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Ben's Tipping Guideline For 2001 Be Careful Of What You Disclose On Warranty Cards! -- plus -- Pawn Shops: Still The Best Place To S-T-R-E-T-C-H Your Budget... Plus They'll Make You A Deal!
December 20, 2001
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Dear Ben: You talked a couple of weeks ago on the radio about tipping, but I didn’t get to hear the whole segment. Can I get more information so I don’t forget someone [again] this year?
Cynthia in Dana Point, CA
Dear Cynthia: This is turning into an annual, timely topic for a good reason...most of us have to rely on services performed by hard-working [relatively anonymous or faceless] individuals during the course of our daily lives. As a former paperboy I can tell you that the little extra tip I’d receive during the holiday season was always remembered the other eleven months of the year. Should we have to tip in order to receive a service that we’re already paying for? Of course not, but that’s not a reality-based argument. Human nature kicks in and always wins; all of us like a pat on the back and a few extra bucks in our pockets, and it’s amazing how often the I didn’t know! refrain was an honest defense for overlooking a tip that could end up paying enormous dividends in the year ahead. With my mission now clearly defined, let’s try to put a face on who to tip and a number on how much:
-Newspaper carriers: $15-$25 (I wish I could have seen that sort of action when I was throwing a paper route 30 years ago!);
-Nighttime baby-sitter: Two nights' pay plus a small personal gift;
-Cleaning person: One week's pay;
-Hairstylist: The cost of one regular "session" plus a gift;
-Postal carriers: In the past, the official position of the U.S. Postal Service has been don’t tip, they’re government employees but in light of the events of the last few months, I’m sure they’ll look the other way. The U.S. Postal Service asks that if you must tip, make it no more than $20, plus a letter of appreciation to the carrier's supervisor.
-Tight budget/no budget? Don't tip beyond your means, especially this year with as much uncertainty for many that have either lost their jobs or are on the bubble. If you can't afford a tip this year, write a note of appreciation [not an excuse!]
Dear Ben: I’m giving a couple of electronic gifts this year; do I really need to fill out the warranty cards in order to activate my warranty?
Randy K. in L.A.
Dear Randy: Maybe...but probably not. Warranty cards have evolved into marketing research tools more than anything else. Keeping the original box and purchase receipt is usually the best defense in the war of warranty enforcement. If you do fill out a warranty card, don’t spill your guts...and never give out your home phone number! Anything you tell them could end up being sold and re-sold for years to come.
Dose of Dover For The Week: With your options narrowing, my annual reminders on great ways to stretch your budget are worth re-visiting one more time: Pawn Shops are still one of the best places to get some major bang for your holiday buck. If you’re looking for musical instruments, amplifiers, sports equipment, cameras [traditional film or digital], jewelry, power tools, stereos, boom boxes and more, this is the place for deals. One of my favorite sanity-saving gifts: For parents tired of Barney, Thomas and The Magic Railroad or N’Sync videos monopolizing your main television set, pawn shops are the hands-down best places to pick-up a cheapo TV set and VCR. What price can you place on the ability to watch what you want while Junior immerses himself in one more rerun of their favorite video? Last time I checked, the price of sanity for this particular item was in the $50-$70 range! Remember: No matter what you’re interested in buying at the pawn shop, always take a run at working them down on the price that’s marked. They have a great deal of latitude to deal, especially on products that have been on their shelves for awhile. One of my no-brainer techniques to pick up an extra 8+% discount? Once you’ve worked them over on the price, tell the manager it’s a done deal if they’ll throw in the sales tax. I’ve attempted this a half-dozen times over the years and it’s worked every single time.
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