merlin2driver wrote:

I've learned, over the years, to be a generous tipper at places where you plan to return to. For obvious reasons. Case in point, I forgot my passport one time on a Carribbean trip and was able to make it through Customs because they remembered me, The tip was extra good for them that time.

Wouldn't that be considered a bribe?

Seriously, though...you do make a good point. I tend to expect a little something when I tip, and I usually get it. When I was in Florida in May, I tipped the cart dude only a couple of bucks for carrying my clubs to the cart. We were about a half hour early for our tee time, and there were a few groups waiting. He saw me take out my money, came right up to me, and got us on the course first. I happened to notice when we got done, no one else tipped him as he was bringing the clubs back out to the parking lot. I think he must have recognized me, though, because he cut me to the front of the line again. I only spent five bucks on his services, and I think I saved about a half hour all told. It was money well spent.

I think a tip is for service above and beyond the expectation of the service. A bartender that looks me in the eye four times before filling my glass gets nothing, and I move on the greener pastures. A waiter/waitress that matter-of-factly takes my order and delivers it incorrectly, never checking on me, nothing.

A simple smile, and single check in gets 10%. The wrong order delivered that gets corrected and they check on me a few times gets a bump. I'm not a fan of tipping for doing your job. I know wait staff rely on tips to make a meager living. If you want to make more money do a better job or GET a better job.

As for some schmuck reaching into my trunk and grabbing my clubs... He'd probably come back with a sore hand. I put them in the trunk, I think I'm capable of getting them out and strapping them into a cart.

With that said, I suppose if I was on vacation, at some resort, I would probably bend a few of my rules. But the service still has to be done with a smile.