MUST you tip the loaders at the feed store?

[Whispering Winds]

Tipping the loaders . . . never heard of it. . .they get paid a pretty good wage, and unless they go above and beyond the call of duty, that is their job. Giving a good reference about their loading and attitude to their boss is a good "tip"!!!

 

[kelliepulido]

boy I hope we aren't suppose to tip the whole cost saving of using the feed store as verses tsc would be wasted

 

[chickenbottom]

Quote:
ya ive never tipped any of them before either i just say thank you and god bless i think thats a big enough tip lol.

 

[fhdogs]

I don't tip. Where I go they just bring everything out to the loading dock, and are gone before I even get the first bag of feed loaded.

On top of that, they never know where the feed I get for my pot-bellied pig is, or even what it looks like, so I usually have to go in the warehouse and get it myself.

Maybe if you were getting lots of items, and the actually loaded it I could see tipping as ok, but I don't think they expect it anyway.

 

[newchicksnducks]

Tips to a waiter/waitress is part of their pay. The government taxes them on a percentage of their income as "tip pay" whether they actually received a tip or not. They are also not always paid the minimum wage, as part of their income is supposed to come from tips. So for a waiter, yes tip. For a loader, no, unless they performed an extra-ordinary service for you (Loaded 50 bales of hay, 25 50# feed bags, 10 bags of shavings, and stacked them alphabetically in the back of your truck)

 

[ColoradoMike]

The guys at our feed store typically have to set down their beer before loading up my feed - so no, I don't think they're expecting a tip from me.

FWIW, I buy my feed late in the day, after I get off work, so no, they're not tipping them back at 9 in the morning. At least, not that I know of!

 

[WalkingWolf]

We do not tip the loader, or have seen it done. Now when we lived in the keys burning was not legal and waste management did not pick up yard debris. So a six or 12 pack on top of the yard debris and both would be gone by the time we got home.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Thank you all for your replies. I was afraid I was ignorant of some well-known custom. Maybe it's just the way things are here in South Florida, maybe it's because we're near Wellington with a lot of polo pony stables and other really wealthy horse owners in the area. I have seen folks tip the loaders when they do have a big order stacked alphabetically (Alfalfa, Bran, Corn...) but I've also seen others tip when it's just a few bags. And I've had loaders put bags in my van, then it seems like they're waiting a bit to see if I'll tip, and I don't even dare put my hand in my pocket for my keys so I won't disappoint them.

I do always smile and say thank you, show my appreciation for their effort, try to have the van open and a space ready for the bags, so their job will be easier. They'll have to be satisfied with that until polo season begins again...

 

[flakey chick]

Boy, I'm glad someone posted this. All I get is the occasional bag of feed every couple of months. The feed is stored in tractor trailers and I know it is hot grueling work for the loader. I asked inside if they had a tip jar and they were surprised. I figure I'd handle it like Christmas tips end-of-the-year bonus. If you always go to the same place and know them, bring them a bonus near the end of the year as a thankyou gift.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Now I've heard everything.

IMO tipping has gotten wayyyyyy out of hand. I tip my waiter/waitress, but why should I tip people at Subway or any other fast food type restaurant? They don't bring my food to my table or clean up after me. I don't even tip my hairdresser........she charges me a fortune.

So no, I don't tip the person who loads my feed. It's their job.