Liquor Store Diary: Tip Cup

There is a tip cup that sits near the debit keypad. When I was being trained, I asked why a clerk would need a tip cup. The girl training me said that she thought it was crazy too. When she took it away, people asked where the tip cup was. I usually end up spending my tip on soda and food during my shift anyways.

In the past, I have felt that tips are for people who perform a service, like bartender or a server. In this economy though, everyone could use an extra buck two. This also justifies the existence of my tip cup. Tips usually come in the form of spare change that a customer doesn't want. The tip cup is also a nice incentive to be engaging and friendly with customers.

Once money hits my tip cup, it is mine. I will yell at people who reach in for a penny. That is my penny. I don't mind giving a penny or two out sometimes, but to reach into someones tip cup is a scumbag move. The most I have ever been tipped by a single person is 3 dollars, which doesn't sound like a lot, but its a free Mountain Dew so that's pretty neat.

If you see a tip cup, don't feel obligated to tip because it is there. If you want to throw down some change after you buy beef jerky or something, that's cool too.