I'm going to be totally forthcoming here: I don't like tipping. I'm awful, I know. Coincidentally, I think this is also part of the reason I feel so at home in Europe. It's just, I feel like every g.d. place I go, I have to tip someone. Plopped a plate of salad in front of me? Here's a tip. Served me a solitary can of Budweiser? Here's a tip. Cut my hair? Here's a tip. Drove me to the airport? Here's a freaking tip!
But I still do it. And sort of well, I might add. Not because I find myself encountering stellar service every place I go, because I feel guilty. And that's a big motivator in my life. Also, I'm a people pleaser. It would be a tragedy to me if the bartender I'll never see again hated me.
LeBron James and Tiger Woods, however, are another story. Like me, they're not fans of tipping. But unlike me, they don't do it.
The Miami New Times compiled a list of the 10 worst celebrity tippers, and the two millionaire athletes made the top five. LeBron took number four, and Tiger nabbed number one. (Hey, at least he's winning at something -- hiiii-ooooo!) Let's take a look at what earned these dudes their spots.
LeBron James. Apparently, the Heat player once made a Cleveland steak house stay open until 4 in the morning so he could finish his bountiful feast. The bill wound up being $800, his tip $10.
Tiger Woods. It isn't one isolated incident that labeled Tiger a really bad tipper, as much as it is just his lifestyle. The golfer is notoriously cheap. (Because he "never carries cash.") Supposedly, when Tiger was dating a girl in Las Vegas, she always had to pay when they went out. Also, there's a story about how Tiger once took a tip meant for a cocktail waitress back after he realized he'd already tipped her.
I don't even know what to say here. There really is no excuse for these guys' tipping etiquette. I said it before and I'll say it again: I don't like tipping. But that's because I'm not rolling in it like a professional athlete! If I was, I'd be tipping my co-workers when I left the office at the end of the night. Just cause I could.
LeBron, Tiger, this behavior is disgusting. And I'm sorry to be the one to tell you: Bartenders across the world hate you both. Try sleeping soundly tonight now.
What are your thoughts on tipping?
Image via familymwr/david_shankbone/Flickr
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Comments 20
Most of the time these people make a living out of tipping. They're not only seving your plate but they are taking mutiple orders and dealing with bitchy people like you who dont tip and are putting up with your high demands while still keeping a nice smile on. I dont know about you but if I had a fat lady bitching at me every minute for her delux burger I'd be flipping out on her. They are standing all day long with no breaks and a shitty 2 dollar hourly pay... I always tip.
As a former server, married to a current server, lemme say, if you don't tip, we don't pay our bills. With less than $3 hourly, I never even saw a paycheck. I lived solely off of tips. Does tipping kinda suck? Sure--I don't know why this system came into play anyway, but I will NEVER tip less than 20%. You never know when that 'bad' server is just having a bad day.
i tip, and it's based on service. sure, there's little tip buckets floating outside of every little shop window and on every other countertop it seems. that doesn't mean i always put something in there though. but to me, there's a difference between tipping a waitress who serves me and putting money into a jar to be divvied up by a crew later. perfect example - my local mexican restaurant drive thru has a tip cup outside their window. i may throw the loose change in there, but that's IT - why should i tip you for putting my food out of a window?
and for those who say "maybe the server was off or had a bad day"... call me callous, but that's what happens when you work with the public. i've done it, and still do. sometimes there are folks who get under your skin and make every little thing about their own satisfaction. it does suck, but you have to remember - the person sitting in front of you now that you're giving crappy service to is NOT that person. you could be kissing away a good tip by 'having a bad day'...
If service is exceptional, I'll tip, and very well. If it is anything less, no dice. If servers can't pay their bills without relying on their tips then maybe it's time to find a new job. You shouldn't be depending on other people's kindness to take care of you. I worked part-time at a department store while in college. I did all sorts of nice things for customers, personal shopper, carried out large or heavy purchases, called other stores for them to check on availability of items we were out of, etc. Did I expect a tip from these people? No, because it was a part of my job. Just like it's part of a servers job to take my order, bring me my food, and refill my drink. Now do that with extra kindness, extra efficiency, and close attention then we'll talk about a tip. Wait 5 hours (yes, it's an exaggeration) to check on my table again, then what am I rewarding?
@jkm89 you realize servers often make less than minimum wage because tipping is not only polite, it's expected. Even if service is not so hot, some sort of tip should be given. Who taught you manners?
worked in the restaurant biz and my motto with tipping is "please dear God refill my drink, the longer my glass is empty the lower your tip goes." anything else is normally out of the servers control.