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To the girl behind the counter at the Scotia Square coffee shop who threw my change into her tip jar without even asking….I’ll be buying my coffee somewhere else from now on.
—Java Guy
This article appears in Nov 19-25, 2009.
30 Comments
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which one?
I would have taken it back…. Greedy Bitch.
You should have told her (not asked) to give you your change back and to go get the manager or owner. Don’t let that kind of shit just slide, complain and let them know that they’re essentially stealing from you. Fucking righteous sense of entitlement coffee whores.
okay i know how this looks but see it another way; 90% of patrons *dont want their change back* and just walk away !!! i doubt she threw 5 bucks into the tip jar… it was probably more like 8 cents which is yours, not arguing that… but it’s a total relex to fling change in there esp when so many people just walk away like youre a robot…
Considering that most of these establishments don’t technically “accept” tips, I’d actually complain to the manager then, complain to head office. That is seriously out of bounds.
Complain. I never tip, and this is a good example as to WHY I never tip. Its become something people expect, and they’re already being paid an hourly wage, and just like any job, youve got nice and shitty people to deal with, but taking your change without permission? Thats just seriously wrong. Make the effort to go back and complain.
I never tip at such places either. I’d call back and complain and remind the manager that people do in fact read TheCoast.ca and will avoid that coffee shop. Thank you for letting me know. I won’t be buying coffee there again either.
Unless the server owns the place, boycotting is not the answer.
As zZz…zZz says, make the effort and let the management know. The place should be good again a while later (attitude readjustment or firing).
By the way…”zZz…zZz”? Did zZz say you could copy his name (twice!)? Are you related? lol
Tips for coffee? Should I give the office watercooler one as well?
Sounds like it could be the overpriced swill shop close to Tim Hortons – I’ve never seen a tip jar at the Scotia Square TH.
word. never tip @ fast food/drink places…
not much effort in pouring coffee or taking a muffin/doughnut/bagel from a shelf and turning around.
zZz…zZz, I finally have to ask…. why the name?
not offended or anything, I just know I have my reasons for zZz (not that they’re particularly good ones, but reasons none-the-less)
is it meaningful or mimicry/mockery?
Hmm. It’s ironic that I always wonder if SS coffee girl bitches are about me, though I don’t think this one is. 🙂
At my store, people frequently throw money onto the counter (or hand it to me, sometimes!) and walk away. There are regulars who never take their change back, and even knowing that – and knowing them – still makes presuming that they’re tipping *everytime* feel kind of weird to me. That said, every once in a while there is someone who throws money at me and walks away, only to wander back a few seconds later and completely confuse me. Other times I have asked, and people have been so caught up in their conversations or whatnot that they’ve just ignored me entirely, and *then* given me dirty looks after I’ve been trying to get their attention for the passed 30 seconds. This only seems to happen when I have a big line up and is frustrating.
The final issue at our store is that our coffee is a dollar even (if you frequent SS, you should now know exactly where I work), but rings up on the till as 1.01. We never charge for the extra cent, and *most* people know that. So, when someone gives me 1.25 in example, the 25 cents is usually meant for the tip jar. Again, most of these people are regulars and everything’s fine. ..But every once in a while there will be someone who doesn’t know that, and if there’s a lot of people around and that person steps over to the side or whatnot, it can get a bit confusing.
Awkward. 🙂 I try not to assume anything, and if on the off-chance this did happen to be me, I’m terribly sorry.
the thing is this tipping thing has gone mental i can understand tipping a barista? that knows what there doing but a coffee slinger gimme a break it’s gotta end
I’ve worked in SS for nearly 6 years and I still have no idea where you work….
I’m obviously observant!
@zZz: Well, to be fair, there are many places to get coffee in SS, and I don’t know all of them well (or at all!) either. You’ve been there longer than I have, though. …I bet you and I walk passed one another all of the time and don’t even know it. ;P
Now now they’re entitled to their entitlements. Of course you could have said in a very loud voice, “Did you just steal my change, I’m saving it for the bums on SGR”.
So much anger. Did anyone think maybe it was just in impulsive mistake easily rendered correct by simply speaking up?
Also, for all the haters of tips – or those who “never tip”. While I agree it is not fair that there a whole lot of shittier jobs that never get tipped, there’s nothing wrong with tipping a minimum wage student trying to make some money in between classes. Last place I worked, we not only prepared all the food (that was way beyond “bagels), cleaned, gave great customers service, and worked cash – it was on minimum wage, and people hardly ever tipped. We were all students treated like shit by the owners. Have some sympathy guys. You really are not going to go bankrupt over 25 cents.
