Tipping the cashier when ringing out at a bottle shop?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Fordcoyote15, Sep 28, 2022.

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  1. Fordcoyote15

    Fordcoyote15 Pooh-Bah (2,368) Nov 19, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I see a lot of memes about cashiers asking for tips. To me it's pretty hard and clear how I act. Coming from someone who worked as a server a lot in my younger years I always over tip barstaff, servers etc. Lower than 20% they'd probably have to spit in my beer/food. I'll go over 100% if I was genuinely provided a good experience - that's why we go out isn't it? And I understand their livelihood relies on tips.

    Having said that, there is one specific someone semi-classy bottle shop that I frequent where it seems they expect tips for scanning bottles and ringing up the register. I've even overheard them mentioning a customer that "never tips". (Maybe me).

    Their service provided me no experience that I went out to achieve. I'm sure there are certain situations were I would feel compelled to tip. IE - if I needed help choosing something and they provided an expert opinion or suggestions etc.

    But expecting customers to tip and judging them for not for this "service" is just one I cannot get on board with.

    I'd like to hear other people's takes. Do you tip cashiers?
     
  2. CentralPABeerDude

    CentralPABeerDude Zealot (506) Sep 1, 2022 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Heck no. A grocery store worker does more depending on how much you buy lol.

    I think it’s funny when I go pick up something like coffee beans already bagged that I took off the shelf, etc. and they turn the tablet around at the tip part when I’m checking out.

    My wife was a waitress in her younger years, so we definitely tip well. But, we tip when applicable.
     
  3. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I have made major purchases before that involved large format bottles in a beer/wine store, and that cashier rushed over to the box bin and packed these bottles into partitioned wine cartons, and once offered to carry the box to my car, which I declined. It never dawned on me too tip that person. However, had he carried the box to my car I probably would have tipped for that.

    A tip is a reward for good/extra service, so the routine ringing-up of beer by a cashier isn't extra service that should command a tip.
     
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  4. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm in the same boat as the OP: generous tipper when at a bar or restaurant, but I ain't tipping at the register of a bottle shop/liquor store.
     
  5. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes to tipping, restaurant, bar, even brewery take out.

    Hard no to tipping any cashier positions.

    How would you even define great service at a check out register?
     
  6. Metnut

    Metnut Crusader (439) Dec 18, 2013 New York
    Trader

    Sometimes it takes longer to ring up and pack up all the bottles/cans at the bottle shop than it does to pour a few beers (assuming this is a bottle shop with a bar, like most are these days). You don't have to tip, but the staff is likely going to be disappointed each time they interact with you.

    Personally, I'll usually buy $100-$150 in beer and throw $5 or so to the person ringing up and packing up all of my beer. It's a truly small amount in the grand scheme of things, and I'm a regular at my shop, so I try to stay on good terms with everyone.

    Just to be clear, my place is a bottle shop/bar combo. Not a Total Wine type place.
     
  7. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    A local bottle shop also has a tip screen. After becoming more of a regular, I just straight up asked if they expect tips or typically get them for to-go orders (fulfilled by the customer, not staff) - they said they get them occasionally, but do not expect them.

    It's a little more difficult for me to not tip local breweries for a to-go order, but the way I see it, I'm in and out quickly and contributing to their business by buying product. I don't tip for a to-go transaction since no service beyond the typical retail experience was rendered.
     
  8. Mgh2001

    Mgh2001 Crusader (444) Dec 3, 2021
    Trader

    Not totally related, but I recently saw a well known brewery post job openings, I was blown away at the low wage, servers wage was 6.15$ an hour plus tips. That genuinely blew my mind.
     
  9. dele

    dele Zealot (694) Mar 13, 2019 Massachusetts

    This is just the store owners trying to get customers to pay their workers for them. I'm absolutely not going to tip for retail service, whether beer, groceries, or anything else. It's the store owner's job to pay the employee and they can price their goods at whatever level is necessary to achieve that, but there's no way I'm underwriting their labor costs voluntarily beyond paying the listed price for whatever I'm buying.

    Obviously, it's a different story at restaurants because those servers typically don't make minimum wage (which is something we should change, in my opinion).
     
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  10. pbrian

    pbrian Pooh-Bah (2,118) Feb 8, 2001 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Regarding most retail operations, hard no. That said, I always try to keep a bunch of singles in my wallet to put in the tip jar for the situation where a tip is applicable, they’d much rather get cash than it be run through payroll.
     
  11. dwmetsfan13

    dwmetsfan13 Pundit (784) Jul 22, 2013 Massachusetts
    Trader

    One kind of annoying sidenote is at one of my favorite breweries when they spin around their iPad for me to pay the tip automatically defaults to 20%. If I'm buying a case of beer to go I'm fine tipping but a ~$20 tip feels excessive for maybe 2 minutes of taking 6 4-packs out of a fridge for me. I usually manually type in $3 or so instead. I'm sure it's just a function of their POS system but if somebody isn't paying attention it would be very easy to just tap OK and sign.
     
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  12. jkrich

    jkrich Pooh-Bah (1,878) Nov 1, 2001 Florida
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Speaking of grocery stores, the Publix grocery store baggers will offer to carry out your groceries to your car. These employees have a sign on their shirts stating, "no tipping." Of course, I would probably still tip them for this extra service. I've never heard of tipping a cashier.
     
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  13. dennisthreeninefiveone

    dennisthreeninefiveone Pundit (980) Aug 11, 2020 New Jersey
    Trader

    I tipf for growler fills, but not for prepackaged bottles or cans.
     
  14. rolltide8425

    rolltide8425 Pooh-Bah (2,470) Feb 18, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I tip bartenders and servers well but if you're doing is scanning a few bottles or cans and putting them into a box, I'm not tipping for that. On the topic of business having the customer underwrite their costs, what's with the recent boom in places charging a credit card fee?
     
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  15. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    It's kind of a 'tradion' to tip bartenders, but one of my local stores, Horrocks' is a market that includes a garden supply, produce, deli, soup/salad/pizza bar, groceries, florist, etc. They also have a 'tavern' associated with the packaged beer sales. The bartenders serve draft beer and fill, growlers, howlers, etc. When the tavern was first created customers would tip for the service just because it was 'traditional' if you pay at the bar. But the cashier's who ring up most of the packaged beer sales along with groceries etc. at the exit must have complained to management that the tavern employees were making more than them so that a box was placed on the bar that all tips go to the local Humane Society. For some reason, that stopped and now there are signs posted for no tipping. People want to tip just for tradition.
     
  16. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

  17. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    I MIGHT make an exception if they help me bring a lot of beer out to my car. Other than that - I aint tippin for you to ring up some beers.
     
  18. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Do you tip when you buy a sixer at 7-11?
     
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  19. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Tipping has nothing to do with the amount of work the job requires. Certain jobs where tipping is expected the people are paid almost nothing hourly and dependent on tips. This is not the case with cashiers, they're getting paid at least minimum wage
     
  20. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just to be crystal clear, this shop does not have a bar where you can get pints and/or Growler fills? Since you mentioned bar staff in your OP, I'll assume the answer is "no" in which case those guys are very arrogant to make comments about someone who "never tips." If the context was about someone who always gets enough product to need help to their car, then they have more of a leg to stand on, but still, gratuity is gratuity and is not a requirement.
     
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