As Mr. Coleman has pointed out, it may be the presence of a tip jar that serves as a prompt for people to tip. These containers are usually filled with money before they are placed on the counter. In coffee houses such as Starbucks, I have never witnessed people placing large tips in the containers, as Dr Taylor has mentioned, but there is always money in the tip jar (most likely placed in by the employees themselves). Personally, I think it is tasteless for an establishment to allow employees to beg for tips by placing tip jars on the counter. Mr. Coleman has also mentioned the coerciveness of baggage handlers. However, in this case, if you do not want the service, there is nothing stopping you from doing the job yourself.
Gail M. Hayes ----- Original Message ----- From: "Annette Taylor, Ph. D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 9:00 PM Subject: Re: tipping behavior > Hi Gail: > > I was referring to places like Starbucks where employees do get paid an hourly > wage, have a far less dangerous job--no frying foods in burning fats for > example, and still get the big tips! I routinely see people stuff bills and > change into the container for a single cup of coffee! I agree that were the > employees not paid, that tipping would make a sense, but I KNOW that most of > the coffee shops around here in southern california, do pay at least minimum > wages, same as fast food places. So I am back to being fascinated with tipping! > > Annette > > Quoting Gail Hayes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > Coffee shop employees are not paid a salary and work only for tips. On the > > other hand, fast food employees, as well as other stores whose employees > > have a tip container on the counter, work for an hourly wage and have, in > > the past, never expected to be tipped. As a former server, I don't feel the > > need to tip employees who earn an hourly wage or who do not offer table side > > service -- big difference! > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Annette Taylor, Ph. D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 4:57 PM > > Subject: RE: tipping behavior > > > > > > > I like this response! I have always wondered how coffee shop employees > > manage > > > to get some fairly sizeable tips when we would not even for a moment think > > > about tipping fast food employees! I think it would be a good study for > > > students to carry out and explore! > > > > > > Annette > > > > > > Quoting "Scott C. Bates" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > > > > > Jean, > > > > > > > > Jean Edwards Wrote: > > > > > > > > > Please don't forget about my earlier request. I'd like to > > > > > pose students with a question about human behavior; something > > > > > commonplace but odd; something most of us do but we give > > > > > little thought to; something they might answer one way, > > > > > though research findings are the exact opposite. > > > > > > > > I use tipping behavior (at restaurants) for just such a purpose. I find > > > > it useful for a few reasons. First, there are a variety of interesting > > > > and counter-intuitive findings (smiley-face on a check = higher tip; > > > > crouching down = higher tip; touching = higher tip (plus a predictable > > > > (and entertaining) interaction with sex)). Second, it's something that, > > > > as you say, we do but give little thought to (with the exception of > > > > doing some math). Finally, because it demonstrates a few different > > > > social-psych principles that are easy to grasp and attach to the > > > > behavior (e.g. the reciprocity norm). > > > > > > > > Here are a few references: > > > > > > > > Crusco, A. H., & Wetzel, C. G. (1984). The Midas touch: The > > > > effect of interpersonal touch on restaurant tipping. Personality and > > > > Social Psychology Bulletin, 10, 512-517. > > > > Garrity, K., & Degelmann, D. (1990). Effect of server > > > > introduction on restaurant tipping. Journal of Applied Social > > > > Psychology, 20, 168-172. > > > > Lynn, M., & Mynier, K. (1993). Effects of server posture on > > > > restaurant tipping.; Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 23, 678-685. > > > > Stephen, R., & Zweigenhaft, R. L. (1985). The effect on tipping > > > > of a waitress touching male and female customers. The Journal of Social > > > > Psychology, 126, 141-142. > > > > > > > > Also, Cialdini's book "Influence: Science and Practice" contains a > > > > variety of good ideas for just this sort of thing. > > > > > > > > Hope this helps! > > > > > > > > Scott > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------- > > > > Scott C. Bates, Ph.D. > > > > Assistant Professor > > > > Department of Psychology > > > > Utah State University > > > > (435) 797 - 2975 > > > > ---------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. > > > Department of Psychology > > > University of San Diego > > > 5998 Alcala Park > > > San Diego, CA 92110 > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > --- > > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. > Department of Psychology > University of San Diego > 5998 Alcala Park > San Diego, CA 92110 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