Sagi, it sounds like the shop owners could make your life easier (and apparently not lose any money) by just dropping the price of coffee by that cent.
@ND: It’s my understanding that 1.01 was the closest they could get it to even with the tax and everything thrown in. I’m not sure if that’s true, but that’s what I’ve been told. 🙂
believe me i’m not a tip hater i been cooking for 25 years and know the game; as far as owners being cheap; I’ve run my own restaraunt and these teen students you speak of are making more per hour than you are and there margins are so slim its wild;#1 cost in a restaraunt is labour by far
I -am- a student, and I speak from varied experience that is beyond fast food joints.
And of course the #1 cost in a restaurant is labour – it’s the service industry, it works because of the people. Do you want the food to serve itself?
Sagi: my mom makes a special trip every morning (adding 40 minutes to her travel time) so she can get coffee from your shop. She even saves half the cup and reheats it on her morning break she loves it that much!
Maybe it’s time to franchise on the other side of the harbour? 🙂
If I’m not sitting down and you’re not bringing me my food on a plate from some sort of distance, you are not getting a tip. Ever. There is absolutely no reason at all to tip someone who turns around, pours a drink, and turns back around. I don’t care if your wages suck, so do mine and I don’t want to supplement your sucky wages from my sucky wages.
@PK: Awww. Thanks for that. 🙂 I’ll be sure to pass it along to the powers that be. I can’t help but wonder who your mom is, though — chances are that I serve her in the morning.
As someone who used to work a coffee franchise store during my 3 years of high school, you non tippers and your shitty attitude can go to hell! Sounds like your a bit jealous of somebody else making money above and beyond wages.
I was quite unaware that slinging coffee was a job that earned tips when I went in for my interview, and never expected it, it was great!! But never to expect a tip one should always count out the appropriate change and hand it over. If the customer wishes to wave it off, or verbally offer it to them SWEET!
Not knowing all the specifics of this particular transaction, what was ordered? cost? duration of transaction, amount used to pay for goods? change expected back? body language or even body posture ie back turned to cashier perhaps? kinda hard to jump to too many conclusions with so little knowledge of the details…
Just to clarify things, it was Second Cup. The change was only a nickel so obviously I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. But I was amazed at the rudeness. I often tip at coffee shops if they make me a nice latte or something, but really that should be my choice, not hers.
All that for a nickel? Get some perspective on life. Yeesh!
Just an FYI…& its because I was in Halifax (unfortunately ) this week, I received change at a downtown convience store (a Needs) in it was a 1951 5cents…the queens head caught my eye, that it was an old 5cent piece.
If it had of been a 1951 High relief 5cents in just good shape, its would have been worth $450.00 ! ! ! in very fine condition (& I think this example is in the fine – very fine shape it would be worth over $900.00 ! According to my Canadian Coin News “trends” catagory list .
As it was it was in really good condition, IMO better than ‘good’ but it was a common type, which means its worth about .35 cents.
So who Knows…you may have just lost a bundle.
As a collector, there are versions of 2006 & 2007 pennies readily available in peoples change, if you have the right type they can be worth from 100 to 800 dollars !
I’ve found a 2006 no mint mark magnetic penny , graded as being worth 300 + dollars. & I have a non magnetic 2006P I found in change this summer, that looks like it just came out of the mint & its worth $400.00 or better ! ! !
You never know what you might have in your change . But the chances are , it was just a nickle :p
hey lets tip the bus drivers too they did of course under due process of their employment provide you a service ( ride ) !!! And also lets tip the sales person that sells you that car – clothes or shoes – thou i fail to see the tip cup around – i wonder if i just shove the tip in their ass along with their pay cheque oh yea lets tip the ticket writers too after all they are doing us a service especially the ones that tag handicap spots with no stickers ( great service ) . And also lets tip the judge when he lets you off a questionable ticket recieved and the crown too for arguing so heaving in your offence ( great service ) and least not forgotten lets tip the libarian for checking out your books !!! Only place you need to tip is a server in a restuant that give you great service and has great charm to make your experience better . Fuckin hand me a triple triple large when i ask for a double double and don’t bother to stir it and you want a tip – blow me
MichaelC: Was it the girl with the long dark hair? I won’t go in there anymore because of her. She’s really rude.