I'm fine with that. If you need to
charge more, a customer should be able to accept that. It's the archaic
policy of tipping that really annoys me. The customer is supposed to have
a choice whether he tips or not, but in reality he doesn't have a choice,
because he will be frowned upon (or worse.) So one leaves the restaurant
resenting the compulsory tipping, which isn't supposed to be compulsory but
actually is. Take a car or washing machine, for instance. If the
manufacturers needs more money to cover costs and make profit (which are the
basics of any business), they just charge more. But you don't see
customers tipping the manufacturers or the salesmen. It's the principle,
not just the money. And I'm with Sandy...restaurants should reduce portion
size and pay the difference in profit to the waiters.
You are right,we enjoy the extra effort put forth by our clients to make
us feel wanted/needed.I talked to my boss(me) and told him 20% was not enough
for a tip.So we went from $100 to $125.We both agreed 25% would be fair.
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.
