Tipping debate: How much should you tip for a cup of coffee?

A STARBUCKS GOSSIP reader recently posted this: "So, how much is in the tip jar at the end of a shift or night?" Let's hear from some Starbucks employees who read this blog. ALSO: What do employees and customers think is a reasonable tip for a drink order? FINALLY: I'll be honest -- I never tip when I use my Starbucks card (which is almost all the time). Starbucks workers: What do you think of the Starbucks cards? Are they hurting your tips? Chime in.

Comments

[GoTallyStarbucks]

I don't know about Clearwater, but in Tallahassee, Florida we average about $1.30-$1.60 an hour, except during the holidays when we average $2.00 an hour.

I cannot believe some of the comments on here by people against tipping. Why are you getting so angry? I, like most of the people at Starbucks, am a college student who between school and interning can only work around 20 hours a week. When I pay my rent and buy grocheries, I have hardly anything left. My tip money is what I use for gas money. It's not like I get to go out and party with that little bit extra, it's helping me from staying out of debt.

So thanks a lot to all of you who see no reason to tip us. You say it is so easy to pour coffee, but if you actually worked a day in a busy Starbucks, I'd think you'd get a slap in the face. In fact, we've hired quite a few people in the past few months and had to let a lot go because they couldn't catch on... to multi-tasking, making drinks, dealing appropriately with customers. I'll say it like others have - it's a stressful job.

thanks gotallystarbucks and i agree with you I have had several partners quit because they thought that Starbucks was a "chill" place to work, it is not.On most days when I leave work I feel like I have been ran over by a truck. But I respect other people's opinions, I personly tip everwhere I go that has a tip job because I have been on the other side of the counter.

[FlordidaBarsita]

The tips around Tampa/Clearwater are always around 2.00-2.75. Their really good, but your hourly wage is also really low.

we had 5 people come in for interviews today, three of them came in the middle of a rush and the looks on their faces were hilarious! They just couldn't believe how busy it gets, they were asking us questions like "so.. how do you keep smiling when all these people ask for stupid drinks?" etc. I don't think any of them will be hired/will make it if they do.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

When I wear my thong, the tips go up as I bend down. Maybe you should try it to. I'm not afraid to show a little skin to get a little cash!

[Traci]

Most of Starbucks employees posting here have, quite patiently, pointed out that they do *not* expect tips. I have never felt compelled to tip (although I do), nor have I ever felt pressured. Without exception, every Starbucks location that I've visited is clean, inviting in appearance, and the employees are courteous & engaging. A few times, my drinks were not made to my specification. When I pointed this out (a few times, the next day, since I purchased my drink in a drive-thru), I received an apology and a free beverage of my choice.

I do not mind paying extra for outstanding customer service. It is a rare thing to find these days, and I express my appreciation for it by tipping well.

[Josh]

I work at Starbux and I just can't believe you bastards who don't tip. That jar is out there for a reason and you better put some damn money in it or get out of my store. I work my ass off. Steaming milk sounds easy, but it takes a lot of practice and it's tough on my feet to be standing up so long. I even have to lift supplies up sometimes and that's hard on my back. It's just so great that you fat bastards come in there and want your drink RIGHT THIS INSTANT, but you won't even give me several dollars of your money. I'm just really glad I lift weights because the next time some rich shit monger comes in and doesn't appreciate me, I'm going to beat the snot out of him in the parking lot. Then we'll see some more tips come in I bet. All of you are morons anyway for drinking this sludge. I only drink health drinks and thats why I'm huge and can run the 40 in 4.5. It's a waste to even try to talk to you dopes because all it's going to do is make you thirsty and then you'll go have to get more coffee. Bunch of idiots.

[Fred]

PLEASE DON'T TIP ANY EMPLYOEES OF ANY COMPANY THAT MAKE ABOVE MINIUM WAGE!

This puts a dis-taste in the publics mouth abouting tipping employess who only make $2.83 per hour.

[Tony San]

Wow, harsh comments from some seriously pissed off people!

Here's my 2 cents,

I, like many of my partners/co-workers know that this is not our dream job, we hope that it's just a step on a ladder leading upward, but for whatever reason, here we are at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder.

