topic Re: Regarding tips....... in Community Chat

Regarding tips.......

Chrystaltree2 — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:26:09 GMT

It's that time of year again and we haven't had a tip thread in a long time. I wanted to share this you ladies. There's a dress shop in my town that serves as a UPS pickup center. I love it! Now I don't have to worry about deliveries, I go online and have them held for me at the shop and I pick them up on Saturday. I've done it several times but last Saturday when I stopped in for my QVC stash.....there was a tip jar near the cash register! I kid you not. Never in my 55 years have I seen a tip jar in dress shop. I did not use it! When I go to the car and told hubby about it, he said it was probably for the people picking up their UPS packages. Since we aren't buying anything, the owner probably thought we should tip the clerk who reaches under the counter, checks our picture id and hands us the package. I don't consider that to be a "service" and since I'm sure UPS pays the store....I won't be putting anything in that tip jar. So, what are your thoughts?

Re: Regarding tips.......

straykatz — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:32:22 GMT

Tip jars are becoming all too common. I recently went through a drive-thru and there was a tip jar at the window.../shrug

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DoneTryin — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:46:29 GMT

The store is providing a service to you by accepting & holding your packages for you. I would leave a tip.

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Q4u — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:47:12 GMT

On the other hand, the dress shop is offering a free service that does require some time and effort (and space) to do this above and beyond selling what they sell. They aren't asking a fee (which they could) but are asking for donations. I don't find it outrageous in this circumstance at all.... and I DO find tip jars in shops for employees doing what they're paid to do anyway a personal affront, so I'm not necessarily for tip jars..... but in this case I am, it's an extra service being offered that may have expanded (for the owner) more than they expected and is taking more time out of the employee's day to label, store and retrieve.... JMHO

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Laura14 — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:47:35 GMT

I doubt even if there is some compensation between UPS and the store's owner that the actual staff member doing the actual work gets anything from that. This is a tricky one.

To you it may be a two second thing. But for the actual staff person doing it, having to stop, take time away from what you are doing to step aside to do something even as minor as this, is annoying and can be time consuming. You may be one person who takes two seconds but when you get a run of 5-6 more people behind you who may not be as quick about it, it can become more than you think it is for that person.

I am assuming this is not part of the dress shop's regular service and they are just allowing you the courtesy of using their address? If so, I honestly would not be put off giving a buck here and there depending on how often I used the place just as an acknowledgement that they are receiving and keeping an eye on my package until I come and get it. I personally would gladly pay a $1 a delivery just for piece of mind as a thank you.

Or, bringing in a box of cookies or donuts every once in a while to the staff if you really hate the tip jar also is a good way to get the thank you across.

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Allegheny — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:55:33 GMT

Well that would kind of surprize me too.

Knowing my nosy self, I would call UPS and ask them about whether they pay the store(s) to become an access point. If that is the case, I wouldn't leave the tip.

The program is called UPS Access Point. Supposedly it gives the store(s) more foot traffic which may increase their business. The store applied to become an Access Point, it wasn't forced on them so expecting tips is just preying on the good nature of people.

If it is becoming too time consuming for their staff, then they should remove themselves from the program. I understand it probably could get quite busy with this extra duty. I remember years ago when some local stores used to accept payments for electric bills, gas bills, phone bills, etc and eventually most of them stopped providing that service.

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CrazyDaisy — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:52:24 GMT

@Q4u wrote:
On the other hand, the dress shop is offering a free service that does require some time and effort (and space) to do this above and beyond selling what they sell. They aren't asking a fee (which they could) but are asking for donations. I don't find it outrageous in this circumstance at all.... and I DO find tip jars in shops for employees doing what they're paid to do anyway a personal affront, so I'm not necessarily for tip jars..... but in this case I am, it's an extra service being offered that may have expanded (for the owner) more than they expected and is taking more time out of the employee's day to label, store and retrieve.... JMHO

Would have to ask, who gets the tip? Is it the clerk who helps the customer or the shop owner?

I have to say I think these tip jars has gotten out of hand. If the shop is incurring additional expenses because of the time handeling the packages, they need to either add a handling charge or stop accepting packages for others. If they are providing a service they expect to get paid for, then charge the customers for it, don't guilt them into paying.

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sunshine45 — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:53:17 GMT

i dont mind seeing and/or contributing to tip jars, especially if someone is providing a service. i NEVER feel forced to contribute.

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CrazyDaisy — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:59:24 GMT

@sunshine45 wrote:
i dont mind seeing and/or contributing to tip jars, especially if someone is providing a service. i NEVER feel forced to contribute.

