minimum wage -- which -- unlike Donna's part of the country -- is a pitiful $5.15 or some such thing right now... tell me .. it that REALLY A LIVING WAGE? It isn't enough to pay even the minimum of anything... so, why on earth should the restaurant owner be allowed to pay less than that and expect the customers to cover the rest of their paycheck... Again, I just don't see that as "tipping" I see that as PAYING THEIR WAGES -- tipping is OPTIONAL -- someone stated on here that the expected tip is 20% for a waitress/waiter -- well, I am out of the know because I am still a 10% tipper -- and I resent having to pay that when the owner can get away without paying them at least minimum wage so that IF I DECIDE to pay them additional money for good service it IS INDEED a TIP - not a part of my bill.

Regarding a restaurant that adds the tip on to the bill. I went to the manager the night that happened to us. I insisted that the tip be removed from my bill and I would leave the tip at the table. The tip that they had 'taken' for the waitress was less than I would have left since it was a great restaurant and we had great service -- but the offense of taking money that I hadn't ordered was so offensive to me that I felt I needed to stand up to it. The owner was so sorry and stated that he didn't like the policy either did two things... First, he offered us free desserts, and second, he enstated a new policy that they would no longer TAKE tips but allow the diner to choose the amount of the tips based on their own opinion or desire!!!

YA HOO!!! One for the non-tippers of the world!

I must say again so I don't get myself in trouble -- I DO TIP -- those who don't get paid a regular wage -- I do NOT tip at the salon unless I feel like it, I don't tip anyone other than waiters and waitresses and that is because I know ahead of time that I am going to dine at a place that still gets to charge their customers for what they should be paying -- but those who receive a full wage from their employer -- everyone other than waitstaff -- I tip IF I feel that what they did was above and beyond what they are paid to do -- in other words -- they did something special for me, the customer -- and I, the customer, want to say THANK YOU by giving them a tip.

Pizza guy $8 from me -- ummm sorry, not going to happen in this lifetime -- I would WORK for the pizza place if I thought that I could GET those tips! I admire someone being able to pay that kind of fee -- we generally go pick up our own so I don't have to deal with the tipping issue -- however -- we were at a hotel recently and I did order in a pizza -- I DID TIP the gal! So, I do follow protocol on delivery and restaurants -- but I don't follow protocol when I feel I am doing it because it is what I am SUPPOSED to do -- i.e. hairdresser, nail manicurist, mailman, bellhop, etc.. I tip these people based on the service and cost they charge for their service to me... Heck, I can't get over the $14 tip to the hairdresser!!! That is just amazing to me... I may have tipped a couple of bucks or brought in a little treat -- home made cookies, or a truffle or something to show I was thinking about the person -- however, if I don't even KNOW the hairdresser, and I am going to pay her/him $50+ bucks for a haircut -- I am sorry charlie, I do many things for people for pay, and I sure as heck don't get any $100 (much less additional tips) an hour for my services...

Okay, gone to rant in private as I have probably just brought upon my self the wrath of many people who work in service related areas...

Still set in my beliefs about tipping.. yet to be persuaded to think otherwise.. hoping to draw others into the dog house, and hoping to get our government to force those who hire people to pay them a HIGH ENOUGH wage that John Q. Public can go out and 'do life' without paying everyone who he/she passes on the road through life.

Hmmm.. massage sounds good -- let's see.. $70 per hour and then another $14 in a tip? Yeah right! That is out of my field of dreams... :rolleyes:

[mare mare]

:hmm: How come there is no safety seal on a jar of green olives?

Some merchants charge a transaction fee if you use your debit card. How come they are not required to post this on the credit/debit card machine?

[sacausa]

I know the price of the haircut with tip is pretty crazy..... I love my hairstylist though and have trust issues when it comes to my hair... he also spends at least an hour on my hair, and he's the educational director for Toni and Guy International sooo I feel like I get my moneys worth. I'm pretty stingy when it comes to other things but when it comes to hairstylists I'm picky!

Bad tipping experience:
I went to get my eyebrows waxed by this lady in the mall. The total was $12, I wrote a $2 tip on the receipt.... well in this really mean tone she started complaining (humiliating me for no reason), she was like "is that all you're tippng me?" ....she was expecting a $5 tip! and being 16 at the time, and not as gutsy as I am now.. I actually changed the tip! but I never ever went back there........

Recently at a restuarant in town, I had absolutely a HORRIFIC experience with awful waitstaff... so I did something that I'd never done before, I didn't leave a tip... So later that night I log in online to check my bank account statement and I see that much more than what I had signed for went through.... so the restauranted had added a 20% gratuity without my permission! anyways, I'm not going back there... never called to complain because I was going out of town the very next day and well it got postponed and I forgot about it till now...

I tip the pizza guy more especially if the pizza was cheap lol.... if it's a young person in my area they're more than likely in college and if it's an older person they more than likely have a family to feed!

Well, I'm going now to pick up my beetle from the dealership service department because they just repaired my a/c... so do I tip the autorepairman? lol just kidding........

[Kara29]

Should I tip the carhops at Sonic?
Why do they have a drive-thru and still send the carhop out to your car?
Why is there braille on the drive-up ATM?
Why do States have a law that we buckle-up in our own car (I do buckle-up)but they don't mind if someone wants to smoke in their car (with the windows up) :loco: while driving children around? Why don't school buses have seat belts? Just some things I've always wondered about!
Any comments????

Mare Mare:)

1. I don't know about tipping carhops at Sonic because I've never been to one and don't know how it all works.
2.When I've been at a drive through and they had to send someone out to the car it was because they were late on getting my food order out. No tip there because it was their problem and I had to wait forever.
3.We should all buckle up even if we are in our own car. It's called safety. They are not trying to tell us what to do they just want us to be safe if we are in an accident.
4. Smoking in the car is fine for those who want to develop lung cancer sooner but while having kids in the car with the windows up, I feel this is harmful, for 2nd hand smoke can also cause kids to get cancer.
5.In NYS ALL SCHOOL BUSSES have seat belts and they should!

As far as tipping Hair Dressers where I live 20% is what is acceptable if the hair service came out exceptional. My Hair Dresser always does a great job and I sometimes even tip her more if I have the money. The same things go with Nail Technicians and waxing, since I was one. I also tip 15-20%. I will always remember the clients that I had that were good tippers and I would go way above and beyond for them when they came in. The money they tipped me with, bought me my first car. I won't forget it. Tips can mean the world to those who don't have to pool them. It makes you remember your clientele and they in turn are part of what makes you have money to live off of. My sister is a waitress and she feels the same way. Our family has always been big tippers. However if we go somewhere were the service is really bad and something to complain about we tell the waitress or hair dresser or nail tech how we feel and if things are not corrected for us the tip value goes down real fast.

Kara

[ShePurzz]

:hmm: How come there is no safety seal on a jar of green olives?

It is my humble opinion that there shouldn't even be a lid on the olive jar -- black or green -- they should always be open so you can continue to eat, eat, eat... etc... till they are gone!

:woohoo:

[mary124]

I don't like it when the restuants put the tips on the bill, but what can we do? I just add more to it. This pass Sunday a group of friends went out and we all had seperate checks my bill came to $26.00 or so, that was including a $3.00 tip, so I added some more to it.
As to hair cuts? $70.00? I get my for $25.00 but the lady who cuts it for me, gives me a discount as she has been cutting it for about 10 years. Even when I let her color it, which is very rarely, she only charges me $65.00 and thats including the cut.
Sonic and tipping, depends on how much it is and how much is left of the money I have left.