Comments on: “Sorry I Couldn’t Tip More, But I’m Broke”

By: Jeffrey Johnson

Jeffrey Johnson — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:47:14 +0000

Since know Dave Ramsey I gone from giving $1 plus and change left over from pizza to around $5 when buy pizza. And since Pizza Hut refuses to add a place close enough to deliver and Dominoes has gone stupid and has garlic on pizza I am left with one choice. Papa Johns. Do not really like it and only get it once a week where as if pizza hut delivered I order it almost daily. Since my order usually around $25 my $5 tip is a 25% tip. Why I tip so much because smart neighbors has dogs who love barking and chasing at poor delivery person. The Basset Hounds thank I scared of them 300 pound guy vs 10 pound dog nope not scare and I let them know it too.

By: GL

GL — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:36:05 +0000

AMEN!!!

I work for tips and if you waste my time, my good service and can’t tip.

Just don’t bother ordering.

By: Brad Chaffee

Brad Chaffee — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:25:05 +0000

Hey E.C.! I do think it is okay not to tip as good if you receive bad service. Tips reflect satisfaction. I will never not tip but if the service is a disaster, I will not be as generous as originally planned. Being that I work for tips myself I will usually start at $5 and either go up or down from there. I do usually try to consider if the person I am tipping was at fault or not. If the food isn’t cooked right I don’t blame them but if I am over there sucking on an ice cube the whole dinner, or if my delivery arrives after 1 hour, then I will usually lower my tip.

By: E.C.

E.C. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:30:26 +0000

As the daughter of a pizzeria assistant manager, I try to tip well even though I'm at the stage in my life where a frozen pizza is a much more typical indulgence than a night out, but there have been a couple of times when I've been tempted to tip very little in response to bad service. Do you think that is ok? E.C.´s last blog post..Do you know the episode of the X Files with the poor guy who was in the wrong place during a secret government experiment and had to keep moving west?

By: Brad Chaffee

Brad Chaffee — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:49:42 +0000

No problem Chad, it was my pleasure!

By: Brad Chaffee

Brad Chaffee — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:49:00 +0000

Darlene you are so right! It is not healthy to base your entire night on a few stiffs, as they’re called. I admit it used to get the best of me but I realized that when it did, it truly affected the rest of my night. I have learned to shrug it off, and move on. The whole point of the post really wasn’t intended to bash this woman for not tipping, it was really intended to pose the question, should you be ordering pizza if you can’t even afford to tip? She just happened to be the unlucky example for that scenario, since it happened that same night I wrote the blog. I also am not so blind to ignore that there may have been a hint of whining in my post either. LOL We all do it at times right?

I am so glad to hear that you are getting rid of your debt too! That makes me VERY happy and let’s me know that no matter how hard this blogging stuff may get from time to time, it is worth it in the end. Perhaps you are giving me a little too much credit though, because the real person doing the hard part is you, I just helped you get started! The compliment is appreciated nonetheless! Thank you and I hope you continue to come back for more motivation!!

By: Chad

Chad — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:56:46 +0000

Brad, I got the DVD on Saturday. Thanks! I can’t wait to loan it out.

By: Darlene Roudebush

Darlene Roudebush — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:13:06 +0000

Brad, I just wanted to clear up a few things.
First,I believe everyone should tip for the service they get.I am a very good tipper because of being an ex-waitress.But I think if you work a job in hopes of always being tipped well,you are setting yourself up for frustration and bitterness.I worked with a girl that was there “just for the tips” and she would always run
to see what was left for her and be angry when it wasn’t much,or none at all.I made 50 to 75% more in tips than her and I think the difference in our attitudes was the reason.To use an old phrase,
I think she gave off “bad vibes”.She was there just for the money(tips) and I think it showed.I truly enjoyed talking to people and making their lunch/dinner a great experience for them.I got tipped accordingly.I made more in tips than anyone I worked with.
Secondly,an experience early in my waitressing career really made me “grow-up”.I waited on a lady that was by herself.I gave her my best service,but after she had left I saw that she didn’t tip me.I was whining to my co-workers about it and one of the girls knew the woman.It turned out that the woman’s husband was in the hospital dying of cancer.She probably had just taken enough time to eat some lunch before going back to be with her husband.Well,I really felt like a fool and I realized at that moment that the world did not revolve around me and my tips and others had their own problems.It may be that the woman that did not tip you had something tragic going on in her life.
Thirdly,it is very hard to pick up nuances on the computer.Two people can read the same thing and come up with two totally different perspectives.You saw the woman’s apology as that she “knew she should tip”,but was too cheap.I saw her apology as that she was unable to tip and felt remorse.If she was the type who didn’t tip normally,why apologize?
I did understand what you were saying in that maybe she should not have ordered at all and gotten something less expensive from a grocery store.Maybe she had her reasons,but that is not for us to say.
I did read the post and saw you were looking for another job,that is why I wished you well on your future projects.
Lastly,I,too am glad to live in a country where we can voice our opinions.And I am glad to “agree to disagree” with you on a few things!! Because of your blog I am finally getting rid of all of my debt and rethinking some of my long-held beliefs.I am sorry if I took your words wrong about the tips,but it sure sounded like whining to me!! LOL

