That time a barista in Portland made me rethink tipping

I always thought tipping was just a social obligation until I had this conversation with a barista at Stumptown on Belmont. He told me he makes $14 an hour but relies on tips to cover his rent and student loans, which really hit me. He pulled out his phone and showed me how his tips fluctuate by like $300 a week depending on the season. Has anyone else had a random chat like that that totally changed your stance on something?

2 comments

2 Comments

wren8268d ago

oh man, that story hits hard. i had almost the exact same thing happen at a coffee shop in seattle, this barista told me she makes $13 an hour and tips are what keep her from having to work 3 jobs. she showed me her budget on her phone, it was wild seeing how much of her rent relied on like $1 and $2 tips adding up. after that chat i started tipping way more on coffee, like a buck per drink instead of pocket change. it's crazy how a 5 minute convo with someone can totally flip your view on something you thought you understood.

amy_foster568d ago

@wren826 same here, I started throwing an extra buck on my iced latte after a cashier showed me her budgeting app once.