Tipping

I have not tipped supermarket drivers but not against idea. I do tip food delivery guys, nail bar, etc
Yes, on minimum wage but in SWLondon that's almost a joke - insulting at the very least. Everything here is more expensive than elsewhere. Years ago when I moved from Midlands my rent trebled.
I do understand when individuals are on low income they don't feel like paying extra and that's fine but for the comfortably off it's good - imho - to be generous.

I tip the milkman. Postman different every week so dont tip them. Tip the hairdresser 50p the cost of trim is £7.50 but I am a pensioner have my hair cut every 4 weeks. Tip restaurant 10 per cent of bill (grandson chef and another waits on during holidays).

Why would you tip a supermarket delivery driver? You often pay £4.99-£6.99 for delivery depending on the time/day. I’m certainly not paying extra on top of that! At Christmas it’s £9.99, but worth it to avoid all the stress. I obviously try to choose a time when they are already in my area and it’s usually free, but I often have to pay £2.99-£4.99.

carolyn12 generally no. Once or twice a driver has been particularly kind/helpful so I have tried to tip him and - they all said "no" because: "we aren't allowed/ we don't take money/ please don't worry/ we don't carry money in case we are mugged!"

We tip in restaurants if there’s no service charge, the paperboy at Christmas, and coach drivers. I tip my hairdresser but I’d like to stop doing that, its expensive and an ok cut but not really anything special. Thing is I’ve been going to her for years so I don’t feel I can stop tipping, I’ll probably have to switch to another hairdresser then not start the tipping.

I no longer tip except in restaurants when no service charge has been added. As has been said they should at least be on minimum wage. In fact practically all retail workers (unless they have manager in their title) are on minimum wage. I don’t tip the postman - he gets more!

Tipping threads often come up on here and on MN. There isn’t an absolute right or wrong imo - just what you think yourself ( coupled with what you can afford as well if that’s relevant). I tip my hairdresser because I actually know how hard up she is and how hard she works and she does something amazing in her family life which I won’t mention on here. I tip the binmen and paper boy/girl at Christmas because they provide a wonderful service all year in all weathers. We don’t have a regular postman any more so no tip there. We never have shopping delivered or takeaways. I tip taxi drivers 10% and in restaurants the same unless the service charge has been added of course. I’m comfortable with my ‘rules’ and can afford it but it’s a completely individual decision. No one has to justify what they do. As someone said upthread, a heartfelt thanks or note of appreciation is lovely as well.

I totally agree with Bluebell on the subject of tipping. It's out dated, and class ridden. It dates from when aristocracy tipped tradesmen who touched their caps and said thank you ma'am. We all earn our livings these dates and pensioners are often on very low incomes, particularly women. Stop tipping it's ridiculous.

I’m on the living wage and I don’t tip. No one tips me doing my job. So I don’t feel guilty about it

I just go by what I thought was 'normal' - I tip in restaurants, taxis, hotels, hairdressers, takeaway deliveries but not supermarket drivers, dustmen, postmen or other delivery drivers. Quite random now I think about it ?

I don't tip anyone they are paid to do a job and yes even carry it to my kitchen! Food is dear enough as it is and you pay to get it delivered well most companies you do, so why should you tip as well.

I tip hairdresser, nail bar & delivery an on rare occasions that we order a takeaway but no-one else.
We used to have a regular postman who had been on our route for many years & I tipped him as he would often carry bins out for me ( I am quite capable of doing it but he was just helpful) & always left any large items safely hidden if I was out. Once he wanted to come back & cut our hedge when he arrived as I was happily wielding an electric cutter as he said it was no job for a woman ( DH has bad shoulders from rugby so I do all that) but I explained that I was quite used to doing it.
I think extra special service deserves a reward & he had a young family to support.
Other than that just a warm thank you is all they get.

I leave a tip for my milkman & paper delivery man at Christmas. We don't have a regular postman here so no tip although a couple of them are excellent. As for binmen refuse operatives, I don't as they are very "slapdash" in their work. I only tip for good service in a restaurant, if the service is poor I don't leave anything. I worked as a waitress years ago

I always tip my Supermarket delivery man as he carries the boxes through to my kitchen for me
Postman binmen always at xmas get £5
My DGS was a delivery driver for a Pizza delivery Company when he was in his last year at Uni and made over £30+ tips most nights when he was delivering for them.If orders came to between £15/16s he was mostly given a £20 note and told to keep the change some people have more money than sense imo.

I tip the takeaway driver. If there's a £1 coin in the change I hand it back. I do find it awkward. I tip my hairdresser a £1 too. I only ever get a trim and it takes 10 minutes. I would tip the porter who carries our luggage to our hotel room.

I thought the grocery drivers were not supposed to accept tips?

I hate tipping too, especially hairdressers as they are so expensive to begin with. A lot of restaurants add service charges which is better. We hate anyone take no luggage to our rooms so we do it ourselves to prevent the awkwardness. After reading posts I think I'll stop tipping now. I always write a letter or make a phone call to thank a company for really good service. And now everyone wants feedback for everything too.

I agree with all the points BlueBelle makes.

I've stopped tipping altogether. I find a heartfelt thanks for good service and in exceptional circumstances, a positive message relayed to a restaurant chef is much appreciated.

I must admit I am not keen on tipping as I probably do not earn any more than those who expect it. My work does not come with any tips or perks of any kind. Having said that, if I do not have the correct money I would not stand waiting for change of less than 50p but to avoid embarrassment would say something like ' stick it in the charity box'. If it then goes into their own pocket I have no problem with that.

...... so your drivers are on minimum wage but they have a job and are paid, I live on a low pension maybe they should tip me for keeping them in their job ?

One of my children saves lives within their job, but doesn’t get anything ( or expect anything) not even a bunch of flowers, but my daughter in law who cuts hair gets bottles of wine, expensive chocolates, beauty products to the extent that they are stored away in a cupboard

At least I treat everyone equally

I do tip food delivery drivers. I tip for their timely service and because I know they are paid minimum wage , and it saves me a trip . So I say if you can -do!

I don’t tip my supermarket delivery man but come Christmas I always do - again as a thank you for good service and because he is incredibly helpful and I fell goes beyond what he needs to !

But then I also tip our incredibly helpful postie - who will take parcels to post for me as well as deliver.

Often tips are pooled so although you tip the waiter, it goes into a pot and is shared amongst all staff. If in doubt - just ask how they divide tips. I don’t think it’s a class led thing at all because I don’t believe those in service industries are servants .

This has been covered extensively in lots of threads
I don’t tip I think it’s very outdated and uncomfortable somehow always makes me feel like the tipper has some kind of superiority over the ‘poor’ worker, it feels class led which I don’t like I also have no understanding of why people tip the taxi driver and not the bus driver, the waiter but not the cook, the hairdresser but not the shop assistant
So I am fair to all and treat everyone the same

I usually pay in advance by card, so don't have cash to tip.

I don't tip.
As you say they are in at least minimum wage.
Christmas I give wine and chocolates to the those who have provided a service throughout the year. e.g. ironing company.