So when you see a tip jar you do not feel that there is some expectation to make a contribution? That is the whole psychology behind them. If that was not the purpose, do you tip all service providers even if there is not a tip jar?

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MyGirlsMom — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:03:27 GMT

It's a Dress Shop offering another service to people who are not necessarily customers - why not tip?

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sunshine45 — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:06:09 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
@sunshine45 wrote:
i dont mind seeing and/or contributing to tip jars, especially if someone is providing a service. i NEVER feel forced to contribute.
So when you see a tip jar you do not feel that there is some expectation to make a contribution? That is the whole psychology behind them. If that was not the purpose, do you tip all service providers even if there is not a tip jar?

no, i dont find that there is an "expectation" to make a contribution.....and i dont judge anyone who does or doesnt make a contribution. yes, i tip some service providers even if there isnt a tip jar.....some service providers that others may not feel the need to tip. i think it is a personal judgement call for everyone. it really is everyones own business who gets a tip and who doesnt.

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SaRina — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:25:29 GMT

I never feel pressured or "guilted" into tipping but this situation does appear to be different in that the dress shop is providing a special service beyond what they do. Much like I used to tip the UPS person after he delivered several packages in a short period of time, I might just leave a tip if that is in fact what the tip jar is designated for.

Hmmm. Tip jars all over the place? Maybe I should have placed a tip jar on my office desk when I provided a service for the public ??

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muttmom — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 18:47:12 GMT

No one has ever guilted me into leaving money in a tip jar. I do it because I want to.

If a store was doing me a favor by securing and holding my packages, I'd be more than happy to tip them. I'm surprised they do not charge $1per package for the service.

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pattiewaddle — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:35:27 GMT

It is a service the shop has provided and I would certainly leave a tip.What sense of relief you have that you don't have to worry about your package being left at your door or someone watching and releaves you of your problem by taking and enjoying your free gift to them.....Tipping is a choice but most of the time it is well deserved....

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ShowMe — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:52:17 GMT

Normally I don't respond to these kinds of threads, but just couldn't resist this one.

First I think it would take a lot of nerve yo expect a dress shop where I never shop in to be responsible for accepting any of my UPS deliveries. Have a question for you......did you ask the Manager if it would be alright for you to use their services under your conditions??????

I think it would be very considerate of you to leave a tip every time you go to pick up your packages you have had delivered there. If you don't do that, I think you are taking advantage of a business that you don't think is good enough for you to shop in and make purchases from them

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RainyDayGal — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:57:33 GMT

I guess I don't understand why you won't have things delivered to your home or place of business, or a friend/family member. Even use something like Mail Boxes, etc.

So she does the UPS thing as a courtesy for people that don't even purchase her services? She does this for free and gets nothing out of it? TIP HER!

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missy1 — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:02:56 GMT

I wouldn't want the dress shop/or any other business knowing what I buy/or the frequency. So you put their address when you shop on-line. How does it work?

They are providing a service imo.

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sidsmom — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:35:28 GMT

@Allegheny wrote:
Well that would kind of surprize me too.

Knowing my nosy self, I would call UPS and ask them about whether they pay the store(s) to become an access point. If that is the case, I wouldn't leave the tip.

The program is called UPS Access Point. Supposedly it gives the store(s) more foot traffic which may increase their business. The store applied to become an Access Point, it wasn't forced on them so expecting tips is just preying on the good nature of people.
If it is becoming too time consuming for their staff, then they should remove themselves from the program. I understand it probably could get quite busy with this extra duty. I remember years ago when some local stores used to accept payments for electric bills, gas bills, phone bills, etc and eventually most of them stopped providing that service.

It's kinda/sorta like tipping the grocery store checkout person because they sold you a book of stamps. Or asking for 'cash back' since the Bank Is closed. It's not a tip-able service.

Now....if you're tapping on the door the nano-second they close....or asking to use their dressing rooms to try on your freshly delivered Demin & Co. Hoodie, THEN maybe throw a buck in the jar. If not, nope...they've agreed to provide this service to you.

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RetRN — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:44:53 GMT

Since they are providing a service that I choose to use I would certainly tip them.

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PamelaSue72 — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:57:55 GMT

Last week my car was in the garage. While we were on vacation, we got side-swiped by a city bus; it was the bus driver's fault and she was cited. Our insurance company waived our deductible, so we paid nothing.

The garage people did a wonderful job on my car. I picked my car up last Friday and, honestly, it looks beautiful.

On Tuesday morning, I stopped at Dunkin Donuts on my way to work for a dozen donuts and dropped them off at the garage. I told them that I appreciated their hard work and their efforts to my car. The men came out of the dept and each one gave me a hug! They really appreciated that I thought of them. And I appreciated the excellent work they did on my car.