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A Tipping Question

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by Batman, Mar 19, 2017.

  1. BTExpress

    BTExpress Well-Known Member

    If I happen to receive bad service, it's likely on visit No. 23 to a place I normally like just fine, and a place in which the following 23 visits likely will be fine, too.

    But there's still that 23rd visit, though, and how to play it.
     
    jr/shotglass likes this.
  2. Rhody31

    Rhody31 Well-Known Member

    How do you tip when you're playing black jack? I go to the casino maybe twice a year and never know what's normal, what's too little and what's too much.
    I play small stakes. Last year I was coming back from a big hole and was doing the dealer play a hand with me tip thing and those were winning too. I play like $15-25 per hand, but can never figure out the appropriate amount to tip.
     
  3. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    In my caddie days, if a player said "I'll take care of you inside" (meaning on credit card/house account), that was the kiss of death 95 percent of the time. We'd see the printout the next morning of the previous day's tips and nearly all would be lousy. The real tippers carried cash. And then there were some real cheapskates who would try to give you stuff out of their bag to help prop up a terrible tip. "You want some balls?" "No sir, I have plenty. Cash is preferred."
     
  4. jr/shotglass

    jr/shotglass Well-Known Member

    Do workers who mention tips beforehand ("Cash is preferred") actually get tips?
     
  5. Rhody31

    Rhody31 Well-Known Member

    Same rule still applies. After a round a guy says "I took care of it before the round" usually means I'm getting the minimum or barely over that. We make our money on corporate outings - where minimum tips are usually included; players are told, but most tip - and always look for the cash-books combo. If I want to try to make some extra cash I'll usually place some wagers with guys on the course. If there's a guy who you've been busting balls with all day, when he tips at the end you drop a "Is this for the front or the back?" and it usually gets a couple extra bucks.

    Last year I had a player tell his cart partner to "give him some cash" and she grabbed her clutch and gave me every bill she had. On top of the money the other two gave me, it was a huge day.

    Those days happen, but there are plenty of days I get paired with guys who think they're big-swinging dicks, throw huge bills at the pretty cart girls but I get hit on the low side. Last year I had a foursome that had two volunteers from our PGA Tournament that won the raffle to play the course. It's always tough when you get two twosomes who don't know each other and all four players were pretty bad. I made sure everyone had fun, played fast and I busted my ass. Wasn't expecting much. Ended up with a big day that I never saw coming.

    It's a weird existence relying on tips, but you can't get worked up when you get tipped low. Just remember. The guys who tip big? You make sure you're on your A game when they're around.
     
  6. Rhody31

    Rhody31 Well-Known Member

    Has anyone tipped with Venmo?
    I don't have an account yet but feel like with the clientele I have, it might not be a bad idea.
     
  7. SnarkShark

    SnarkShark Well-Known Member

    Depends how much you're up, and if the dealer is being personable and entertaining.

    I like tipping with a wager. During a nice run put a $5 or $10 chip in front of your chips. That "tip" is wagered for the dealer, so if you win, the dealer gets double.
     
    Ace likes this.
  8. Batman

    Batman Well-Known Member

    I'm a low stakes player, too. Usually park at the $5 table and bet $5 and $10 a hand.
    I never tipped if I was down. To me, that was like thanking someone for kicking your ass. If I was up and having fun and got a blackjack, I'd usually throw the $2.50 chip the dealer's way or an occasional $5 chip.
     
  9. spikechiquet

    spikechiquet Well-Known Member

    We go out so little that usually by the time we go back, the servers are new. So I don't feel bad doing a standard %20-ish and calling it good.
    And yes, if the food sucks, we don't go back. Good service or not.

    Here's my mini-dilemma: There is a local bookstore in town that hosts a weekly storybook reading. I take my son almost every Thursday morning. How often should I buy a book from the place to not feel like a jerk for going almost all the time?
     
  10. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    I love betting for the dealers at a hot (or even lukewarm) craps table, for camaraderie and practical purposes. Can be a complicated game (well, if you're betting everything in sight like I do) and it helps to have a dealer looking out for you.
     
    SnarkShark likes this.
  11. dixiehack

    dixiehack Well-Known Member

    Local as in not chain? I wouldn't go buying extra books just out of guilt, but I'd give them my business when it is time to birthday or Christmas shop instead of schlepping to Barnes & Noble.
     
    SnarkShark likes this.
  12. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    1) That "standard 20 percent tip" is a GOOD tip. The majority of people don't tip that well. If you leave a 20 percent tip, it doesn't make you the greatest tipper on earth. ... but it does make you a good tipper. No one should feel bad about that.

    2) You shouldn't buy something you don't want (or can't afford) because you go to their free events. If that was an issue for them, they don't have to do the storybook readings, or they could try to charge for it. But all things being equal, when you do need to buy a book, you probably should be giving that store your business.
     
    SnarkShark likes this.
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