First time using The Point?
This campaign has a tipping point -- you pledge to take action, but only if 5,000 people people join. This way, you know your participation will make a difference. See how else you can make something happen on The Point.
Close

Share / Email Campaign Close

OBJECTIVE
To delegitimize tipping in coffee shops
TERMS

If we reach at least 5,000 people, then we'll start a club (with a website and lapel pins) for the movement

JOIN NOW
You only act if we reach 5,000 people!
so we can let you know when you're successful!

Note: your identity will be revealed when the campaign tips. (read why).
This is how you'll be known in this campaign

put this campaign on your site
THE PITCH

Why does Starbucks have tip jars and Dunkin Donuts doesn’t? Is it harder to make Starbucks coffee? Are their employees paid less? Do they need that money more? No, no, and no.

Starbucks is the source of a tip jar pandemic. And as it becomes entrenched in our culture, employees (especially in small coffee shops) feel such entitlement that they will chastise you – to your face – if you don’t leave a tip. These days, you can choose against tipping only in the sense that you can choose to be scorned by your friends colleagues.

And what if you’re just getting a bagel? Are you still supposed to tip? They didn’t even do anything! Argh!

This campaign will build a critical mass of self-identified non-tippers to fight the rising stigma. We 5,000 will launch a movement that will give us the strength to say, “no tip for you!”

We’re not against tipping in general, but where we do tip, it should be determined by industry, not race, class, or culture.

ORGANIZER
Picture_4_square
Andrew Mason
message Launched 2 months ago
TAGS
CHANNELS

Recent Discussion

New Topic

I'm not convinced ...

Post Reply

Photo_46_square
Ryan Kinderman started this discussion on Nov 6, 2008

I’m not convinced that this is the right way to go about it. I want more information on why people in our society are expected to tip. In Japan, it’s actually offensive to leave a tip. Why is that?

Last 3 replies

  • 4 posts, 4 voices
    Picture_4_icon
    Andrew Mason replied on Nov 6, 2008

    I assume that the theory behind tipping is that by putting a portion of an employee’s wage at the discretion of the customer, the employee will be motivated to do a better job.

    In practice, there’s a big problem: In all but the most extreme cases, customers don’t design their tip to reflect performance. Employees know that, and come to look at tips as a right rather than a privilege.

    As a result, tips don’t provide the intended motivation. When comparing within an industry (e.g. Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts), the places that tip don’t actually seem to have better service. That’s my anecdotal experience, anyway.

    I cannot explain the Japanese.

  • 4 posts, 4 voices
    Superhero_icon
    Ken Pelletier replied on Nov 6, 2008

    I seem to recall that the name itself ‘TIPS’ is an acronym that explains its origin.

    It stands for ‘To Insure Prompt Service’, or at least that’s what my dad, a chef, always used to tell me when I was slingin’ hash (waiting tables) at his restaurant as a kid.

  • 4 posts, 4 voices
    Img_0452_icon
    Bridgit Wolf replied on Nov 9, 2008

    Tipping may intend to be insurance for prompt service, or a thank you for prompt and courteous service in a restaurant, but I agree it is not a guarantee in a coffee shop nor a convenience store. I agree that places with tip jars have an expectation that flies in the face of voluntary tipping. The very fact that it is a JAR indicates it is not a set part of the organization. Fiar wages, yes. Maybe our pins would say “we believe in fair wages, not mindless tipping.”

Post Reply

Suggestion

Post Reply

2114574930_4fb25f1745_m_square
Lauri Apple started this discussion on Nov 6, 2008

The tipping is all about employers not wanting to raise wages. Maybe to sell people on this issue more, you could also build in a component to the campaign that would involve promoting living wages. Maybe the button could say something about “wages, not tips.”

Last 2 replies

  • 3 posts, 2 voices
    Picture_4_icon
    Andrew Mason replied on Nov 6, 2008

    Good point, Lauri.

    Maybe the way to go is to leave postcards with employers explaining why we aren’t tipping and encouraging them to just pay their employees what they are worth.

  • 3 posts, 2 voices
    2114574930_4fb25f1745_m_icon
    Lauri Apple replied on Nov 6, 2008

    Hmm … I feel like they wouldn’t care or listen. Skeptic. But they might care if we turned it into a social responsibility effort — “we’ll reward you with our purchases/spreading the word if you raise your wages.” Companies and businesses want to be viewed as responsible, so if we/someone acknowledge them somehow they might step up and raise the wages.

    And people like buying stuff from places that treat employees well.

Post Reply