Your tip jar, that is!
I did an article on tip jars a while back, but I never got pics from my own readers until now. Renee emailed me a pic of her tip jar yesterday and I thought it was cool and creative.
The Frog Bhudda - Renee Crenshaw
Show me your tip jar! Send a pic to steve@RedArrowPublishing.com and I’ll post it here on this article.
Renee, Love the Tip Jar!!!!!
In answer to someone who ask you, do they work? O my they sure do!!!!!!!!
Hey, we just got WeBeDogs up and running this week too! 38 degrees and rain and snow!!!!! Renee, sunshine looks so good on you and your cart!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck to you and your “Dogs” you look wonderful!
Sharon of Tim and Sharon (we r n Alaska)!!!!!
That’s kewl!!!
Funny! I bet you do pretty good for being creative, I’m sure folks love that.
Sorry no pic, just have a stainless steel jar from Ikea, but I think its time for me to get creative
personally I find tip jars offensive.
I like that!!!!!!!!
Jack – seriously?
-Steve
Renee’ that is delightful, makes me laugh and smile.
Om!
Thanks everyone – I just happened to see it in a Pier One store one day and it hit me that it would make a fun way to highlight the tip jar. And it works!
I too find it interesting that you would find it offensive Jack……
Very cute tip jar!!
Hey does any have or know of anyone that might have a used “sneeze guard” for a small 3 steam table cart?? Preferabbly. The box type plastic cover with doorss??if so please call 919-523-1117 (Raleigh,NC)
thanks
I agree with Jack. Man, enough already! If you need more income then raise your prices. Why should I pay you for a service that I am already paying for? Everywhere I go I see tip jars now.
no tip jar for me either…just doesn’t seem right
If you have employees working your carts, tip jars are a great way to keep them motivated. Let them keep all the tips and see how much better they treat your customers.
-Steve
We should conduct a poll. Tip jars YES or tip jars NO…
Tips are a great way to tell if your customers appreciate GREAT service! After all, we tip at every other restaurant we visit. Why should a Hot Dog Cart be any different…
I have tried with a tip jar and without and find that people tip of they want whether there is a jar or not.
I wasn’t too sure about the tip jar either at first. Then I had customers asking where the tip jar is! Needless to say, now I treat it like American Express….. I don’t leave home without it!
Besides, if you are giving your customers a great product and great service, most customers want to tip.
Tips are 100% PROFIT!
I’ve been undecided about the tip jar for my cart. I did bartend for 5 years so understand how much you can earn from tip jars but just cant decide…I’m afraid it would turnoff some customers. Yeah I know we tip at some full service restaurants where most waiters rely on tips as part of their income cuz they usually dont have to be paid minimum wage. But we aint tippin at mcdonalds or burgerking…so I still cant decide…
tip jar yes. they can be fun. cool tip jar Renee.
To the ones who don’t believe in tip jars.
We are doing a service to the public. We are waiters, cooks and bus boys/girls. Any service job should except a tip. It’s up to the customer weather or not you deserve one.
Jackie
Yes! fpr Tip Jars. If you feel bad about taking tips because you think you give superior service already, then just set your tip jar up labled for your favorite charity. All charities can use help and customers enjoy supporting worthy causes.
I donate 50% of my tips to Special Olympics and then post each month how much was donted for that month – customers have absolutely no problems with this. Its a WIN/WIN situation
One more thing that I Love about the United States, and that is still the Freeedom of Choice and Creativeness, of Ones Imagination.
Can I Get a Witness Out there?
Amen brother Mike!
-Steve
I think it is a great way earn extra income. For example if you work five days a week and average 20$ a day on tips then in a nine month working period you’ll bring in 3600$ from just tips. And like Tim said you can donate it to a good cause.
Does anyone know of a good cole slaw recipe ?
People have asked me about a tip jar, but I am not interested. At gigs where I serve families and kids, tips are rare, and maybe a tip jar would be good. But my money makers are the gigs where I cater to the drinking crowd. The drunker they are, the better they tip! So, my “tip jar” is my hot little hand…Anyway, I don’t want to appear like I am asking for, or expecting tips.
From a customers point 0f view, I never get offended when I see a tip jar on a vendors cart. We (the customer) make the decision to tip or not to tip based on how we feel the service is. I have never had a vendor ask me to contribute to the tip jar so whats the big fuss. I can only speak for myself when saying that when I put money into a tip jar even after spending lets say in excess of $20.00, I am doing it because I appreciate the service that has been provided and the next time I visit that vendor chances are they will remember you and provide the same quality or better service. Not to mention, you are building a relationship. So, put them out there and let the person decide.
Good luck to all…….
