Tipping on pool time

K

koston08

OregonPlayer
I think this question will make me sound like more of a nit than I am. I have been trying to save money lately due to circumstances and I wonder if other people customarily tip the bartender on pool time when no food and drinks are ordered. Pleases share your thoughts.
 
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koston08 said:
I think this question will make me sound like more of a nit than I am. I have been trying to save money lately due to circumstances and I wonder if other people customarily tip the bartender on pool time when no food and drinks are ordered.
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I think the question is an excellent one! Being frugal in tough times is not a bad thing.

A TIP IMHO is a reward for a job well done, or service above, and beyond the norm.

Why would a person who issues a pool table for you to play upon, and collect money for table time be worthy of a tip?

If you feel a person who issues a pool table for you to play upon, and collect money for table time be worthy of a tip? Please explain why.

 
I sometimes tip when I don't order anything, sometimes not. If I win money, I always tip the server even if I didn't order anything, since usually my opponent did. If I feel like they went out of their way to come around regularly and check on me, then I'll tip a couple bucks since they expended some effort to make sure I had everything I needed. If they just ignore me the whole time because they know I don't want anything from them (which is perfectly fine by me), then I usually don't tip, because I feel like I'd be paying for nothing.

And of course if I order anything, I usually tip at least 20%.

-Andrew
 
I play almost everyday. I do have a life outside of the pool hall but I'm retired so I find time to do more than one activity a day. Fish in the morning, house and yard work mornings or nights and still have time to play.
The counter person is working for peanuts. Time is cheap where I play so I'll tip a buck when I get the table and if I run over and don't get charged I'll tip another buck or two. Water is free so when I order a pot of coffee and a glass of water there's another buck or 2. Waitress stops by and all I order is water I tip another buck. So it's $4:00 for 5 hours on the table and $5:00-$6:00 in tips.
FWIW I'm on a fixed income so money is tight here also but $10 - $15 isn't a bad day in my book. Taking the boat out is about $50 - $75 a trip.
I tip because I can but if you can't afford to tip you have no reason to feel bad about it. That's the reason I can't gamble. If the people don't understand times are tough that's their problem.
 
Paying pool time? What is that?

Not having a fat ole bar tab to tip off of? I don't recall that happening.

Where is this land you speaketh of?
 
Tipping table time.......

I never really thought about it. My typical night in the pool hall, I walk in and order a drink. Then I hand the bar tender my credit card to run a tab. After a few hours of pool and a few drinks later and possibly some munchies, I go back to the bar to pay my tab. It is not itemized, so I just look at the total and add 15 to 20 percent for a tip.
So, I guess I do tip them for the table time. The staff is good so they can use the extra money I suppose.
 
I usually throw in a buck or two for time....

Everytime tipping comes up, my mind goes directly to the tip discussion from Reservious Dogs....classic....
 
Tips

To
Insure
Prompt
Service

The people at my favorite pool hall give prompt friendly service and don't get bent out of shape when I pick up a set of balls when they are busy and ramble into the back. The ask me if I need anything now and then. Most of them give a little breakage to the customer with the owner's knowledge, it is just smart business with the regulars.

I only drink a diet coke or two even if I am there all day and maybe score a free munchie off of the counter which everyone from the owner on down makes it very plain I am welcome to.

In response I always tip the workers when I drink a coke or return the set of balls. My money is tight but if I can't afford to tip I can't afford to go out. Table time is very cheap when I usually play to dodge the cigarette smoke that I am allergic to so sometimes my tips come close to matching table time. Fine by me, I tip by the service received not by a percentage.

Hu
 
If I just practice or play with a friend and all the person behind the counter does is hand me the balls tipping for that seems wrong, his boss is paying him to work. How about playing a round of golf and tipping the guy who took your money and gave you a score sheet/NOT. Or go bowling and pay for your shoes and tip?????/NOT
I don't tip at minature golf either. I think tipping has gone in the wrong direction, why do people tip at Starbucks for a cup of coffee but not McDonalds???
After tending bar in four states for 14 yrs, and worked directly with the public for 25yrs SERVICE is for tipping, you get ZERO if you SUCK and 30% + if your great, 15% just gets the food/etc to my table with a smile, it either goes up in tippage or down depending on how I'm pampered when I spend my money.
Tipping nowadays is rampant, people seem to tip depending on what someone else does not what they feel is right. It's pretty sad when someone tips in the wrong situation, they are very insecure when they do that and are wondering what "everyone else is thinking".
 