I am on my own, in college, and truly grateful that I have found a job that is willing to be flexible with my hours. Considering the fact that at my university, my major is impacted and therefore I have to take my upper division courses in a "staggered" schedule; this forces me to take a job where I can come in in the morning on some days and evenings and weekends on others. I looked for other jobs, I would have preferred a higher pay but one has to make sacrifices to make life work sometimes. What I did find, is an employer that is willing to be flexible with me, provides me with health benefits (as long as I meet the 240hrs/qtr quota) and gives me excellent opportunities for advancement. So far so good.

I don't expect a tip from anyone, I know how to work hard simply for the personal satisfaction of a job well done.

Do I appreciate tips, you bet I do. I've been able to put gas in my tank and a sandwich in my belly because of them more than once. Do I expect them, not really, neither of us do. As partners, during our training, we are given a lecture on how improper it is to give any sign of "asking" for tips. Tips are voluntary. It's the way that a customer shows appreciation for good service, simple as that. It does, however, make me laugh that the same people who don't think twice about tipping a bartender make such a huge fuss about tipping baristas. Haven't you figured it out, we're basically bartenders ourselves. However, to this day, no one ever forced a customer to tip, or held a gun to their head, period.

That being said, thank you to everyone who ever tipped. You really did make a difference to my day at the end of the week, as I try to make a difference in yours every day that I make your triple grande sugar free vanilla soy latte.

As for those of you who drive up in your $50K Mercedes, flashing your Louis Vuitton wallets, and Movado watches and then walk away with a scowl on your face because I didn't grovel at your feet so you could grace me with your condescension... One word; KARMA

[sbuxmanager]

Go to a bar, order a drink, don't tip. See what happens. I guarantee you'll wait a damn long time before you see another drink.

[sbuxmanager]

Go to a bar, order a drink, don't tip. See what happens. I guarantee you'll wait a damn long time before you see another drink.

[Cindy]

So you wanna know what kinda tips we make? The store I worked for in Holland michigan we averaged about $2.00 an hour per barista in tips, at one of the Detroit stores I worked at we made about $7.14 per barista per hour (incredible!!!! sometimes my tips were bigger then my checks!), the store I have recently transfered to we make only about $1.40 per hour per barista, not incredible, but thankful for the gas money. As far as tipping goes....it's great if you want to tip, as a barista I won't complain, and I won't complain if you don't tip. It's a great compliment if you think that our service was worth tipping on :)

[Lauren]

I'm actually offended at some of these posts.

Never seen a Starbucks worker do something that wasn't part of their job description?

I'm sorry you've never met my store. I love my job to the point that I rarely actually take my half hour break (and never my tens) I instead work through them. I work, on average, 6 hours off the clock a week. I sanitize like you wouldn't believe and for my coffee master connection class -- I DROP SAMPLES OFF AT YOUR HOUSE.

I know you by name. I'm genuine. I'm the fastest barista in town. I laugh. I run a shift so that your drink comes out perfect AND on time. I give my whole heart to this job and I get paid $9 an hour. I come home with my feet aching and my head spinning and I'd do it all over again -- and I don't deserve a tip?

The service industry fas fallen recently in quality and I will reduce my tips based on the service received but I will never fuck someone over who is obviously working hard.

If I have bleached spots from Spirit on my shirt you should know I work harder than anyone I know. And honestly, I'm hurt.

[CB]

Some of these posts are actually pretty amazing. It really makes me appreciate my baristas even more. I've been told by many customers that they have hit most of the stores in our district and by far we go the extra mile more than anyone. I've always kind of thought it was more like the home town favorite mentality, but after reading about some of these people's experiences on this blog I see how good our partners are.

People here say that we're no better than a fast food chain. When was the last time the dude at taco bell remembered your name, your kid's name, asks you how your presentation that you were preparing in the cafe went, and has your drink started before you even walk in the door? You're never going to see that kind of service at a fast food chain. If you do it's probably more along the lines of they all know the local creepy guy that spends a little too long handing the girls his money.

When I was first started about a year and half ago me and a couple other male partners had told the store manager that if she'd let us do the hiring we'd fill the store with cute blondes and the tips would go through the roof. Even though she never let us do the hiring I've seen that we don't need a specific person to bring in tips, we just all have to give that customer the kind of service that makes them keep coming back.

