Tipping and "Christmas Boxes" - do you, and if so, who to?

[OldBlueLady]

Just following on from the discussions on the free travel thread, I thought I would open it up more for discussion.

Back in the day it used to be common place to give your postman, your milkman, your window cleaner and your dustman a Christmas "box" or a "good drink", in a similar way in which it is fairly normal to tip your waiter or waitress, your hairdresser.

I am fully aware that the Americans have a rather different culture to ours in that tipping is recognised as 10% in a huge variety of establishments and seen almost as a right.

I like to think I am a good tipper, I rarely don't leave a tip and if I don't then it's usually either because a hefty service charge has been added or because the food and/or service has been very poor. Even then, the food may have been poor but the service good, so sometimes the two don't go hand in hand.

I've always contributed to the driver collections when travelling on either Trust or TZ coaches, it's just something I accept as "normal". I always tip my hairdresser a good 10 - 15%, plus a Christmas present. Our window cleaners always get a "drink" at Christmas, and I always leave the dustmen some beers at Christmas. I suppose my reasoning is that it's how I'd like to be treated if it was me, and that by showing I'm thankful, I get a better service.

Well......?

 

[RobM]

I do object to a "service charge" at a buffet! Asia in Southend, for example. They should pay ME for serving myself!

 

[The General]

Very old fashioned view nowadays Im afraid to say! Out of about 650 households, I got about 10 tips last Xmas ... Not complaining as I'm a bit of a grouch on delivery lol!

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

I always leave the paper boy/girl something as I always remember when doing my round all those years ago, I had my round in the Nobles Green area and very rarely got a Christmas box. My mate, on the other hand, who did the council estate area (including Beaver Towers) made a fortune at Christmas from tips

 

[MK Shrimper]

Don't eat yellow snow would be my tip.

 

[RHB]

I had a taxi driver mate who, in the 70s, took Tommy Cooper from the Talk of The South nightclub to the casino after his performance. When they pulled up outside the casino Cooper said 'there you go driver, get yourself a drink'. It turned out to be a teabag!! He swears it was true, but judge for yourself. Still makes me laugh though.

 

[Ricey]

The bin men round my way are absolutely useless *****! They aren't getting **** from me. I always have stuff still left in my recycling bin and that's when they remember to collect from us. I have had to put so many missed collections in!

I used to make a fortune at Christmas when I was a paperboy. I'm a bit funny with tips, why should I pay someone extra for doing what they are already paid to do. No one gives me a tip for doing my job! In fact my commitment bonus has been halved just 3 months before I could take it.

 

[Davros]

Service charges annoy me. tipping should be discretionary based on service.

 

[Napster]

I had a taxi driver mate who, in the 70s, took Tommy Cooper from the Talk of The South nightclub to the casino after his performance. When they pulled up outside the casino Cooper said 'there you go driver, get yourself a drink'. It turned out to be a teabag!! He swears it was true, but judge for yourself. Still makes me laugh though.

I heard someone else tell the samestory on a Tommy Cooper documentary

 

[Pubey]

I tip SZ, which according to the list is the only thing that OBL doesn't tip!:smile:

 

[OldBlueLady]

I tip SZ, which according to the list is the only thing that OBL doesn't tip!:smile:

I don't consider that to be a tip, it's a contribution and something I regularly do.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I find tipping with cash rather vulgar so I carry some tasteful black and white studio photos of myself on which I write a small message of appreciation.

 

[YoungWestcliffShrimper]

U tip your hairdresser?? Where else do you chuck money away?

Only tip if I have recieved a good service. Otherwise it is a waste of money everyone gets paid for there jobs.

 

[MK Shrimper]

U tip your hairdresser?? Where else do you chuck money away?

Only tip if I have recieved a good service. Otherwise it is a waste of money everyone gets paid for there jobs.

A barman once told me, if it's very busy then make sure on your first round that you tip the barman a few quid. You'll get noticed first the next time you want a drink.....all about greasing the wheels....

 

[Uncle Leo]

I used to make a fortune at Christmas when I was a paperboy. I'm a bit funny with tips, why should I pay someone extra for doing what they are already paid to do. .

I assume you said thanks and returned the tip money then?

 

[Napster]

I tip coach drivers. It's a thankless task. I don't tip most others, except taxi drivers when I can't be arsed to get the correct change. Although I hate when in restaurants you pay by card and you have to tick if you want to pay a gratuity. I always say no then leave a few quid on the side.

 

[MK Shrimper]

If you'd like to tip me for keeping your trains running, running BOTB, The Apprentice Sweepstake and my general keeping SZ a buzz like a swarm of buzzy bees, you can send money via paypal to iforeseenegrep@notworkrail.co.uk

:net:

 

[Mad Cyril]

I only tip taxi drivers if I am sick.

 

[Pubey]

I round things up out of habit/laziness (taxis, haircut, cafe/meals), but don't do anything in particular at Christmas.

 

[Ricey]

U tip your hairdresser?? Where else do you chuck money away?

Only tip if I have recieved a good service. Otherwise it is a waste of money everyone gets paid for there jobs.

I tip my hairdresser because he is a good friend who I have known for years and also it saves having the change in my pocket.

I assume you said thanks and returned the tip money then?

No I was 13!