Tip Jars in Retail Stores

What's up with merchands putting tip jars in their stores where they have product for sale

Funny thing is... most have some money in them.

Seeing a store owner's tip jar in a store makes me much less likely to purchase something from that person. I think it's in poor taste to ask your customers to help pay your tier/rent after they just bought one of your products.

Maybe the merchants put the money there to encourage others

I can well imagine that, regrettably, their sales do not cover the expenses of running the shop, but what am I tipping for? The pretty wall colour? The strategically placed couch?

There are some very imaginative, entertaining shop designs where the product doesn't even seem to be the main focus. They may be artful, or offer some interactivity (and I'm not talking about prize chairs) or some other element worth tipping. In that case, I do.
I've even looked around for a tip jar to show my appreciation in places that have none. Those tend to end up in my picks for a while.

I have tip jars in my shop, but they are for sale. Thing is, often people actually tip them, really not sure why.

No I don't understand why people put them out but I have seen it quite often.

LOL love this image.

You need a sign "Please don't tip the tip jars"


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Onto the original post ..

I would think that instead of tipping buying some products would be a better form of encouragement

BUT .. if they want to have tip jars out, its their shop ..

I have wondered the same thing. I went to a shop before where the lowest priced item was around 4,000L. (Scripted doors and such) And they had a tip jar there,full of money. *blink*. To me that just is greedy!

Maybe instead they need a lower priced item so average people shopping there might actually buy something.

Unless the store's build is purely a retail cube with shelves or [Prefab Freebie Farm's Retail Store #50]... I'd say a tip jar is a fine addition to give a chance to allow visitors to give a little monetary thanks to the builder/creator for offering them a nice experience. (^_^)

I'm in a joined build with some friends and the main area around me is a themed attraction. While my store is almost completely in the same theme, it's still a separate build altogether. At first I almost considered relying completely on decoration and leaving out a tip jar. But, I started making things I want to sell, and my friend's park already has a tip jar out, so I figured it best to keep my place purely retail. (^_^)

To offer and receive tips is pretty normal, even for wage work in the RL service industry (Waiting tables, Parking attendants). It's a way of showing gratitude for a job well done without all the mechanics of selling, buying, and salary. (^_^)y

I have found one place where I thought a tip jar might be appropriate and there actually was not one there. A designer has an upper floor that is filled with nice freebie dresses - every few new releases, she adds another dress to her freebie floor. In this case, I have actually considered tipping her - if she had a tip jar I probably would.

If the store actually had employees that worked for tips of course, tip jars would make 100% sense.

Would be like a salesperson working on commission.

Of course they have.
Many customers like to say thank you for the nice stuff and the good work.
We often get a notecard and a little tip and we are always very pleased about that, not because of the money, that can only be 1L$, it's because of the compliment.
Also we have a frequently changing display where we present our Free Gift Of The Week and other free stuff. Some customers even like to pay for free stuff.
And not all seller work for the money. We do it for fun and to make other happy too.

I have a retail sim, and I wouldn't put a tip jar there. People buy my goods and services, that's enough for me. I also don't let musicians that play here encourage people to "tip the venue" either when I host a musical event. I would rather the listeners tip the musician.

It's not normal at all over here in RL.

If you do your job there's a paycheck in it for you at the end, if you don't do it well you'll likely eventually end up fired.

It's ridiculous to tip someone for doing the job they're being paid to do, it's only normal.

Waiter/Waitresses don't get tipped where you live?

No, in many cases "Prices include VAT and tip" is even printed right on the menu, or on the receipt.

That's not to say that noone ever tips, but it's certainly not customary or expected.

The idea that all expenses are actually included in the price you pay seems very foreign to Americans, and I got called "cheap" for suggesting that some people may not be used to paying individual people/services separately.

I also find a tip jar in a shop rather grating. But (especially if the shop already offers freebies) how about simply letting people choose the price for some outfits themselves, paying as much or as little as they want? The effect would be much the same, but the tipping would seem much better tied to the wares you want to support.

Added: Oh, and never leave out an empty tip jar. Always seed it yourself, and also "empty" it regularly so it doesn't look overflowing. That is standard busking practice

Okay, I got a question kind of related to this: How many of you, as merchants, feel uncomfortable being tipped? I do.

I feel that if someone buys something from me, that's tip enough. I never thought about putting a tip jar in my shop and I won't.

When I tip, it's usually in a fantastic place that is either a newbie friendly place that runs on tips and/or cheap items for sale OR is a wonderful place that doesn't sale anything but runs purely on tips.

I've had customers ask why I didnt have a tip jar in my shop.

It never seemed like a "right thing" to do to me. Either you buy my stuff or not. THAT is my tip jar.

If it's more of an "attraction" place, like a museum, art gallery or something, then yea, a tip jar makes sense.

"Okay, I got a question kind of related to this: How many of you, as merchants, feel uncomfortable being tipped? I do."

I do too, and if someone does manage to tip me, I object vocally, and usually try to give them something to 'pay them back.'

"I feel that if someone buys something from me, that's tip enough. I never thought about putting a tip jar in my shop and I won't."

Neither will I...compliment the look of the sim, but don't give me something for nothing.

"When I tip, it's usually in a fantastic place that is either a newbie friendly place that runs on tips and/or cheap items for sale OR is a wonderful place that doesn't sale anything but runs purely on tips."

That's exactly the places I tip...gorgeous places that are open to the public, or who offer a service they don't charge for.

I've received tips after delivering personalized items. In those cases, the tipper paid via my profile. I didn't feel uncomfortable, probably because I was providing not only a product, but a service as well.

That said, I've never thought about putting out a tip jar. I'll never do that.

no it's plain tacky in a store period no exeptions, now if the have a park like area or other super cool build next to the said shop then it's fine to put a tip jar over there

I've gotten tips for doing custom dogs for people, but only because I don't charge any more for custom works than I do for one already on display but thats because I have done something extra and unexpected I think. Just say no to tip jars. Heh.

I am with you all the way. Although I do put a tip jar out for when I do tutorials, but I don't ever ask the people attending to tip. I only started putting one out at all because some of the people that went to the tutorials asked me to. *blush*

ok will amend what i said to include giving classes a tip jar for instuctor is ok but only during and just after the class don't leave it up all the time and claim it's to cover class cost

Perhaps I should put a tip jar in my little shop next to my bumper freebie bundle!