Chris Doll
Dogs on the Run-Tim, thats a good idea…I’m going to do the tip jar thing and post that 50% goes to “anysoldier.com” which I have on my main website anyways. They do carepackages for troops deployed overseas for the ones that might not have family to send them one. When I was in Iraq I know it was greatly appreciated by troops when they got a carepackage from them…
“TIPS” To Insure Proper Service
Been in the “service” industry for over 15 years. Good service begets good tips! Jar or no Jar. Some of us have lived off tips in the find dineing business. We won’t in the dog business, but the great service and fun folks have @ our carts, it’s up to them. Amen Mike! Carl, what a great donation also! (should one choose to go that way) I won’t tell you how much money I made in tips on the “Dog Cart” on a golf course!!!!! OMG beer and dogs! We were not allowed to have tip jars either!!!!!!!!!!! Either way, it’s a fun business, money to be made and we are so excited about this business and ready for sunshine! Today it’s 42 and cloudy showers!!!!! Spring in Alaska. Tomorrow is our really big day!
Russ.. I agree. If you are serving to the drinkers, it will be a large percent of your evening. But, I think they tip whether there’s a big jar up there or not. Also, i don’t see much for tips at family functions as another noted. I have a tip jar, but to be honest, I don’t get it out much. I just keep two seperate pouches on my “hip pack” and if I get a tip it’s usually in my hand and I put it in the seperate pouch. I do have some regulars that will harass me if the jars not out, but most people if they want to tip, want to be noted that they did. And if they hand it to me I thank them very kindly.
Very Cool our tip jar .
Our Has 100 % donation on it we donate to
The Canadian Veterns
Brownies Of Windsor Riverside
Resoration of the Lancaster
Looks like we will be @ Red Bull Races In Windsor
Fire Works In windsor
Windsor Air Show to Come on down we will be Having a Great show.
And I will show you my Seceret to Succes
A.R.A. HOT DOGS
a.r.a@sympatico.ca
Great tip jar, really creative.
I am up and running finally. Got my 1st gig comin up June 1st….can’t wait.
funny! all the way for a tip, I think creativity helps just as much as great service.
I only used a tip jar twice, both times were for a “Relay for Life” event. I gave the money to them, it really was not much money but it made them very very happy. Note: I got a great letter from the American Cancer that made my day and made it all worth wild. Overall I think that tip jars are great idea, gives the customer the option to tip or not, some of my regular customers do tip but I don’t use a jar, just my hand.
Duggs Doggs “GOOD!!GOOD!!”
Renee, I like the tip frog, but do you worry about a strong wind blowing the dollars away…or someone reaching in & helping themselves
Renee-
Love your tip jar, but I was thinkin maybe a bucket would work too!
Renee- love the frog.
Jack & Mark-you know what they say about opinions…
Jim
I have a tip jar that says, “Leave me a generous tip or I will kill you.” ha-ha. Not really, but I do have a tip jar and I give the money to different organizations. I feature the name of the organization on the tip jar.
My store is really customer friendly and the customers get a kick out of supporting some of the local activities.
I got news for anyone who is doing this for the same reason I am: TRAIN RIDING CASH!!! As long as the DEMOCRATS are in power I will gladly take tips!!!! It is a NO BRAINER!!!
Great Tip Jar, really cool looking. A lot of people just love to tip when they KNOW the food is great. It their way of saying Thank You…
I don’t have a tip jar as of yet but do plan on having one. I have a few regular customers who always seem to tip, regardless of how much or how many dogs they get. People appreciate good service, especially if its followed up with a great product!
Esteban
Stevie’s Red Hot Wienies
I find people love to tip to say ‘thanks’ so I do have a tip jar. My tip jar is a flower vase and I have never heard a negative comment for having it sit there. Customers make the decision to tip or not. I don’t feel it’s forced upon them by having one sit there.
don’t have a pic, but my tip jar has a sign that says,
“Obama’s not the only one that needs “Change”!
It works, and makes people laugh. Isn’t that what life is about?
In a sense, you the vendor can measure your quality of service by your tip jar as well. If you have a tip jar out and you see that there isn’t much activity with it then it may get you to think, what is it that I might want to do to make my customers experience better. Is it my service or maybe my product? I don’t know, just a thought.
My plan for the tip jar is 50/50 charity!
I also plan on getting local highschool clubs to help me for tips so they can fund a school trip or whatever it is they are fundraising for!! this also should get me leads for private parties and also sporting events pertaining to the school!! Tips are deserving of those that give the customer and experience not just a quick meal!! to me the meal is COMPLETE if my customer comes to see me as well as eat! Awesome tip jar Renee
Our tip jar is a simple glass jar. We have written on the sides “STIMULUS PACKAGE” We get quite laughs with it.
hello:)
Wake up people!!! A tip jar can be used for your favorite charity. It builds empathy and gives to the most needy. I dedicate mine to the humane society. Come on you’ve done a great job and my dogs, cats etc deserve a break for your good service to them. It’s not begging, it’s just plain good appreciation for services. Give it away and feel good grumpies.
sincerely,
Cindy’s Mighty Dogs!!!!
