Last year, I DID NOT give anything to the attendent.....who called me out on it right after new years.

Goodness, just what was said? I'm thinking whatever it was, that it was just 'tacky' to mention such a thing. How thoughtless of him/her. There are way too many folks getting a wage, yet for some reason seem to think that they are 'owed' additional for their services, or in this case, lack of services.

It really grinds my gears at a local gas station that has some self serve junk food. There is a 'tip' jar by the register. I'm saying to myself, "a tip for what? Doing your job? Taking my money?"

I worked for the phone company for 30 years before retiring. Initially I had external customers when I was a telephone operator. After that I had internal customers which were other employees within the company as I provided information or supplies for them. Not once in 30 years was I ever given a tip. My paycheck, and an occasional Thank You was what I got and was happy with that.

Sue

Yes, I think it was way out of line.

I don't know about the attendant and if he is expecting a once a year tip, I'm assuming he/she is getting paid a decent salary, and a tip would be up to you.

That is not the case in all jobs - some are paid a very low wage, with the expectation of customer's tips actually being the salary. I do know that waitpersons get paid a very small hourly wage. I don't like that and I think it is unfair to the customer, but that is just the way things work.

I have heard that tipping is not the norm in Europe - is that true?

It seems to me, also, that the parking lot attendant that doesn't even get to collect the parker's monthly fee is a long way out of line for even asking for a tip, ... let alone chewing the parker out for not giving one.

Tipping jar in convenience store?

I'd rip open the bag and deposit a chunk of the ripped off piece in the jar.

When we are expected to supplement a wait-person's below-minimum "wage", at least they provide a service to us.

Some object to the staff in buffet-style establishments figuring that they should get a substantial tip, as they offer little or no individual service.

In this case, I don't recommend one of my oft-quoted sayings around here,"(If) You don't ask - you don't get"!

ole joyful

The last time I was in the Netherlands a common tip was a dime or quarter. The service fee was added right to the bill 15-20%.

Well, I'd rather tip the guy $20 than have him look the other way when some clown keys my car or tries to jimmy the lock. He's probably illegal, makes under minimum wage, stands around in all sorts of weather, and you begrudge him a tip.

Tipping is the norm in Europe. Some places add it to your bill, but you still should leave a few coins.

i researched tipping one time and it is way out of line. back east some managers take a percentage of the tips, in some places the busser's get part of the waitress' tips. i discussed tips with one of bussers in a buffet and told her it was self service why should we tip. she said she brings us drinks, she stopped speaking because she realized she had never brought us anything.

Sometimes it is hard to see "what have you done for me this year" when the guy is doing his job. In this case, maybe it is easier to tell his contribution if he is not there; your car may get keyed or tires get slashed. I agree with what ideefixe said.

In the part of Europe where we have been, service fee is included in the bill, but we still gave tip if we received wonderful service.

At home or oversea, we always budget "tip" for each meal when we go out. We like to praise waitress or waiter, sometimes even chef. Why not? "Eating out" is supposed to provide a good time for us and the service people. We may not get great food each time, but it is extremly rare for us to receive a bad service.

We always tip wait staff, etc., because we know it IS part of their salary. The amount does depend on the service.

I'm not sure that a once a year gratuity is part of his salary. By that, I don't think his employer relies on the customers to subsidize the pay, as it is for others. A waitperson, hairdresser, etc., are right there and you are tipping for that service.

If I felt like tipping the attendent, I would. If I thought it was because he was doing a good job, I would. If I thought I had to tip him so he would not turn a blind eye to vandalism, I would not. That sounds too much like blackmail.

How common it is for the owners to take part of the tips, I don't know, but I do know waitpeople's tips are shared with the bussboy and sometimes the bartender. Sometimes all wait staff share the tips.

Not in favor of tipping in this situation,however...lol...Perhaps his job is strictly "Lot Attendant" and not just take money from cash payers...In this case, you might want to tip him something, as he may be there as security for the entire lot...How much? Ask another person who parks there..

I got an envelope with an address for my sanitation collector(driver and helper)..We pay for this service,rules are strictly enforced(how many cans,weight of each can,yard waste,etc)and it is NOT a municipal service...They got NADA

The lot itself is totally secure by itself. It is the only or the 1st automated parking lot in NYC. Once you drive it on a skid, garage door rolls down and the skid literally moves your car into their storage bay. So no worries for thieves, etc.

So, this is what I ended up doing...$50 each for both attendants. The one that didn't *call me out or remind me - I gave him also a bottle of Laiphriog Whiskey* (which was a regift and I'm not a big fan of Laiphriog)

And I consider it a small tip.....considering there was one time I forgot my parking card. Rules are that if you forget your card, you have to *pay* even though you're a paid monthly... (card is the access key) since the lot is automated.

hth. seems like life out here in 'ole nyc. you just gotta ~grease~ the guys around you sometimes...

