A Tipping Question

If I happen to receive bad service, it's likely on visit No. 23 to a place I normally like just fine, and a place in which the following 23 visits likely will be fine, too.

But there's still that 23rd visit, though, and how to play it.

 

How do you tip when you're playing black jack? I go to the casino maybe twice a year and never know what's normal, what's too little and what's too much.
I play small stakes. Last year I was coming back from a big hole and was doing the dealer play a hand with me tip thing and those were winning too. I play like $15-25 per hand, but can never figure out the appropriate amount to tip.

 

Do workers who mention tips beforehand ("Cash is preferred") actually get tips?

 

Same rule still applies. After a round a guy says "I took care of it before the round" usually means I'm getting the minimum or barely over that. We make our money on corporate outings - where minimum tips are usually included; players are told, but most tip - and always look for the cash-books combo. If I want to try to make some extra cash I'll usually place some wagers with guys on the course. If there's a guy who you've been busting balls with all day, when he tips at the end you drop a "Is this for the front or the back?" and it usually gets a couple extra bucks.

Last year I had a player tell his cart partner to "give him some cash" and she grabbed her clutch and gave me every bill she had. On top of the money the other two gave me, it was a huge day.

Those days happen, but there are plenty of days I get paired with guys who think they're big-swinging dicks, throw huge bills at the pretty cart girls but I get hit on the low side. Last year I had a foursome that had two volunteers from our PGA Tournament that won the raffle to play the course. It's always tough when you get two twosomes who don't know each other and all four players were pretty bad. I made sure everyone had fun, played fast and I busted my ass. Wasn't expecting much. Ended up with a big day that I never saw coming.

It's a weird existence relying on tips, but you can't get worked up when you get tipped low. Just remember. The guys who tip big? You make sure you're on your A game when they're around.

 

Has anyone tipped with Venmo?
I don't have an account yet but feel like with the clientele I have, it might not be a bad idea.

 

Depends how much you're up, and if the dealer is being personable and entertaining.

I like tipping with a wager. During a nice run put a $5 or $10 chip in front of your chips. That "tip" is wagered for the dealer, so if you win, the dealer gets double.

 

I'm a low stakes player, too. Usually park at the $5 table and bet $5 and $10 a hand.
I never tipped if I was down. To me, that was like thanking someone for kicking your ass. If I was up and having fun and got a blackjack, I'd usually throw the $2.50 chip the dealer's way or an occasional $5 chip.

 

We go out so little that usually by the time we go back, the servers are new. So I don't feel bad doing a standard %20-ish and calling it good.
And yes, if the food sucks, we don't go back. Good service or not.

Here's my mini-dilemma: There is a local bookstore in town that hosts a weekly storybook reading. I take my son almost every Thursday morning. How often should I buy a book from the place to not feel like a jerk for going almost all the time?

 

Local as in not chain? I wouldn't go buying extra books just out of guilt, but I'd give them my business when it is time to birthday or Christmas shop instead of schlepping to Barnes & Noble.