We have one guy on our team that will consistantly pull a dollar from every car in the drive thru. The reason he does so well is he gives amazing service. He knows just about everyone, and if he doesn't he still treats them like he's known them for years. I've also got to admit I've seen girls flirt with customers but this guy puts them to shame. The soccer moms love him. lol. According to him, a lady in her mid-forties that spends a little to much time talking in the window probably has a few bucks to spare for a little attention she's not getting at home. :-)

While I don't encourage flirting with customers I'm okay with the desire for tips because they go that extra mile for our customers. While that possible tip may be in the back of their mind, they still give excellent service regardless of if they are tipped or not. I'd like to bet that's part of the reason Starbucks allows it.

thanks Floridabarista for the info.... what is the starting wage for a barista there? Also if someone is making 9.47 an hour do you know what the adjustment would be??

[Dima]

5) Y'all can ignore this because I loathe the pretentious overpriced Starbucks chain. The only time I go is with a group who won't go to Madge's Diner for a cup of joe. It really ticks me off when I order a large and some 16-year-old asks (pretentious voice), "Do you mean a vente?" And why not "grande" (large) instead of "vente" (which doesn't mean a thing in Italian?)

It's COFFEE, kids, and Evian is tap water. Really.
Jerry

Dude, type 20 in any translator, you'll see. Check you opinions b4 posting them.

DIMA: Actually, when someone asks for a large, we grab a grande and a venti and ask "do you mean large-grande or large-venti?" Grande is actually MEDIUM, so if they only ask venti, they would be correct, but we like to give them both, just to make sure.

[barista c]

DIMA:
Babelfish translation of twenty from English to Italian is, in fact, Venti, so get off your high horse.

And please continue to go to your diner and drink inferior coffee. We don't want to deal with your attitude.

A barista would NEVER ever ask "Do you mean a venti?" What the barista would do is repeat your order back to you in our terminology, the way we have to, just like they would do at any restaurant.

Do you like being a jerk? Does it make you feel better about yourself?

I think you are actually the pretentious one, not Starbucks.

[Spike]

Uh, anonymous and Barista C? Dima didn't write the text you're attacking. He or she was responding to Jerry, who posted his five-point list in 2004. All Dima wrote was "Dude, type 20 in any translator, you'll see. Check you opinions b4 posting them."

[Dima]

Thanks SPIKE! You got what I tried to say.
I guess I need to pay more effort formating my posts.
I did not pay attention to the dates of the posts. LOL. Silly of me.
Now why are people so mean?

[Dima]

Thanks SPIKE! You got what I tried to say.
I guess I need to put more effort into formating my posts.
I did not pay attention to the dates of the posts. LOL. Silly of me.
Now why are people so mean?

[CindyLou]

I dont know why people are so mean DIMA....I don't know what I was thinking when I came across this page, i thought it would be a fun place to talk about whats going on around the world at Starbucks, to other baristas, to ask questions, to debate, to find out how things are going in general, but I think i was wrong...it feels almost like a starbucks bashing/ranting site and it makes me sad! I really like my job, and my customers (and my tips) and I was hoping to find positive customers and fellow baristas who were all about starbucks too.... sure as a company we have a lot to work on, but give me an example of another company who doesn't? Owell... :(

Sorry Dima. I should have figured there was a reason that you listed 5) but not 1-4).

[Anna]

I still tip even if the coffee isn't as good as I may have expected... which is hardly, like, ever. But when I tip... I just give them all the change they give back to me. =)

[Lauren]

And Anna, we appreciate every penny of it.

If you don't want to tip don't-but
The reality is this- in this crazy world where no one has very much control over their lives a person can go to SBUX and order a drink with a modifier in every box send in back twice for being too hot or too cold say things like how hard can it be just to make a "f"-ing cup of coffee anyway? and walk out the door feeling superior and in control of their lives because for five minutes they could pay for the privilege of telling someone else what to do.its really a sad way to live and trust me if behaving like that is what gets you through the day and makes your life bearable then please keep your tip money. I can bike to work and eat cheese sandwiches for two weeks straight because when I get up in the morning at 4:00am to go and start the coffee for you I know that each day I do what it takes to put a little kindness and caring back in the world. Thats what makes life worth living. And by the by I have my degree and working here is a real job. Tell Howard Schultz that its not.