Thanks for the idea, everyone ! I just sponsored another child through World Vision, even though I wasn’t sure how I would be able to afford it. Your conversation on tip jars just told me how. I’m going to put a container with the little guys picture on it telling my customers that all proceeds go to support this child. Any thing over and above the $35 a month it cost I will put towards more needy children.
Thanks again
A have a small tip jar because people always want to tip me. I like the idea of giving it to a charity though.
Jack, tip jars are not a demand for money. It’s merely a reminder for those who want to tip. Some people don’t want you to know how much they are leaving you and would prefer to throw it in the jar rather than say “keep the change”. I take it you find it offensive that some bars and restaurants aut0-add a gratuity to bills over $100 of for large parties because it takes servers giving up other tables in order to completely focus on a large party and often one person pays and no one thinks to tip or thinks someone else did…etc. Servers pretty much work on tips (I was one for 18 years) and in my town, a hot dog business is tough. I subtract my food and gas cost daily and the rest goes in the business…I run my household needs on my tips.
Also for those who don’t know….T.I.P.S was shortened from To Insure Proper Service. You get a quick, fast, meal and you work hard to provide a service, TIPS are appreciated but not Mandatory.
Read some more and wanted to comment:
You don’t tip at McDonald’s or Burger King, but notice there a tip jars at Subway! It’s up to corporate on those deals. Notice how if you order a pizza online, there is a delivery fee. Where does this fee go? To the driver? If it does, then why do I tip him/her?
I serve my food at night clubs. I usually have a good crowd, so my hands are busy making one dog after another. After I hand a customer their change, they sometimes talk or gather their items and fumble with their money..I honestly don’t like to look like I”m waiting for them to hand me a tip if they so choose. I move on to the next customer so I can provide quick service to them as well..especially when there’s 10 drunk people all trying to order at one time. I’d much prefer to let them drop it in the jar if they want to.
Also…I consistently provide the same quality service and friendliness to each and EVERY customer…I don’t let my tips reflect how I feel I served them. For example..Saturday night I pulledin $175 at the Mud Bogs……I made SEVEN dollars in tips for the night….????? Tonight was a slow night for Quarter Beer Night..I only took in $60…but I made $30 in tips…I didn’t do anything different than I normally do…..it’s all about the people you are serving and the luck of the draw.
I’m divided on the tip jar.
No to tip jar if you are the business owner. It’s your business, you’re making good profit, don’t ask/beg for tips.
Yes to tip jars for employees.
Yes to tip jars for a donation to charity.
It’s normal to tip the waiter/waitress at a restaurant, but not so normal to tip the owner.
When there are tip jars on counter tops of convenience stores, stewarts, subway, etc… I find it offensive and never feed it unless it is for a donation to charity.
Am I planning on having a tip jar?
Yes, only when my daughter runs the cart and also only for charity.
LOL @ THE STIMULUS PACKAGE!!! 🙂
Louise
(Louise) It’s my business and I work HARD doing it. Here, we don’t have the luxury of making much more than maybe $60-$200 a day because the cities here don’t zone for food vendors and it’s hard to find a decent place. I don’t make amazing profits just yet. I do not BEG for tips. Most of my money goes back into the business and pays a few bills. My tips are usually used for gas, spending money for the kids or a night out for us. I have just as much right to receive a tip if someone should choose to leave me one. And if the owner of a restaurant served me when they were shorthanded, you better believe I will leave him/her a tip as well. If you don’t want to tip, you don’t have to, and I don’t care. It’s your right. I have some customers who leave me $3 for a $2 hot dog and get insulted if I try to give it back.
And..how do people find a tip jar OFFENSIVE???? No one said it’s there because you HAVE to tip. Why not let a person make money if they want to? No one ASKS for the tip, no one BEGS for the tip, no one FORCES you to leave one. With this economy and minimum wage salaries, I say make all the xtra money you can.
who walks up to a hot dog cart wanting a meal and walks away because they see a tip jar?
I’ve had customers get offended that I didn’t take a tip from them. Yes, really. I just didn’t feel right abut taking a tip for doing something that was part of my normal operation. I’ve even had them leave quickly when I tried to give them back their change. They just turned around and pretend like they didn’t hear me telling them what their change was. Now I just accept tips and say thank you. I wonder, though, if they believe that I am barely squeaking by on pennies, sleeping under my hot dog cart after I close for the evening, wrapped in cardboard and using the alley trash bin to block the cold winds. I dress nice and I am well groomed et al. Maybe they think that us dog slingers are wearing plastic sandwich bags for socks or shoes. Oh well. In this economy, however, any tips are much appreciated. I may donate whatever is in my tip jar to a nonprofit organization, with a sign stating such. I like the idea of posting on my website the amounts donated to the charity too.