I don’t know that I tip all the people who expect a tip. Bartenders sure, Sit down restaurants sure, delivery sure, barber sure. The guy who does my oil changes, no but maybe I should. How do you know if someone is paid as a tip receiving employee? Starbucks and McDonalds, no (does Starbucks pay better or worse than McDonalds). You mentioned tipping a barista, is the person who pours my coffee a barista. I usually get brewed coffee with milk and sugar. I don’t think I ever tipped at a drive thru.

I tipped the guy who took a tree out of my yard. I gave him an extra $100, the total bill was close to two grand but the job was mostly labor (three people for two days). I tipped the guy who installed my garage door $10. I got the impression that they never got a tip before.

At sit down restaurants I tip 20%, not to the penny but drop a decimal place, round up to the next dollar and double it. Some times I tip more but it does not seem right that the tip is a percentage of the bill. Why should the tip be more if I order lobster and $30 wine than if I order chicken and drink house wine?

TEK