[CindyLOU]

I agree with the no name guy that just posted.... dont tip if you dont want to, but yes, i too get up every morning at actually 3:30 in the morning so that I can be to work by 4:00 and make coffee, so that at the beggining of your day you get a hot cup, a smile, and the satisfaction of knowing you can go somewhere and get whatever you want the way you want it every morning, FRESH.

And hey 4:00am is no biggie, I love my customers and tip or not, they make my day hopefully as much as I make theirs....

Sometimes I wonder what would people do if something REALLY bad happened to them such as a death of a family member? I ask this because of the fact that people get so upset at Starbucks partners when their drinks get lost or made wrong. I have been called a liar, an effing bitch, just to name a few.I can only say that it would suck to be these people and have such a horrible outlook on life that the thought of waiting an extra 3 minutes for a drink sends me over the edge.

[Barista to the Stars]

True story:

My store is training a LOT of new baristas. New partner was on register and forgot a customer's raspberry scone. The customer stood there, getting more and more steamed because the barista had turned to me to ask a question and neither of us noticed her. Rather than say, "Excuse me..." she just stood there and I finally noticed, and not realizing the situation, asked her if there was something she needed.

She shrieked, "I want my raspberry scone!" and started poking the pastry case, "Right there, right there."

I got her the stinking scone, with a smile, and apologized with my standard comment, "So and so is new, thank you for your patience, we all have challenges when we learn a new job." Gentle reminder, ease up lady, it's just a scone, right?

So she replies, "Are you new?"

And I said, "No, I'm BTTS, and it's nice to meet you."

She replies, and here's the kicker, "Just because you're new doesn't mean you can give bad customer service. And you should know better."

Turns on her heel and walks out.

Nice attitude, huh? Really does make you wonder what she'd do with a REAL issue. You know, some kind of life or death situation. I agree -- it really must suck where the slightest little wait causes you to fly over the edge and tear into someone. I just wish people like this would stay home and fester instead of making themselves feel better by bruising my day.

[eeave]

I'd tip, and do tip, at Starbucks, it's not a problem. If I get extra service, or leave a mess at the tables, I'll tip about a quarter or whatever change is left over after buying something. Extra service is when they give free cup of coffee with every 4-lb bag of coffee I buy. It's additional work I didn't ask for.

[hande]

Your coffee tastes like hot milk lately I went from purchasing 2 grande cups of cappuccino every day to zero. You have to keep the quality up or you will start losing customers. I am tired of paying 4.33$ ( includes extra shot) to drink hot milk!!!!! I dont even want to talk about tipping at this point . Sorry ...I WANT GOOD COFFEE AGAIN...

[Becca]

They are probably making your cap wet, and the machines probably aren't calibrated properly. Quite honestly, a latte is simply hot milk with a dash of espresso, and a wet cap is almost that. Especially at a grande size.

[Chris]

When I start feeling less intimidated by the employees for trying to order a friggin' coffe or coffee smoothie (which, we all know is what a frappuccino is), I will start tipping. Until then, the little plastic pretzel barrels can disappear from the counter, and I will tip the people who wait on me in restaurants.

[Gary]

These so-called "tip jars" at Starbucks, don't even explain who you are tipping. Besides blatantly depriving consumer's of their right to determine who should receive a tip and how much that worker should receive, Starbuck's is putting out a jar with no ones name on it and no explanation of how the tips will be distributed.

The money placed into these jars is not and cannot be considered tips. Tips are the consumer's right to spend his money however he chooses. Tips are the consumer's right to choose who should receive his gift and how much that individual should receive.

"Tip Jars" are fraud on the consumer. While they fraudulently claim that the jar is for tips, federal regulations clearly outline that a tip is an amount given in "recognition" of some service. It seems some people want consumers to errantly belive that tips are money thrown into a jar where there can be no recognition of who they are intended for.

