Keep The Change $$$

Involuntary Reaction

Venti half-caff, please
Cozy, smiling service
My hand tips a buck

Gadabout has been keeping his eye on American’s tipping habits these days, and has concluded that they are out of whack. You may, or may not, recall Steve Buscemi’s roll as Mr. Pink in Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. “I don’t tip. You don’t tip at McDonald’s, so why should you tip here…” European’s have an entirely different tipping protocol than we do here in the States. They tip significantly less abroad, but that may be based upon the fact that servers there have a higher base pay than in America. But this is not a global discussion, so let’s stay within our own boarders.

Our tipping convention is generally 15-20% at restaurants based on pretax totals. That’s fine and everyone, for the most part, conforms. A $100 tab is rewarded with a $20 tip. Enough on that though because I really want to focus on coffee shops, like Starbucks.

The Starbucks experience is unique upon itself. You can go to McDonald’s and pay a buck for a cup of coffee and walk out the door without ever even considering offering a tip. It is not expected and there is really no way to offer it if you wanted to do so. Starbucks is different, though. At Starbucks you’ll often pay between $2.00 and $3.50 and most people drop all their change into the tip jar. Sometimes (well, a lot more than sometimes), customers will toss in a buck if the change is only a few cents. If the order is, say, $3.82, and a 5 dollar bill is used for payment, the happy American will usually feel guilty if only 18 cents is offered so will just keep the change and surrender the buck. That’s over a 25% tip for pouring a cup of coffee and sliding a scone into a paper bag.

Starbucks is a very unique tipping environment in this way, and I cannot find any other food service outlet that comes close in comparison. Gadabout tips like this at Starbucks too. I feel sort off guilty if I don’t. I mean, you have the young cuties serving up your favorite blend, smiling while they hand you the change and you just cannot help mindlessly making a superior offering. It is a momentary dream like trance wherein your voluntary decision making abilities are overcome by invisible forces. It is cozy, warm and happy. The music is calming, and the smiling faces silently suggest that we are special and important to all living beings on earth. Sure, keep the change!

A Visit to DMV, and a Lesson in Patience

Two Hours of a Life

Crowded DMV
Take number and wait in line
Read the newspaper


Gadabout recently made a visit to his local DMV to apply for a Virginia Driver’s License. This particular DMV is capable of handling large volumes of customers. It is equipped with 16 service windows, a check in desk and a driver’s license area. It is a modern facility and has 162 chairs for those waiting for service. Good thing they have 162 chairs, because they need them. Sounds like an opening to a horror story, right? Well, sort of, but not really because it all worked out in the end and Gadabout learned another lesson in patience. Read on.

When I FIRST arrived, I was asked for proof of residency in the form of a power bill or the like. My automobile registration and insurance policy was insufficient, so I was directed to return home and bring in a billing statement. Gadabout fumed and pined the entire drive home to fetch the required documentation. Upon my return, I was given a number, a clipboard and documents to complete. Filling out the standard forms took about 5 minutes, and since half the 162 seats were occupied with other citizens I decided to read my newspaper. Glad I was ready for a wait. 30 minutes later I became curious as to the length of the wait ahead of me, so I made an inquiry with the security chick who seemed to be on the ball, and she was. She looked at my ticked and broke the news that I had about another 30 minutes to wait.

A DMV is a great place to observe humanity. Pure, naked humanity is on display at your local DMV everyday (excluding weekends and certain holidays, of course). There are the young grunge couples with facial piercings, anxious hard nosed business types rhythmically checking the time, young drifty blondes...the entire spectrum! I recommend bringing a camera and taking notes!

Remember the 16 service lines? Unfortunately, only 6 of them were manned and engaged in service. It would be nice if there was an estimated wait time display because just about everyone seemed confused. Anyway, I took the time to collect service time data and found that the average time a person takes to complete a transaction was 6 minutes—including vacant time between customers. With 81 people ahead of me, 6 operating service desks and an estimated 6 minute service time, my estimated wait period was calculated to be 81 minutes—so I went shopping at Target for a few minutes. Exactly 81 minutes after the time stamp on my ticket, my number (C225) was called, and I proceeded to desk 15. Gadabout was, again, right on the mark.

The lady who took care of me was very polite and professional. I applied for my license, registered to vote, had my picture taken, paid $28 and was out of there 15 minutes after first approaching the service desk!

Here is my point. If you are in a big hurry and DMV is busy, then ask when a light time is expected and come back. If you are not in a rush, ask what the time delay will be and either read a book or do some shopping during your waiting time. In any case, do your research ahead of time to avoid having to make a separate trip! Hey, it was a better experience than getting mugged and pistol whipped.