Island Drive said:
If I just practice or play with a friend and all the person behind the counter does is hand me the balls tipping for that seems wrong, his boss is paying him to work. How about playing a round of golf and tipping the guy who took your money and gave you a score sheet/NOT. Or go bowling and pay for your shoes and tip?????/NOT
I don't tip at minature golf either. I think tipping has gone in the wrong direction, why do people tip at Starbucks for a cup of coffee but not McDonalds???
After tending bar in four states for 14 yrs, and worked directly with the public for 25yrs SERVICE is for tipping, you get ZERO if you SUCK and 30% + if your great, 15% just gets the food/etc to my table with a smile, it either goes up in tippage or down depending on how I'm pampered when I spend my money.
Tipping nowadays is rampant, people seem to tip depending on what someone else does not what they feel is right. It's pretty sad when someone tips in the wrong situation, they are very insecure when they do that and are wondering what "everyone else is thinking".
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I can tell you as a poolroom owner about 1% of table time customers tip..
Mainly because the bartender is their service provider.
But, tipping the starter on the golf course was a common practice for me..
KK
 
I don't tip for table time I pay for it but then I don't understand the custom of tipping anyway you're already paying for a service or product to give additional money for something I already paid for seems like throwing money in the street.

Who tips the car salesman or real estate agent?

Having said all of the above I have moments of weakness and over tip.
 
real estate agent

accustatsfan said:
I don't tip for table time I pay for it but then I don't understand the custom of tipping anyway you're already paying for a service or product to give additional money for something I already paid for seems like throwing money in the street.

Who tips the car salesman or real estate agent?

Having said all of the above I have moments of weakness and over tip.
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I tipped my real estate agent $400 once and bought her a very nice toy another time. Insures my business gets well taken care of.

Before I quit drinking I tipped a lot in a night's time on drinks. Just seems only reasonable to continue tipping fairly well.

For those that think waitresses and waiters, drink or food, are getting paid to serve you, chances are they aren't. Minimum wage is seven something an hour unless you receive tips. Then it is $2.19 as it has been since the 90's I believe.

My tips do vary for good service or bad and I leave a quarter when I feel a tip isn't warranted in a situation that normally includes tipping. The quarter is just to let them know I didn't forget and I thought service stunk!

Hu
 
koston08 said:
I think this question will make me sound like more of a nit than I am. I have been trying to save money lately due to circumstances and I wonder if other people customarily tip the bartender on pool time when no food and drinks are ordered. Pleases share your thoughts.
Click to expand...

I own a Pool Room with clean equipment, good cloth, and nice / safe environment, no I may be alone on this but I do not expect it, that is what a customer is paying table time for.

JIMO
 
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Working nights in a pool hall I have noticed this about tipping. I get tipped more from strangers than regulars. I get tipped on nights I put out snacks. I get tipped when people leave a mess (powder or popcorn on the floor) I get tipped if their kids throw up on the floor or pee on the bathroom floor. Still a minority. I would estimate about 5% of our customers tip.

I expect zero tips. The thought is appreciated when they know they have been high maintenance. Spilled drinks and such.

Out of towners tip the best. I am guessing tipping is big in Texas.... Half the big tippers I have seen recently ($5 or $10 tips) come from Texas or Oklahoma. Kinda strange that I noticed....lol.
 
cueandcushion said:
Working nights in a pool hall I have noticed this about tipping. I get tipped more from strangers than regulars. I get tipped on nights I put out snacks. I get tipped when people leave a mess (powder or popcorn on the floor) I get tipped if their kids throw up on the floor or pee on the bathroom floor. Still a minority. I would estimate about 5% of our customers tip.

I expect zero tips. The thought is appreciated when they know they have been high maintenance. Spilled drinks and such.

Out of towners tip the best. I am guessing tipping is big in Texas.... Half the big tippers I have seen recently ($5 or $10 tips) come from Texas or Oklahoma. Kinda strange that I noticed....lol.
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C&C...you definitely understand the business, especially your comment about expecting zero tips, I too have always had the philosophy of "expect nothing and hope for the best", as to the comment about tipping in golf, I don't golf so I could easily be wrong just seems out of place to give more money from a house man that's getting paid to do his job, but bowling like pool, different animal than the links.
 
manwon said:
I own a Pool Room with clean equipment, good cloth, and nice / safe environment, no I may be alone on this but I do not expect it, that is what a customer is paying table time for.

JIMO
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But you are the Owner Manwon, do you have a TIP JAR for your employees?
 
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