We just got back from a visit to NYC - yes, tips and more tips. They were almost all given because we got exceptional and friendly service, though.

One or two waiters were not great and their tip was minimal.

The drivers of the cars that picked us up at the airport were so friendly, helpful, talkative - just great, although the gratuatity was added to the price, we tipped anyway. They were just so NICE.

As we were on the way back to the airport the driver asked us where we were going, and we told him Dallas. He asked if we had checked our flight. We really didn't know what he meant, but we had checked the night before and we were on the list, or whatever you call it.

When he unloaded our bags, a baggage handler came over to get our tickets and said our flight had been cancelled. We were scheduled to leave at 12:30 for Dallas. I asked him if he was joking and he said, "Oh, no maam, I wouldn't joke with my customers."

He went over to the check in station outside, then grabbed one of our bags and said, 'Come on, get your other bag and hurrry, follow me." He rushed inside, talked to a young man at another computer and hands us some more tickets.

He had gotten us on the 11:00 flight - now that deserved a tip!!!

We don't gift the men who drive the garbage trucks - not for Christmas. There are few restrictions, as in amounts, etc., and sometimes we really have a big pile. When we do, our husband always tips them for that.

So, chefwong, it seems you got it settled - so now you know.

There is a attendant on site for those *cash customers* as well as just to oversee the automated parking lot.

You can obviously not tip and seek confirmation here that you did the right thing and that the attendant was out of line. But I think you did the right thing this year by giving a small gratuity (really is $50 once a year really that onerous?).

Like others, I believe the attendants ARE doing their job because they are invisible. Who would "oversee" the lot? Who sees that the automation doesn't break down (or that it gets fixed when it does)? Nothing runs by itself.

my friend is going on a four month world cruise and the ship adds $10. a day to your CC for tips. so it is going to cost her $1,200. in tips. when i board i go straight to the pursers desk and get that stopped. i tip well, but i am not tipping people i never see.

$50. once a year is not much, but according to some people you should tip the beautician, trash man, mail man, paper boy, the list goes on and that is a lot of money.

I don't know if the OP should/should not have tipped the attendant. That's something everyone has to decide for themselves.

For the attendant to ask is totally out of line.

Now if you feel he has done a good job and has been deligent in watching your car, then tip. I would be very angry if I thought I had to tip because I was afraid the attendent would allow my car to be harmed. That sounds like the old protection racket. Keep in mind, though, I don't live in a big city, either.

I bake cookies for our Post Office staff - they do a good job all year and go out of their way for us, and others. They will continue to do that good job and extras even without my cookies (maybe in spite of), but I like to thank them.

don't let me get started on the USPS ...

just last year, around oct/november, the usps that had our route was arrested by the FBI. Apparently he was stealing/keeping mail and then taking the cash, etc of birthday cards, etc. Now who really sends green cash over the mail these days is one thing. The FBI actually put a tracker in the mail, and lo and behold, at 4PM, when his shift was over, the tracker was sitting in the bag of mail in his trunk.

And yes, u know I did tip - not for service, but more as a ~grease~ bribe. It is what it is, but I'm all in favor of tipping, especially when I go out eating or there is a great bartender.....It just rubbed me the wrong way not only did he call me out last year, but to even remind me the day right before this year. Normally, I would have just not even have tipped, but bearing my car is there on the premise....I'm more worried about attendant damage than local vandalism.

Dunno how universal it is, but out here is NYC, all parking lots have disclaimers in lost items and damages.

I know the Post Office can be really exasperating. That's why I feel mine deserves a thank you. They are helpful, efficient, and do their job well.

Yes, I guess the idea of a bribe and being asked for it is what bothered me about it.

I would dearly love to live in NYC for about 6 weeks.

My father used to be a parking lot attendant, his job was to collect the $$ and to watch after the vehicles. Most of the people would leave their keys with him so he could move cars should someone need to leave. (He would have them parked like sardines) He pretty much knew all of the customers as most of them were regulars. In the winter he would start the cars & clean them off so when the people got off of work all they had to do was drive away. At Christmas they were very generous & he always came home with a nice amount of money & nice gifts.

Shasta, that is a sweet story and sounds like the true reason for tipping - someone goes out of their way to make your life easier, goes above and beyond.

I think everyone on this thread deserves a $50 tip, its not much, only once a year.

What he is doing essentially is blackmailing you, almost a veiled threat that something is going to happen to your car.

My problem with most of these scenerios is that most of these people are paid to do a job