How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year in Extra Tips

Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by js2 on Monday January 05, 2015 @07:28PM (#8842226)

I tip folks in the service industry whenever I have a chance, not just wait staff. I'll tip mechanics, my postal delivery person, the guy who delivers firewood, the hotel maid, etc. The way I see it, it's a very small percentage of my income to someone doing a job I'm glad I don't have to do. I worked retail growing up and dealing with people down right sucks. I'm glad I can ao easily bring a smile to someone's face.

When I get rude or incompetent service relative to the price point, I ask to speak to the manager, which I think is a better way to handle things.

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by prawn on Monday January 05, 2015 @11:25PM (#8842918)

Do you tip when picking up takeaway, or buying fast food? Or when checking in at the airport? Do you tip a web designer, or when buying a car?

Elsewhere in the discussion, someone notes that the vast majority would tip when buying Coke at the pub, but not at a fast food place. At either place, the process seems pretty similar to me.

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by EC1 on Monday January 05, 2015 @07:38PM (#8842266)

I guess my struggle is internal then. I feel crappy about myself for being weak for tipping because I feel like I'm being scammed out of my own money via guilt given to me by their employer. And then I feel crappy if I don't tip.

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by acjohnson55 on Monday January 05, 2015 @09:29PM (#8842613)

You should feel crappy if you don't tip. It's an "honor system" but the wages assume that people tip servers. I know, it's absurd, but that's the system. If you don't want to tip, please don't eat at places where waitstaff are paid a wage that presumes tips.

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by user58909 on Monday January 05, 2015 @09:59PM (#8842695)

That's not true everywhere. In Washington State (and some other places around US) minimum wage is the same for everyone including tipped employees. So please stop spreading this flawed logic and accept that it's just another way for restaurant owners screw you over with your own full consent

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by thezilch on Monday January 05, 2015 @09:47PM (#8842660)

And what places are those? And how much?

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by dragonwriter on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @09:47AM (#8844524)

> And what places are those?

What places don't assume that waitstaff are tipped? Fast food restaurants and in-grocery-store ready-to-eat food-service areas. And places that explicitly advertise prices with "service included" (though these are rare.)

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by acjohnson55 on Monday January 05, 2015 @10:10PM (#8842723)

I honestly don't know, and so I tip 18-20% everywhere, if I order a sit down meal. I order for pickup if I'm trying to eat out and save money.

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Re:How Software in Half of NYC Cabs Generates $5.2M a Year i... by jmccree on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @09:07AM (#8844359)

You're not being scammed in the US. You're given the ability to give immediate feedback on the service you received by adjusting your tip amount.

What I don't understand is people saying they are "forced" to pay extra... Why would raising all the prices of the food 15-20% to make up for lost tips and actually forcing you pay that be better? Then you don't have the option to pay less if the service was bad.

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