By: Brad Chaffee

Brad Chaffee — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:02:18 +0000

I think it is hard for frugal people to swallow getting delivery when they can go pick it up themselves. I don’t blame them frankly. If you think about it, it’s just one more way to save a few dollars that eventually add up over time.

Thanks for stopping by and hosting the carnival!

By: PT Money

PT Money — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:35:23 +0000

I love Papa Johns, but always go pick mine up. Too cheap to pay the tip. It's a shame you don't get what you deserve when times get tough for people. I guess it's better than them not ordering anything at all though. I used to serve at a restaurant and found people to be poor tippers in general. I was always like, if you don't want to tip, go get fast food. Thanks for linking back to the carnival. PT Money´s last blog post..Money Advice for New Graduates Heading to the Real World

By: Brad Chaffee

Brad Chaffee — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:07:53 +0000

Pedro, I want to first thank you for being able to disagree with me in a respectful and productive way. I love those kinds of disagreements, so thank you! It isn’t often that people can disagree so peacefully. I will admit that I am probably a bit biased since I am the one currently working for tips, but it is still hard for me to agree with some of what you said. I am glad that you did point out that you realize that not all but some were who you were referring to. As you might know, some people paint all corporations and big companies with the same brush. There are some VERY VERY VERY generous givers that are rich and that own big companies. Thanks again for your respectful thoughts on this issue!

By: Pedro

Pedro — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:12:49 +0000

Hey don’t forget that mean rich people where the ones that got you in debt (and millions others). Some mean rich people are the ones that would rather buy a Mercedes than spread the wealth among the people who made them rich in the first place (their employees). Well yes some are evil others are not. Some spread the wealth and give more and others don’t.. Just like some people tip well and others don’t.

I do not think all rich people are evil. While my mom is poor, my dad made millions taking advantage of the government (aka tax payers). Working for him, I saw him charge a 18,000$ for an ambulance repair he did that cost him hardly 1,000$.

I was raised in a very expesive school and must of my friends dads were business owners and i saw some who were rats and some who weren’t. I have seen a lot.

A great example of this… walmart/sams vs costco. Walmart cuts benefits, pay worst while being the #1 fortune 500 company. Costco treats a lot better their employees and speard the wealth better with the people who make them richer every single day. Instead of just using them, they actually treat them well and help society grow.

I can either choose to be a cynic or an ignorant. I strike to keep a balance between the two positions.

I understand where you are coming from and i don’t blame you. I am just spreading the finger pointing for you since you can’t just point your finger at the lady, we as a society share the blame. Your employer company (aka papa johns the corporation or dominos or pizza hut) are sound companies that made millions and can share a lot more than they are right now. They could cut their profits and pay you better per hour to cover for the economic downturn.

But yeah some do are evil (please emphasis on the word ‘Some’ and do not imply ‘all’). The hourly paid employee didn’t took GM or Chrysler out of business. It was the people at the top who made the big bucks and felt entitle to it.

i do not blame those who have the ambition. Specially the ones who share the wealth once they make it.(please emphasis on the word ‘once’)

thank you for your response… you have a good point of view and i enjoy looking at it from your perspective.

