I've been keeping my mouth shut on
this tipping discussion, but I've finally decided to express my feelings.
I resent tipping altogether, because I don't see why the customer should be
responsible for making up the difference in income for a poorly-paid
employee. I think paying 20% of a restaurant bill to a waiter/waitress is
extortionate. Why doesn't the restaurant ownership pay them a decent
wage in the first place? I'd prefer to pay more for the dinner than have
to tip. At least I wouldn't leave a restaurant with that feeling of
resentment and guilt.
So, back to farriers, I think a nice
genuine thank you, a compliment on what a great job he/she has done and an offer
of a cool/hot drink, lunch (mine won't eat while bending over under horses),
produce from your garden, or a dozen fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies is quite
appropriate. I hate to see kindness and helpfulness always reduced into
being measured in money. BTW, our farrier charges $100 for a straight
shoeing, $75 for only two shoes (we have a horse that seems to go
better with EZBoot Epics on
front, shoes on the hind), and $35 for a trim.
No one should misunderstand and think that people do not
appreciate the hard work it is to shoe a horse, because that is not true. We
do. Tipping everyone who we have dealings with has become the norm and it is
just silly at this point. A very good surgeon repaired a shattered ankle of
mine in 2004 and I can only imagine what HIS college bills may have been, and
what his malpractice insurance might have cost. Do begrudge him his pay.
Gosh no! Would I think of TIPPING HIM? Gosh, no. He did like the UCLA baseball
cap though:). Many people work hard, are good at heir jobs and spent time and
money being educated, but not everyone gets tipped just because. It still
remains a choice.