You see, as a consumer, I am the one who is supposed to determine who should receive my tip. I am the one who is supposed to determine how much an individual receives as a tip. With tip jars, I cannot determine who should receive my tip because clearly the employer is mandating that all tips given must be pooled and shared among a group of workers, which in all likelyhood, the employer will be determining. With a tip jar, I cannot determine how much an individual employee will receive for agian, in
all likelyhood, the employer will be determining how much each worker will receive.

Tip jars turn what should be the consumer's right into the right of the employer. Again I must reiterate, federal regulations, CFR 531.51, clearly explain that "A tip is a sum presented by a customer as a gift or gratuity in recognition of some service performed for him. It is to be distinguished from payment of a charge, if any, made for the service. Whether a tip is to be given, and its amount, are matters determined solely by the customer, and generally he has the right to determine who shall be the recipient of his gratuity.".

Clearly tips are not a sum presented by an employer and yet tip jars contain money that will be presented and controlled by employers. You see, this money collected is not tips, it's fraud to obtain control over money which the consumer should be controling. The reason consumer's are losing control of who should receive their tip, is that judges have errantly ruled that employers may mandate that all tips receive must be pooled an shared among a group of workers. What should have been asked these obviously biased judges was, If employers are allowed to collect all the money consumers present as tips so that they may be shared among a group of workers, how will there ever be any way to establish who such money is intended for?

You see, this is why employers insist on pooling their workers' tips. When tips are pooled, the consumer is prevented from determining who should receive his tip. Business owners have learned that if you prevent consumer's from determining who should receive their tip, then the business can utilize the consumer's tip to it's interests.

Businesses have also learned that if you pay off the right politicians you can get them to allow you to pay tipped workers wages below the normal minimum wage requirements of this country. Our federal government has been persuaded to allow businesses an exemption from the minimum wage laws of our nation when it comes to tipped workers. If an employee receives tips, an employer may pay him as little as $2.13 an hour.

Now, put this together with the fact that employers have somehow persuaded judges to allow them to decide who should receive tips and what you have is a concious effort to defraud the public out of their money. Businesses know that if they can distribute tips to all their workers, they can save money and greatly benefit themselves to the consumer's tip. While the public has been fraudulently led to belive that they may tip to financially benefit workers in the service industry, there is a joint effort going on between business onwers, judges and our government to turn the consumer's tip into finacial benefits for business owners.

Tips have become a means for business to reduce their payroll expentitures which can and will result in businesses profiting from money that is not intended for them. Businesses are saving money and subsequently profiting from the fact that consumer's are tipping their workers.

[Gary]

My point is not that tipping should be outlawed or prohibited. My point is that corrupt judges and politicians are turning the worker's tip into business profits. Employer mandated tip pooling is both illegal and unconsitututional. The tip credit which allows employers to pay workers who receive tips wages lower than the federal minimum wage is simply a law to allow business owners an ability to profit from the criminal activities they have been allowed to pursue. An employer may take an employees tips away from him and share them with other workers who as a result may be paid wages $3.00 an hour less than minimum wage. Tips have become money businesses may utilize to save themselves money.

The public must speak out against such crimes. Consumers are not tipping so that business owners can save money. Workers who receive tips should not be paid less than minimum wage for such errant logic tranfers the employer's burden of paying minimum wage onto the consumer. It's the employer's responsibility to pay his workers minimum wage. If consumers choose to tip them, their tips should not be used to reduce the employer's burden of paying his legal obligations to his employees. Consumers should not and cannot be held responsible for paying employee's minimum wage. Tips are voluntary.

Likewise, consumers must speak out about employer required tip pooling. Allowing employers to control the consumer's tip will and is resulting in the open solicitation of tips across our nation. Now that employers have been unjustly allowed to control the consumer's tip to the businesses interests, businesses are openly soliciting money from the public claiming that such money is tips for the workers, when the truth is, this money is and will be controled by the employer for the business's interests.

In general my rule of thumb is that if I have to come to YOU to leave my tip (ie, tip jar on counter) rather than you coming to ME to collect it (ie, leave tip on table), the service level doesn't reach the "tip" threshold.

That said, I do sometimes tip at my regular Starbucks: when they give me a free extra shot (doesn't happen any more with the automatic machines, though); if they bump me ahead in line; usually the first time a new person remembers my drink and makes it right (but not really anymore at my new store, because it seems like it's ALWAYS someone different); usually at Christmas.