By: Brad Chaffee

Brad Chaffee — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:54:23 +0000

Wow Pedro! I don’t view companies or corporations as evil so I do not expect them to share their wealth with me. They worked hard for their money and deserve it. I do not believe they are evil and in fact my boss is probably one of the nicest and most generous guys I have ever worked for. He should not feel guilty because he has built some wealth by successfully running 4 pizza places, and some of the people just starting out are making more than minimum wage. The drivers work for less than minimum wage which is another thing I do not see as bad, but as a benefit. It allows me to bust my ass and earn more money because if I do, people that believe in tipping for great service will tip me well. That’s why I have made more than $20 an hour in 3 out of the four years I have been doing it. I am moving on because I am making less than $100 a day now not because I think that people are not obligated to tip, but because with the economy, the amount of orders we get has fallen which means that I do not make as much in a night. Bless your grandmother for working hard for minimum wage all her life but what does that have to do with tipping?? I like tips because not only can I be rewarded for hard work that the customer benefits from, I can reward others with nice tips as well. Honestly I think your opinion of corporations is a problem since those same corporations provide so many benefits that even you get to benefit from. It’s not evil to make money and build wealth. I think you have it backwards as far as the lady who wants to “save her cents”, because she should be saving her cents by not spending it on something she can’t afford. Thanks to the very rare perspective that you and Darlene have enlightened me with. All I can say is, Thank the LORD for all the people who do not see it your way!!! Money, corporations, and tipping is not evil….it’s people that are good or evil. I believe in giving and am very glad I get to be able to share my money with someone who deserves it without feeling so negatively about them. Again thanks for sharing your opinions with me, now it all makes sense.

“The real rat here is not the lady who is trying to save her cents but the company behind you owned by dudes who want you to wreck your car so they can drive their Ferraris and fly in their private planes.”

This comment floored me. I am sorry you feel that way, because I don’t see it that way at all. Dudes who “want” me to wreck my car so they can drive their ferraris? Really? WOW! What this sounds like is class warfare and since I believe in personal responsibility and being able to build wealth for myself without taking from someone else, I do not resent those that have done it before me. Most rich people are more generous than you probably know!

By: Pedro

Pedro — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:19:31 +0000

I think you are making the right move by choosing a different career and moving on. I think (like Darlene suggested) you realized people don’t have an obligation tip and that bothers you and you need to move away.

The reason i jump into this topic is b/c i have discuss this with my mom before since she is one that thinks patrons pay you and you are not entitle to tip. She never tips pizza drivers btw since she worked all her life at minimum wage and never complain about it and at the same time have very little to spare.

The root of the problem here is not the poor people that choose not to tip. I am waiting for the day, we as a culture grow up and take away restrictions on tipping jobs. I understand papa johns is a franchise business with small business owners. However, i think a company as rich as papa johns should give incentives to their branches to provide a car and pay a regular employee to deliver the pizza with a hat that says “tippin is optional as expected”.

The real rat here is not the lady who is trying to save her cents but the company behind you owned by dudes who want you to wreck your car so they can drive their Ferraris and fly in their private planes.

By: Brad Chaffee

Brad Chaffee — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:34:17 +0000

Peacebug – I like your way of thinking and thanks very much for the compliment. EOD for everyone!

Jim Hahn – Thanks for your comments, and you should scrutinize bad service. Even we do not leave excellent tips every time but we also try to take into consideration who’s fault the bad service really was. Sometimes the cooks mess up but the waiters/waitresses pay for the mistake. Also thanks for the wonderful tips on starting a garden. We have been thinking about doing something along those lines but truthfully had no idea about where to start or how to for that matter.

Darlene, Darlene – LOL I don’t hate you Darlene, just like everyone else you are entitled to your opinion and because this is America you have every right to voice it. I respect your right to that opinion but have to completely disagree with you. As someone who claims to work for tips yourself I am bewildered at your choice to take the side of the person that doesn’t tip someone for providing them a service. As Peacebug respectfully pointed out, there are some that really do not know, and I am not talking about those folks, only the folks that know they should tip, get the food, but don’t. This woman that I referred to in my article knew she should tip by her own admission which is why she apologized to me for it. I have made tons of money delivering over the years and have always had a problem with those that do not tip as MOST people who work for tips do. My point was in the article that if you are BROKE, maybe you should make a better decision about how you spend your money or at best go pick up the pizza and use your own car to do so. Since you are a waitress I am assuming you have no idea how much drivers have to spend on their cars each and every year just to be able to provide a convenient service and make some money to take care of their families. You asked me why it is the customers problem and I would say that if they want to continue to be able to order pizza to be delivered, then they SHOULD be concerned with the person that is destroying his car in order to provide that service to them! I am not going to sympathize with someone who doesn’t tip just because people choose not to consider how their decisions effect others. If you read my post you would have also seen that I stated in my post, I was planning to get another job which is already in the works. When I work a job then I expect to be compensated for my work and in this case, if everyone had your opinion then there would be no delivery drivers or waitresses because no one would be willing to do it especially for no tips. Incentive is lost which is the very reason I have decided to move on. Sorry you were so offended by my opinion but my opinion still stands. I am glad you enjoy my blog and hope you continue to enjoy it even though you disagree with me this one time.