# Why do people tip for coffee or fast food? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084 "2015-05-29T00:03:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/41 "2015-05-30T06:35:18Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > I tip because I remember how hard I worked when I had that kind of job. This ^. And without judgement for those who don’t. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/42 "2015-05-30T09:58:02Z")
Maybe [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38) is just too obvious or clichéd, now? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/43 "2015-05-30T14:01:21Z")
A few things are at work: They can clearly see this individual is working hard and fast to get them what they want, it may be very busy. They are aware that this individuals pay is very low, and possibly a time when their own pay was very low. They receive back some coins as change, and the tip jar is right there. It’s as easy as putting it in your pocket, maybe easier with a coffee in your hand. Throwing a few coins, nonchalantly into a tip jar, before a line up of people is probably the very cheapest way to feel like a big spender. And people love that silly feeling. Lastly most everybody has some kind of food service experience in their past, so they know the agonies involved. They may well have walked away from that experience silently vowing to NEVER be a jerk to a service person and ALWAYS be a generous tipper. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/44 "2015-05-30T15:10:48Z")
Easier to dump coins into a tip jar than into my wallet. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/45 "2015-05-31T00:45:22Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > I bolded your last sentence. What part of my post did you not understand? Perhaps you should read more carefully before responding. If you want a private conversation, use the “private messages” link. Otherwise, everything posted here is posted to all readers, and can relate to everything posted in the thread, not limited only to a specific sentence in a linked post. To anybody who finds this post by Google search: I mean this, of course, as a general observation about posting on message boards, not limited only to one post, this thread, this board. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/46 "2015-05-31T15:03:53Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I think many people tip because they feel guilty not tipping. They see a tip jar and they feel obligated. > > Guess I’m cold - I just ignore it. From what I’ve seen on this board, you are far from cold. 🙂 I ignore the tip jars too. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/47 "2015-05-31T15:18:01Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > If you want a private conversation, use the “private messages” link. Otherwise, everything posted here is posted to all readers, and can relate to everything posted in the thread, not limited only to a specific sentence in a linked post. > > To anybody who finds this post by Google search: I mean this, of course, as a general observation about posting on message boards, not limited only to one post, this thread, this board. **HeXen** quoted a post by **Scootergirl** , so obviously he/she was referring to her post. As you saying that **scootergirl** is not allowed to respond publicly? If so, why not? ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/48 "2015-05-31T21:48:20Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Coffee places like Starbucks typically pride themselves in providing a high level of personal service. Having to present a bright and cheery demeanor without so much as an eye-roll to person after person’s tedious detailed order and pretend it matters that their stupid $5 drink is perfect deserves an extra buck or at least the coin part of my change. That’s how I feel. I go to the same Starbucks multiple times a week. Several of the baristas know my name and/or my regular order and the service is always fast and friendly. I use the Starbucks app, through which one earns points toward free food/drinks. One barista will ring up each item in my order separately so I get more points. I don’t tip every time, but at least once a week, I’ll add $1 to my tab. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/49 "2015-06-02T06:56:35Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > **HeXen** quoted a post by **Scootergirl** , so obviously he/she was referring to her post. > > As you saying that **scootergirl** is not allowed to respond publicly? If so, why not? Thank you for asking the question, Honey. I was completely confused by Melbourne’s response. I quoted my earlier post along with a response to HeXen so he/she could read that I didn’t feel that way at all. That’s all. What is a forum for if not for an open discussion? I very seldom send PMs to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/50 "2015-06-02T09:40:45Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > There’s a tip jar at our local Menchie’s. Menchie’s is a frozen yogurt place where you walk in, get your own cup, get your own yogurt and add your own toppings. Then you put your cup on a scale and the kid at the counter rings you up. > > Literally that’s all they do - ring you up. And they want tips. > > Fuuuuuuuuuck that! > > I am a big tipper, FTR. But no, not at Menchie’s. If it is anything like the frozen yogurt store in my town they also sweep/mop the floors, keep the nozzles clean, keep the machines filled, offer samples, explain the ordering process to new customers, answer product questions, etc. Do I tip them? No, but they do a hell of a lot more than just ring you up. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/51 "2015-06-02T09:58:41Z")
I always assume the tip jars at these places are primarily for people who have especially large or complex orders. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/52 "2015-06-02T11:18:19Z")
When you see tip jars, in unlikely places, the reason is rarely the brazenness of the staff, and almost always, it’s there at the insistence of the regular customers. Customers who are, very likely, receiving great service. When you see a tip jar in a little coffee spot or drive through, dry cleaners or some other unlikely location, your take away should more accurately be, customers here must be getting really good service, as they have insisted on a tip jar! ---
**Author:** ![Teach-me-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a4c791/32.png) [@Teach-me-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teach-me-not)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084/53 "2015-06-02T15:47:40Z")
I like to stick to a few coffee places which I frequent regularly (due to the ambiance, or the food, or good service, or whatever reason). Tipping is one way to show my appreciation for the place and for the people who work there. Also: I feel the tip amount usually makes more difference to the tippee than to me, so I am happy to part with it (assuming I can afford the tip). The way I see it is as follows: Say I buy one latte a day, and two on weekends. That’s 9 lattes a week, or 36 a month, which would cost me about $150. A generous 20% tip on this comes to $30 per month - nontrivial, but still affordable, so why not tip? (And if I do want to cut down on my spending, a more effective starting point is to reduce my coffee intake than to not-tip.) I must hasten to add that this is just my personal calculation. I am not judging anyone for not tipping in a fast food place. I am also not suggesting that people who can afford to tip should do so. And of course, I am a generous tipper if my boss is footing the bill. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-tip-for-coffee-or-fast-food/721084.md?page=2)