The Over "asking" for tips....not cool!

Over Easter weekend we got into a discussion of tips. Here are a few of my pet peeves with tips:

The rules....I am not sure who to tip and how much...do you tip the mailman at Christmas? your barber, the baggage guy...blah blah blah....all of this uncertainty causes frustration and anxiety.

Automatic tipping at restaurants....don't add 18% on to my bill automatically. If you do....you get 18%...not a dime more. BTW I am a 20% tipper in restaurants.

No tip jars that say tips please in retail locations.

Overall I think there should be no tipping. The employer should pay his employees....not me. I pay for the service, it's up to the employer to figure out wages for his people.

Now with all that said, it was interesting to hear my brother say that he was in favor of tip jars in retail places or anywhere else..."it's your choice" he thinks. He also does not tip his barber, his choice and he does not believe that it deserves a tip.

Here is my tip schedule:
20% restaurants, 2-4 dollars to the guys that handle the bags at the airports in the shuttles. I never check my bags in at the outside checkin. I figure if I do not tip correctly my underwear will end up in Asia. 2-3 dollars on a $13-$14 haircut. NO tips in tip jars at retail places. Couple of bucks to the valet parking guy (when you get the car back). $2 for a $5 shine at the airport. I received a ton of grief about that one from the guys at basketball.

Since "Mr. Spread the wealth around" is now in office, I may curtail my tipping altogether and just hand out cards that say "Obama has your tip" (didn't think i would do a non political post did ya?)

Let me know if I am being too stingy!