Tipping for Growlers

Why is it different at these venues? The service is the same on the employee side

 

I would not either. It's the equivalent of a a retail shop if you aren't drinking it there. If you don't tip the cashier when you buy a case of beer at a beer distributor, then why at a bottle shop?

 

Because at a liquor store, they are getting paid the hourly wage of a retail employee. At the bar or brewpub, they are probably getting paid the hourly wage of a bartender.

 

Never herd of a place like that in NJ, where is it?

 

If they provide a service and it's a bar, then I would definitely tip. If you are grabbing bottles or pre-filled growlers and they are just ringing you up, then no tip needed. IMHO

 

Some very interesting answers and examples in here. I had this same discussion at a local brew pub just last weekend. We came in for lunch, had food and several beers, and then we all bought bottles to go. Obviously our checks were pretty large with the to-go bottles and we talked about how much to tip. I concluded that I would not tip off the total price, but would reflect a more generous % based off the beer and food consumed on-site. It felt like a happy middle ground to me and my friends did the same thing.

 

Not sure if this changes things, but neither growler place I visit has a line on the credit card receipt for tipping. It would appear the establishments owners don’t see tipping as necessary…no?

 

I would agree. In PA, most "bottle shops" or growler fill places are part of a bar/restaurant. So their credit card slips automatically have the tip line.

 

You definitely were under no obligation to tip... First off, it is ALWAYS an option, though in some circumstances much more expected than others (full service dining, for example). Personally I always tip when a service is being rendered, like a pint/growler pour.

I do not tip when I am making a purchase, even if someone helps me find the item I'm looking for; regardless of whether I'm in a bottle shop or Macy's. Helping me find what I'm buying is not "a service" the same way that a pour is.

To me the distinction is "could you have accomplished your task, but done so poorly, and you instead did so well" This is why I tip a waiter who brings me food, but not the cashier at McDonald's, despite that ultimately I'm being served food either way.

Finding a bottle in the shop where you work cannot be done poorly, either you find it or you don't; pouring a pint/growler however can definitely be done with varying level of skill, and thus earns a tip.


edit for the tl;dr crowd: To me, tipping is based on the task, if it is one that requires skill then I tip, if not then I don't.

 

I felt awkward at FFF, the guy seemed like he really wanted a tip at the bottle shop. All he did was move his arm to the right and hand me two bombers... I felt bad afterwards, but it's not like he poured me a beer!? Why do businesses like to make these awkward situations? Tip jars at inappropriate places and what not.

i always tip something small with growlers (a buck or two should suffice)...

 

For growlers, I usually only tip if they rinse it out or clean it. I also always know what I want and I am in and out usually (even if I stop in the pub). If I hand them a growler and they fill it up and give it to me within a minute I don't really see this as any different from going to the store and buying a sixer.

 

I havent tipped when getting fills at places I vacation at in NY. Perhaps it's cuz Im at a bottle shop? I do tip when I get fills at Willibrew, a brewpub, and I also tip at Tree House cuz, well, those folks are just so damn nice (and grateful). That and it's so nice to hear Dean ring the bell and bellow "BIG TIPPAAAAH!" Theyre spending their tips to help fund the new brewery anyway. Ain't nothin' wrong with that!

 

I wouldn't have tipped there either. I try to make sure I always tip really well since I didn't make shit waiting tables in college but I wouldn't tip the beer stocker at Whole Foods so I wouldn't think to tip that person either.

 

Just had the same experience/confusion at Wicked Weed yesterday. There were 4 of us. We each had one beer at a table at the brewery, hanging out for a bit. I bought 6 bottles to go and another person got 8 bottles to go. We debated back and forth, and overall we tipped the guy $15, for bringing us each a beer and for boxing up our beer order. Seems kind of like overkill but we also didn't want to offend anyone.

 

I was in NYC when it happened

 

Open a place, try your new system and you can tell the other owners how well it worked. I would say most servers like it the it is though- usually.

 

But you made double what the alternatives were because those you served gave you TIPS. If they hadn't tipped, you would have been worse off.

 

If they offer to clean my growler and if it is a bar or taphouse then yes for sure. If it is a store than no

 

which place in NYC then?

 

Broadway Dive