Are You Tipped Out?
This week's commentary is by 60 Minutes Weeknight Columnist Steve Hartman. It originally aired on Nov. 24, 2003.
When I was a kid, I used to caddy. And there was this one female golfer we called "the fruit lady."
Why? Because after lugging her bag five hours in sweltering heat, she'd always tip you one apple. Compliment her swing and you might get an orange.
I vowed back then to be a much more generous tipper when I grew up. That and never let my mom pick out my living room drapes.
What I'm building to here is that I sympathize with people who depend on tips to make a decent living. And I really hate that it's gotten to this point -- but I'm tipped out, tapped out, and put out by the sheer volume of people who expect a tip nowadays.
I blame Starbucks, the birthplace of the modern tip jar -- an ingenious, dollar-sucking device that works so well. Today, virtually every latte in America comes with a side of guilt. And now these jars are popping up at hotdog stands, sushi bars, dry cleaners and video stores.
Some oil change guys now expect to be greased. And, yes, even at kids' lemonade stands. All this in addition to the people we're already tipping for no apparent reason.
Most of us really could do this ourselves. In fact, I think most of us would almost rather.
Of course, there are a still a few businesses left where tips are not expected. But even some of those could be turning.
It's amazing how many people took a tip when offered.
I asked a toll taker if she got many tips. "Yeah," she says. "Holidays, yes."
You'd think they'd have rules against that.
The last straw was this guy who I found just standing outside a restaurant. I'm not sure what his job was. He did absolutely nothing for me. But he took a dollar just the same.
Finally, if you didn't like this gentle jab at tipping, I encourage you to drop me a note.
And if you did like it, bills are best.