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I abhor the concept of "expected" tipping. Full service gas is a service the station is providing - the employee doesn't make any less of an hourly wage, so you should never tip for that service - especially if you're doing the work yourself. (And why has New Jersey forced full-service gas fill up on folks? That's crazy!)

I used to waitress, and the way it worked back then was... I earned $2.50/hour in wages from the restaurant, but we had to claim $5.00/hour for taxes. Thus, it was necessary to make the additional $2.50/hour in tips. Now on a typical day that was beyond easy, and the wait staff would usually come out way ahead - but not always... if there were a snow storm or something, nobody would come in to eat, so no tips. Or worse, folks like my mother's AA group would come in, 20 of them hogging up five tables, eating deserts (a dish always prepared by the waitstaff, not the cook) and drinking gallons of coffee (another busy waitstaff job), and they would each toss only a few coins on the table. ARGH!!!!!

Tipping is a terrible system if it's mandatory - tips should only be for those who shine above all else with their type of service - more like a gifting. But since it is the system, I always tip fairly so that those on the waitstaff can bring home a fair income. I'm more for changing the entire system. Restaurants should charge a bit more from the menu, and then pay their employees a fair wage. Also, this better insures good service. Instead of just stiffing the waitstaff for poor service, you can complain more to the management.

But, back on topic, I say NO to the gas station attendant. They're still making the same wages as before (or at least I assume they do). I have also worked at a full-service gas station, and I never expected tips. We had to do full-service because the gas station was so old, there were no auto shutoff nozzles, and no computer register, etc... I would do the windows as well (because I'm a geek who thinks that stuff is cool), but even if folks wanted me to do the oil level or air pressure checks, I didn't mind. I was still making a fair wage.

Cheers,
Loonette

sorry for the long rant...

I just remembered the most remarkable story relating to tips. I was in Germany on business. I decided part of my trip should be on the train, since I am a big rail fan, and I'd rarely get to Germany otherwise. I found myself a non-reserved seat on the train and relaxed. On the trains vendors come through and offer various products to purchase. Mainly snacks and drinks. I decided I wanted a beer.

I ordered the beer in a poor excuse for German language. The guy pulled out a beer and set it on my armrest. He told me how much I owed and I paid him with a larger bill, probably 2 to 2.5 dollars (Euros) over what the beer cost. I told him to keep the change. He then reached into the little rolling cabinet, pulled out a cup, poured the beer for me, pulled out a little tray I didn't know was there, and thanked me in English.

I found out that people rarely tip in Germany, and you can effect service by showing that you plan to treat the service person extra cool. I think this would be the best way to do things. You get basic service if you will not be willing to tip. If you show you can throw them a few bones, they go the extra mile. But I think I should always get basic good service without having to pay extra or beg.

Here in the US though we pay people below minimum wage for waiting jobs and it is a bit of a scam. People working those jobs can't get more money from their bosses. The bosses do what they think they are suppose to do as far as pay goes for that job. Customer's don't always know this, or don't care, so wait people get screwed. And worse of all, if you do a great job it does not insure you will get tipped well. This is why I try to alwasy at least give a minimal tip unless the guy is a total jerk.

But giving a tip in any case should be driven by you. If you feel there is something they did that was above and beyond, or they are in a full-service roll doing a great job, I might tip them. If they are not providing service to you, I would not pay them a tip - like you filling your own gas at a full serve stop.

Haha, I wasn't asking if i should tip everywhere , just at full service gas stations, because i'm not sure how they work (aka if they make the same hourly wage or expect to be tipped, as loonette mentioned). I mean even if you were in your car and they filled it up for you, is it customary to tip?

But yea i agree, tipping is a flawed system..i used to bartend so i know.

off topic, i used to bartend in philly at a busy busy bar, and broke my back pouring drinks. last weekend i went to a bar in ny here and the bartenders were HORRIBLE. i couldn't even believe it. on a friday night they had 3 bartenders and they were SO slow,...i couldn't how terrible they were. i wonder if they know how bad they are. i didn't want to tip them but that would make me look bad instead of letting them know that they suck..aka tipping is a flawed system..but yea just an off topic rant.

ElektraSpitfire wrote:Haha, I wasn't asking if i should tip everywhere , just at full service gas stations, because i'm not sure how they work (aka if they make the same hourly wage or expect to be tipped, as loonette mentioned). I mean even if you were in your car and they filled it up for you, is it customary to tip?

I wouldn't tip the gas filler. Especially in NJ, since it is mandetory that it is full-serve. If I went out of my way for full-serve, I might tip.

