To Tip or Not to Tip. That is the Question

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I recently hired a dog walker to come to the house and take Cubbie and Ollie on a 30 minute walk twice a week.  I was really just looking for someone to come and let them out in the middle of the day while I'm at work, but it was only a few bucks more to have them actually get a walk instead of just a quick trip to potty in the backyard. 

 

The woman I hired is the owner of a dog walking company and has a few employees but she is the one that actually walks C&O.  She is licensed with the town and is insured and knows pet CPR.  She charges me $22 per day to come and walk them.  She invoices me once every 2 weeks so that ends up being $88.  Here is my question: the invoice has a line that says "optional gratuity".  The last time I paid her, I did not include a tip.  I figure that she is the owner of the company so all money that I pay goes to her anyway, but then I started wondering if she would treat C&O any differently if I don't tip her.  I really don't think she would, but it was just a thought that crossed my mind. 

 

I sometimes feel like you now have to tip everyone that performs a service so I sometimes get frustrated but I want to do what is right.

 

I have to leave her a check tomorrow or Thursday so I am looking for advice.  Would you tip her and if so, how much?  I tried doing a search on this but only came up with tipping groomers and daycares.  Thanks for the help!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am a big tipper, an over tipper.  I tip Jack's groomer even though she is the owner... When I was too sick to clean my house, I always tipped the girls from Molly Maids. 

When Jack went to daycare, I always tipped his "teachers" or his assigned care givers... That was not required at all but I did it because I absolutely believe right or wrong you get better service when you tip, when you make a connection etc.

I know it is not required but I like to make the extra connection with people.... I have seen time and time again that people respond much better when they feel appreciated and it is shown.

For instance, wrong or right, every time I am in the hospital I write up Daisy award cards which is better then a tip for a nurse.. It is a patient singing the praise of the nurse who was taking care of them, If my nurses ever do anything even remotely that show they are going the extra mile.. They are rewarded.. We send candy, order food, and write lots and lots of letters.  

It should not have to be that way to get good service and I believe I still would get good service anyway in a lot of the cases but not always.

I don't have a service performed such as groomer, getting my hair done or any works required thing if I can not pay for the whole thing including a tip.

I will say I have had to scale back the amount of money I tip people.. except with Jack's groomer.. I want her to treat him like gold...I want her to feel it would be a loss if she didn't get to groom Jack so she better treat him right and do right by him.. The amount I tip him is obscene... but that is my baby.

When I had dog sitters... I left they treats on the counter such as lip gloss, candy bars ( some where teens) and little notes from Jack... I wanted Jack to stand out to them...one ounce of caring more may be the difference in a lot of things.

I could give you a million examples but when someone has a vested interest in you or your dog, the care for sure is better.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I agree with you that it is nice to show your appreciation to someone and I think that would you do for your nurses is wonderful. 

When I had Cubbie groomed I tipped the groomer very nicely because he is a pain in the a$$ to deal with and she could have easily told me to take him somewhere else.  If the amount you tip your groomer is obscene, would she feel a loss if she didn't get to groom Jack because Jack is Jack and she would miss him or would she feel a loss because she would no longer get a fat tip?  :)

[Star and Goldie]

I absolutely agree with this one! I'm shocked that there is line for that on the invoice.

If you're torn, I'd go with the rounding up. If it's $22 round it to $25 which is going to equal a little over 10% total (don't quote me though, math is my weakness). But honestly, I wouldn't be tipping and even if I went with the rounding I'd take the $88 to $90 which $2 would probably just be more of a slap in the face so maybe stay away from that!

I think the occasional gifting is a great gesture.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

that was the reaction that I had when I first say that line on the invoice, but then I started to wonder if I was the only one that felt like that. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

I would not tip the owner of the company and if the service is worse because of it I think that speaks volumes about the type of person you are dealing with. Personally I don't think there should be any such thing as tipping and in reality we are just making it easier for employers to get away with paying lousy wages, and when we tip we are in reality putting more money in the pocket of the owner of the company or establishment. Millions of people work the same hours for the same pay as those in the service industry and never receive anything extra. What is a tip anyway other than a wage subsidy? I do tip but I really don't agree with it and a bill that arrives with a tip already included really burns me. There is one person that I do like to tip and that's the guy who pumps my gas in subzero temps.:>)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

that was kind of my thinking.  If you are going to treat me like crap because I didn't tip you, then I don't want to deal with you in the first place; however, I have no way of knowing if she starts treating C&O like crap.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm also a tipper. If you ever worked for tips, then I think you are more sensitive to the issue.  Sadly, many employers just don't pay the staff. And, they should. But that is not going to happen.  So choose a hard worker. If you are happy, keep them coming.  I really don't think it should have a line on the invoice though.

That being said, Sue mentioned if ever the worker is busy, he/she will go for the tipping customer first. I can attest to that being true.  Been there, done that, and got paid for it too.  It was a smart choice and one I had to make every single night. I went for the nice customer and the good money. I was working!

As for tips, the State of Ohio is trying and will get a new sales tax on many service industries.  These include:

Dog Grooming

Dog Day Care

Dog Walking

[Star and Goldie]

I have worked for tips so I definitely understand that aspect but I think what I have more of an issue with is that it's in the invoice for the owner of the company. Something just doesn't add up for that.  I worked in the food industry for 7 years where I only made 2.13 an hour so my life was dependent on tips but this doesn't feel comparable to me.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

in her defense, I'm assuming that she uses the same invoice format for all jobs done by her employees and herself.  It is a computer generated invoice

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

a lot of states are starting to tax more services.  That way they can increase sales tax revenue but don't have to raise the tax rates which tends to catch more attention.  Widen the base and people don't seem to notice so much.  I wonder how many dog walkers are getting paid in cash and not reporting their income though.

[Star and Goldie]

I pay in cash but I only pay $25 a week so your $22 a day made me GASP!!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

that $22 a day is a lot cheaper than a day at daycare.  Just 1 day at daycare costs me $46 and that is with the discount they give to my company.