[Theolaxor]

GARY you have too much time on your hands. if you dont want your money going somewhere you dont know, dont throw it in the jar!

[Becca]

If you want to tip a specific person, then give them the money directly! We have people do it all the time. This lady came in saying her doctor just put her on a diet, and I spent 15 minutes talking to her about drink ideas that she might like and wouldn't affect her diet. She was really pleased, and gave me the tip directly.

on a philosophical level i do not agree with tipping. i feel that it is outdated and subjects many food service workers to live under or close to the poverty line. in an ideal world tipping would not be a common practice because the workers of the food service industry would recieve a minimum wage on which they would be able to support themselves. however, this is sadly not the case. therefore, as a matter of practice, i ALWAYS tip a minimum of twenty percent to the members of the food service industry that are exempt from the regular minimum wage. some of these workers make less than three dollars an hour. at starbucks workers make a minimum of 6.25 an hour. therefore tipping is not a nessecity but an act of kindness, in situations where the food service employee is paid less than minimum wage to begin with tipping is a mark of character. and i am truly disgusted by those of you who have expressed a relentless unwillingness to tip. doing so is not the political statement which you believe it to be. the fact that you did not tip your waiter goes no father than the waitor herself and the mouths of her hungry children. it does not have any impact on the social system of shrunken minimum wage and tipping. it is a crassless and selfish act. and for those of you who claim you need the money as much as the waitor does, then you should not be eating out in the first place. there should be a seperate ring of dante's inferno for those who dont tip waitors who only make three dollars an hour... and there they should be forced to wait on all of the waitors whom they have failed in their twisted and misguided attempts to reform society.

[fornestito]

Has anyone noticed that the tipping phenomena has spread to Subway? That one is laughable.

[Stefanie]

Believe it or not, I work as a barista for fun and extra spending money part time. My stance on tipping is simple. If they give me tips, I take them and go above and beyond to let them know I appreciate the gesture. If they don't tip me, I still give them damn good service with a sincere smile. If they don't tip me and are incredibly rude, I still give them damn good service with a less sincere smile. The point is, if you take pride in your work for work's sake, the less tips matter and ironically the more you'll probably end up getting because of your positive attitude.

[Gary]

Becca wrote:
If you want to tip a specific person, then give them the money directly! We have people do it all the time. This lady came in saying her doctor just put her on a diet, and I spent 15 minutes talking to her about drink ideas that she might like and wouldn't affect her diet. She was really pleased, and gave me the tip directly.

You don't understand. Employers have been allowed to take your tip away from you even if I directly give you a tip. That's what employer required tip pooling is. California, along with many other states across our nation, are allowing employers an ability to take any tips presented away from those who have received them so that they may be shared with workers who provide some service to customers.

Currently, California is attempting to determine who money placed into a tip jar belongs to and it's all because California has allowed employer mandated tip pooling. In the meantime, employees all across our nation are having the tips they have directly been given taken away from them so that employers can share it among their other employees.

If you were able to keep the tip you received as your own, you were simply lucky. Most state laws allow employers to take it away from you. Please don't errantly suggest that giving a tip directly to a worker is in some way going to diminish the injustices being perpetuated against tipped workers.

Theolaxor wrote,
GARY you have too much time on your hands. if you dont want your money going somewhere you dont know, dont throw it in the jar!

You don't understand, it is not the jar that is the problem, it is the fact that our government is allowing employers an ability to share my tip with other workers without my consent that is the problem. Our government is depriving consumer's of their right to detemine who should receive their tip and at the same time are depriving workers their right to receive a tip as their own.. When I am deprived my right to determine who should receive my tip, employers can take it away from those who I have chosen to receive my tip. Do you understand? It's not just me being hurt, it's all those who receive tips who are being jurt.

Jul 11, 2006 12:42:22 PM Someone anonymously wrote;

That said, I do sometimes tip at my regular Starbucks.

If you sometimes tip at Satrbucks, please answer this question.

Specifically, who are you tipping and how much are you tipping them?

You see, if you are tipping someone, you are giving someone money. However, Starbucks does not allow you to actually give someone money. There are no names on their tip jars. There is no explanation as to what percentage each person included in the sharing of these funds will receive.

