The Itching Palm.

A Lesson in Greed.

Have you ever noticed the big push for tipping these days?  I’m talking about the “new” ways you can leave a tip such as:

• at the counter for your order-taker at the fast-food burger joint;
• whilst you press the ordering buttons on a kiosk;
• at the automatic car wash;
• at a self-checkout;
• for picking up your order at a restaurant, grocery store, or department store;

and—

• “rounding up” your grocery bill order for this charity and that charity that the grocery corporation will take as a tax deduction for itself, because it sure won’t be on your tax return.

I’m sure there are other places that have their hands out; you might know of those places.

These begging for money pushes really do frost me.  I don’t mind leaving a tip for my waitress or skycap, but why cashiers, door openers, and others wanting to put their hands into my wallet?

Then, one day, I discovered an old book about tipping:  “The Itching Palm:  A Study of the Habit of Tipping in America” by William R. Scott.  It was published in 1916.  It basically gives strong reasons why tipping for services is wrong, wrong, wrong. That is,

First, establish clearly in your mind that tipping is wrong.  The slogan is: ONE COMPENSATION FOR ONE SERVICE.

 Boy, oh, boy – does that passage ring true today!  I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.  I really don’t understand the blatant asking for money.  We pay for the service and products upfront, so why the hand-out, and without embarrassment?

Then there is the argument that certain employees aren’t paid well, and therefore, the tips from you and me help supplement their incomes.  Well, that is not my problem.  If the employers aren’t paying their employees well enough, should it be up to you and me to treat those employees as charity cases?  At least now, people who earn tips are no longer taxed on tips.

Overall, this is a well-written work with good points and sensible logic that is appropriate for today as it was over a century ago.  I quite enjoyed reading it, particularly for a view on tipping practices in the early 20th century that do mirror the world of today.

To read this eye-opening 1916 book for yourself, pick up a free copy you can read on-line at Project Gutenberg: “The Itching Palm:  A Study of the Habit of Tipping in America” by William R. Scott HERE VIA THIS LINK.  I believe that it will get you thinking about mindlessly giving out money tips willy-nilly, as it did for me.

In conclusion, if I want to help out or tip, let me do it on my own, and that includes giving a little something to a very worthwhile charity or religious mission.

And that’s my tip for the day.