Loonette, clarify something for me. If you are claiming $5.00 hourly for taxes withheld on your paycheck, do you still claim the year-end earnings at $5.00 if you had made only $4.00 or if you had made $6.00 per hour? Doesn't make sense to me, as you would be underpaying or overpaying the IRS and that certainly can't be legal (well, overpaying I'm sure they don't mind ). I can understand the restaurant withholding at a $5.00 rate if you have to claim tips so you don't end up owing at the end of the year but it sounds like it would be rough calculating actual wages if your w2 is 'fudged' like that.

The worst experience was in louisiana where they actaully added the 15% tip right onto the bill. The service at that joint was terrible and I wouldn't have given a dime but I got hit with 15% for a tip anyways, rediculous.

That always sucks! And some patrons don't notice that the surcharge is there, and they end up tipping on top of it!!! Not good.

CNF2002 wrote:Loonette, clarify something for me. If you are claiming $5.00 hourly for taxes withheld on your paycheck, do you still claim the year-end earnings at $5.00 if you had made only $4.00 or if you had made $6.00 per hour? Doesn't make sense to me, as you would be underpaying or overpaying the IRS and that certainly can't be legal (well, overpaying I'm sure they don't mind ). I can understand the restaurant withholding at a $5.00 rate if you have to claim tips so you don't end up owing at the end of the year but it sounds like it would be rough calculating actual wages if your w2 is 'fudged' like that.

Typically the waitperson will come out ahead at yearly tax time. I guess you'd have to really stink at making tips to come out behind. Sometimes though, on a given week, you might come out behind, but again, in the end, the waitperson will probably be the one coming out ahead. (which is another reason the system sucks - we should all be paying our due taxes).

We would receive our paycheck at the restaurant weekly. On the back was a stamped spot, before your endorsement signature, that stated you were claiming an average weekly earning of $5.00/hour, and you had to sign that statement. The taxes would be taken out of that check, even though the restaurant only paid $2.50/hour.

It was perfectly legal because of whatever tax laws are specific to the restaurant/waitstaff taxes and wages. I've never researched all the laws, but it was legal. It would have to do with the fact that #1, the tips are variable and unpredictable, and #2, lots of waitpeople will pocket unclaimed money anyway, making it difficult to know just how much they do take in. Is it still done that way? I'm not really sure, but I bet it's similar.

There used to be a group that would once in awhile come to the restaurant where I worked, and instead of a tip, they would leave a business card. The card would explain why they weren't tipping (because they didn't agree with the practice), and that if I, their waitress, wanted fair pay, then I should work at reforming the tipping system. Well that's a nice kick in the arse!! So use up my services and time, don't pay me a tip, explain why, and leave me with all the work. And the little card claimed that it was to better my life as a waitress. NOT COOL! It's not the waitperson's fault that there is a system of tipping in place. If folks think it's unfair, then go to Ponderosa or something. Or change the system - but don't punish the waitperson - they're just trying to do their job. Well, I mean, unless they actually give you poor service - that's different.

Anyway... don't tip the gas station employees...

Cheers,
Loonette

in canada, if you make say 5 bucks an hour as a waitress/bartender i think it is required that you claim +10% of income as gratuity income...i know many people that make way more than 10% of their hourly wage in tips so it's actually fairly equitable for the all parties since they get to feel like they are sticking it to the government, and the government can expect an extra 10% from these people without fighting for it.

I used to work at a gas station with a full service pump. It sucked when people rolled up there to get gas, cause we had to stop our regular work and walk out there to help them. Our station also had self-serv pumps. It was nice when people gave us an extra buck so we could buy a drink or chips or something. I dont know what its like elsewhere, but at our station full service meant we filled up the car, checked the tires, cleaned the windows, and checked all engine fluids. After a while of working there you remember who tips and who goes to take advantage of the service and we service accordingly. Usually if the customer was cool we gave them free fluids if they needed to be topped off or whatnot.

Its one thing not to give extra service if you know they dont tip, its completely another not to do your basic required job.

If a gas station advertises "full service: fill gas, check oil, wash window with full tank purchase" and the attendance does it with a smile and checks my tire pressure for me that deserves a tip. If you just fill the gas, check the oil, and wash the window...thats called your JOB and if its not paying enough without tips, find another one or do work for the extra tip.

This is the thing that drives me nuts about tipping. People expect tips just for doing what they are required. If the service offers something specific, I expect to get it. If the guy does extra, he gets a tip. Thats what you get paid for...if you dont get paid enough, talk to your manager, don't expect the customers to pay your salary.

If you just do your job, the tasks that are advertised, I dont need to pay extra. I already paid, and that pay needs to go to your salary...if you don't get your 'fair cut' thats not my problem.