You are being solicited for money, not tips, that will be controlled and dispursed by Starbucks just like the money you pay them at the register.
They want to decieve you into thinking that the money is a tip, that's why they typically write the word "tips" on the jar. Just as Starbucks will utilize the money you paid the cashier to pay for things they need to run their business, Starbucks will, and currently can, utilize the money placed into these so-called tip jar to pay for things they need to run their business, for they know you really didn't tip anyone. You see, businesses know that if they can prevent you from actually presenting tips to individual workers, they can control the money to their interests.

The IRS along with case law has stated:
To constitute a `tip' in the commonly accepted meaning of the term, it is inherent in the nature thereof that certain fundamental characteristics be present. It must be presented by the customer free from compulsion; he must have the unrestricted right to determine the amount thereof; and such amount should not be the subject of negotiation or dictated by employer policy. Generally, the customer has the right to determine precisely who shall be the recipient of his generosity. The absence of any of these factors creates a serious doubt as to whether the payment is really a tip and indicates that it is in fact a service charge for the use of certain facilities.

You see, if customers are prevented from determing who should receive their tip, or if customers are prevented from determing what amount an employee will receive, the money cannot be legally considered a tip and as such the money becomes what is legally viewed as property of the business.

The problem is, while case law and the IRS recognize the fact that an employer's control over the consumer's tip would substantiate the money as being the employer's property, an intentional attempt by employers to control the consumer's tip so that they may claim it as their own, would by illegal. An intentional attempt on the part of employers to deceive the consumer into giving the business money, which is exactly what tip jars are, would be and should be considered fraud on the consumer.

Clearly if businesses are putting out tip jars so that they can control the money as if it their property, businesses are putting out tip jars to defraud the public into giving the business money that the business has fraudulently led their customers to believe will be possessed and controlled by the employees when, in actuallity, the business will gain control and possession of the moneys placed into these jars.

Tip jars are fraud on the consumer.

thank you all for taking the time to discuss this important issue.

wow Gary, still too much time on your hands.

[barista c]

Gary,
Starbucks does NOT use tip money for anything other than tipping all non-salaried partners fairly and equally.

Also it is a Starbucks POLICY that if someone gives you a tip directly then you can keep it.

So it seems like you should be bashing OTHER businesses, not Starbucks.

Tip pooling is common in the service industry. It keeps employees working as a team. If someone doesn't want to work in this manner, they can work somewhere else.

[Maggie]

Wow. After reading a few of these posts, I realize that many people have far too much free time on their hands.

Secondly, my store must be one of the worst tipped stores in the country because our weekly tips average around 37 cents on the hour.

To all those of you who do tip: we greatly appreciate it.

To all those of you who do not tip: we appreciate your business and make your drink to the same standards as we do for the people who provide us with tips. We may not offer you free refills, spend an extra few minutes cheering you up when you've had a bad day, or other unnecassary favors; but you will still receive fair and equal treatment and a high quality product.

Regarding the bathroom comment, I am very careful about the public restrooms which I will use, but I never hesitate to use a Starbucks restroom and will even go out of my way to do so. I have never seen a Starbucks restroom anything less than very clean.

Lastly: if you do not like Starbucks coffee; go to another coffee shop. If you think the coffee is overpriced; go to another coffee shop OR remember that Starbucks practices fair trade, we pay more for products we receive so that 4 year old children don't have to work 70 hour weeks to help support their families. That means our product will be slightly more expensive than the clothes you buy from Macy's that were made by some poor little girl in a 100+ degree factory in the honduras.

[Lau]

Sorry people. Starbucks are not a 'fine dining establishment' any more than McDonalds is a 'family restaurant'. These are fast food places. People line up and pick up their food. I totally disagree with tipping anyone - your wages should cover you.
The thing is though, they don't. My principle is that if I recieve great-excellent service, I will tip, because the base wage of the retail/service/hospitality industry (which I work in)
is fucking hideously low. It should be higher and we should fight for that, but meanwhile show a little kindness.

PS would you tip in a clothes store? It seems somehow inappropriate, but I often recieve great service in retail as opposed to food...and the base wage here (Aus) is only about $1/hour more for retail vs hospitality...

