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Bravo, Reinvention!

I might even tip if the typical Starbucks person didn't act as if they were doing a favor selling me coffee....

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

The barista job fills the need for a lot of part-time college students here. Many of them work a shift then go to school or the other way around. I'm all for secondary education and if I know this to be the case, that the stand I'm going to (don't do Starbucks because I think they overroast their coffee), fills that need, I'll be a little more generous. S/B on the other hand is a big corporation that has growin incredibly huge (in fact too huge - they've had to stop) and I don't feel obligated to pay for their fancy buildings. I live in a SMALL town (less than 8000 people) - There are TWO Starbucks in town - one a BIG drive-through, another a walk-up in a mid-sized store.

Snotty servers anywhere anytime don't get my tips - nor do the ones who persist in calling us "you guys" when they ask if we need anything or ask if everything "is okay," or "Are you guys done with these plates?" ARGGGGG

So, why would pouring a beer into a glass be more tipworthy than pouring coffee into a cup?

Because you sit in a bar, and the starbucks was a drive through.

Having worked in a number of bars, it's part of our job to engage customers (when they want it) banter, chat, etc.

Actually making a coffee is more involved than pouring a beer. One has to make sure the temperature is at the proper point for the milk - make sure there is either foam or no foam to the customer specs. They want their creme' on the shots to be just perfect, if you add flavor, it has to be to their liking as so it's not too sweet, but has to be sweet enough. Since coffee drinkers are some of the pickiest snits in the world & have to have it just right. SO what if it's a drive thru or sit down place (the place I owned was a sit down place)?
The places I go would know the drink by the car driven & oftentimes have it ready when I pull up to the window. If I could get a beer through a drive, I would - but unfortunately, that isn't going to be an option in the world. BTW some Starbucks employees make more than minimum, some are even full time with benefits, 401K plans & stock options.
Fast food places, tipping - no!

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Again here is where our cultures differ. We don't tip at a bar, but will gladly say "And one for yourself" to the barstaff.

Also, table service in bars is nowhere near as popular over here.

That is tipping. Reagardless of how it's put. Whether you tell them one for yourself or leave a one on the table, it's still tipping.

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Lon you got that right ! We make expresso at home. When we first got the machine I was amazed at how involved it was. We're hooked on Americanos from starbucks, so we thought we'd save money by doing it at home.

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Agreed it is tipping but not financially - it literally means "have one yourself"

What in as a drink for them - do you pay for the drink? How do you know they aren't just charging YOU for the drink & pocketing the money without actually buying a drink? I took 'have one for yourself' as in monetary value as in keep a one for yourself.
It is illegal for bar staff to drink while working here - heavy fines, possibly jail time & possible loss of liquor license for the bar, I believe in most states as well.

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Well, whenever I've worked a bar or done this as a customer, they usually join us in a drink at the bar. Generally shots.

Differences between where we live I guess!

Yeah that don't fly around here. Staff that drink on duty if caught is a bad scene.

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You know, I think it's actually illegal here too, but everyone does it in pretty much every pub I have ever been into EXCEPT the major city centre chain bars.

The US and UK attitudes towards drinking are vastly different. Being a bit more "grown up" now, I appreciate you 21 years old rule for sure!

Lonnie, you don't know Brit's very well. They drink at a drop of a hat, before it hits the floor.

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Yup

Even MORE reason to tip these people...talk about a stock that's TANKED! I'm sure some of them thought they might be able to retire one day with their stocks, now they will be lucky to trade them in for the coffee they sell. Very sad.

Starbucks management make better money but the majority of the baristas make minimum. I'm sure managment is wishing they got a share of the tip pool at the end of the week, too, because their stock DID tank.

We have 3 Star Bucks in my suburb alone. People like working there for the benefits. You can work there part time and still receive benefits. Lots of people take a second part time job on top of their full time job just for that reason.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

For those of us here in "The Colonies", the difference between tipping someone who "pours a beer" vs "pours a coffee" is that in every state I am familiar with the person who pours the beer works for less than minimum wage - the law allows the employer to stiff the worker and "allows" the customer to subsidize the server. Furthermore, I've known any employer to provide benefits to servers/bartenders.

(The following comment is somewhat of a joke - patrons do not get any tax deduction on our 1040's for our payroll subsidies to servers).

The person who works in a coffee shop, on the other hand, must be paid at least minimum wage and we've learned some even get benefits.

As an aside. in every state I've lived (NY, NJ, IL, CA, FL, GA), while I was a resident, there wasn't any restriction on employees drinking during their shift!