To tip or not to tip. That is the question!

[rtstrider]

My LHBS serves pints along side selling brew supplies. When you purchase either or there is a space on the receipt for a tip. The question I have is is it normal etiquette to tip the LHBS if you are only purchasing ingredients for beer and they crush the grains in house or would the tip be limited to beer pint purchases only?

 

[agrazela]

Hmmm...never tipped LHBS when buying brewing ingredients. But then again, it's weigh and crush-your-own.

 

[Homercidal]

Yeah, same here. But I would tip if they were serving you beer themselves. For grain milling, I'm not sure I would. There isn't any great skill in pouring grain in a hopper and flipping a switch.

If it was hand milled, then yes, I'd tip.

 

[Jayjay1976]

To anyone who ever pours you a libation anywhere at anytime, tips are always welcome. Otherwise my rule is just the tip, just for a second, just to see how it feels.

 

[iijakii]

I would not tip. That's one downside to the Square readers being so widespread everywhere. You go to a farmers market and pickup a pint of berries and they swing around a tip menu. Feck off.

 

[rtstrider]

I reached out to one of the peeps that used to work there and they said tips are for the bar only. So that's settled!

 

[madscientist451]

If I drink at a bar/pub I always tip the servers and bartenders. Its part of the cost of going out. So if you are drinking at your LHBS and paying for it, I guess that qualifies as a bar. But to each his/her own, tip if you want to, or don't. I've never left a tip at any regular retail store. If retail workers want tips, get a job at a restaurant/bar.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I would never tip at the LHBS. Its a store not a bar. If you start going down that road you might as well tip the guy at Home Depot explaining what receptacle you need or the guy at Sears showing you a lawn mower...Some beer distributers have tap beer and sell growlers. I dont tip him for filling my growler and the guy doesn't expect a tip either.
Its actually bad form by the LHBS to even have a space for a tip on the recipe....if there was a compatible store nearby I'd give my business to them instead.

 

[beernutz]

To avoid customer confusion the store should display a sign reading "Please do not tip for homebrew supplies."