[Lau]

And saying 'if the coffee's too pricey go somewhere else' is like saying 'if the wages are shit go get another job'.

Sometimes you just don't have that option. In the city where I live, there are so many Starbucks you can't move. It's ridiculous.

[John Molina]

Starbucks is a coffee shop, not a restaurant. Therefore, the fine-dining vs. fast-food argument is completely INVALID. Shut it.

(By the way, my local Burger King refuses to give me half-fries half-rings, or frings ... have it my way, indeed ... corporate vs. franchise, anyone?)

I am a firm believer in the tip-system. Everyone's different, and sometimes it takes a little tip to let them know they're doing a good job. If they're not getting tips, they should then be taking the hint ("tip") that they're not doing they're job at an exceptional level. Starbucks expects legendary service. Tips are a great way to promote legendary service.

[betty_white]

As regards the present ubiquity of tip jars: Establishments placed them as a service to the guest. It may be hard to believe, but some guests do like to tip for service, and like to have a discreet way to do so (the "5 dollar hand shake" can be tricky). I have worked at the front of house in fine dining establishments, as a server, as well as a barrista. Currently, I assist guests in a fine dining establishment plan proposals and events. For this, I make the equivalent of $7.00 an hour (on salary= no overtime). I have a 4 year degree from a competitive university; I work in hospitality b/c I enjoy it and am working toward owning my own establishment in the future. I have a knack for (and an interest in) making things special for guests (even when making their coffee). Sometimes guests leave me a tip; most often not. I do not expect it, but it is always a nice guesture when I have spent hours locating a particular bouquet or dessert.

For those of us familiar with Fine dining, the Starbucks training educates its barristas to a level equivalent with Wine Sommeliers. Starbucks barristas are coffee experts (or should be). If you asked, your *$$ barrista would tell you the origins and growing regions of any of the coffees sold or brewed in house, and the distinctive qualities of each. He/She could tell you which pastry would best complement the cup of Ethiopian Yirgacheffee you are sipping. With a couple of questions, we can determine a drink you will love (if you are hoping to find something new). At my store, I help guests select the perfect brew to serve at the close of dinner parties, to give as gifts, to brew at home with their favorite breakfast foods. We hold weekly coffee tastings, we advise guests how to brew with machines, presses, etc. Not to mention the community activities/support *$$ provides. The price at *$$ has more to do with equity to communities and staff than a "we-charge-it-because-you-pay-it" mentality.

Are the lattes expensive? Sure. Overpriced? I don't think so.

As for those above who so proudly proclaim that you do not tip the front desk staff at hotels, retail service providers, room cleaners, etc: that is nothing to be proud of. While there may not be a tip jar under your nose, you requested an additional service, someone went out of her way for you, and a tip is just polite. I tip the front desk at the hotel if I request 10 extra towels. I tip the concierge that secured me a great reservation. Even before I worked at *$$, I dropped some change in the tip jar.

Have you ever thought that your continuous cycle of bad luck in service establishments is a pattern related to your ungracious behavior to the service providers? What goes around comes around.

[Katie]

I am a Starbucks Partner in the PGH area. I was trained that Starbucks is supposed to provide a "home away from home" feeling for the customers. I'm not going to spit in your drink if you don't tip me and I always try to thank those who do. I understand it is not your responsibility, but I also would like the customers to understand that I am working hard to provide you with a good service that is efficient and customized to your desires whether I am ringing you up or making your latte. And for those people that think its just pouring coffee and milk together, you obviously have never made a latte, or any other drink. At my store, I can have a line of 20 people inside, and 10 cars lined up outside and the poeple don't care that they ordered 6 drinks each, they still expect it in 2minutes. And that is what I try to accomodate. There are always mean and rude customers, to whom I quickly serve with the hopes that they will get the hell out of there so I can move on. And then I have the wonderful customers who I will take 5 minutes to chat with,if I can. It is people like that who tip us the most, and why not?? I will often give the regulars extras or free drinks so if they give me $1 for a $4 beverage, its not going to kill them. For the work that I do and the slack that I pick up for other employees, my tips are earned fair and square. However, its up to you. If starbucks bothers you that much, fine, you dont' have to come. I am just a kid trying to get through school and starbucks is giving me that oppertunity.