phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
I thought this thread was already dead...
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Commissary Surcharge
- Thread starter boobcheese
- Start date
This has gotta be the dumbest thread resurrection I have ever seen on this board........
Tipping
I am new to this whole commissary thing but I just returned from a commissary trip and noticed the SCG underneath the subtotal. Searching for the answer to what it was brought me to this post. So here is my question.
What is an appropriate tip for the baggers? Rarely do I do a full shopping trip because I can do better with generic brands at Kroger but sometimes I run over to the commissary just to get milk and OJ and I feel weird about tipping because I just pick the bottles up and walk out the door? Is this rude? Today, I got milk, OJ, cookies, apples, and bananas for a grand total of $20, I had 2 baggers? What would you tip for these 4 bags? I gave a dollar each.
I am new to this whole commissary thing but I just returned from a commissary trip and noticed the SCG underneath the subtotal. Searching for the answer to what it was brought me to this post. So here is my question.
What is an appropriate tip for the baggers? Rarely do I do a full shopping trip because I can do better with generic brands at Kroger but sometimes I run over to the commissary just to get milk and OJ and I feel weird about tipping because I just pick the bottles up and walk out the door? Is this rude? Today, I got milk, OJ, cookies, apples, and bananas for a grand total of $20, I had 2 baggers? What would you tip for these 4 bags? I gave a dollar each.
snizo
Supply Officer
(All of this might have been said already....)
From the DeCA director during my orientation brief:
The surcharge goes to buying things like bags and shopping carts and is mandated by Congress. They are not allowed to mark up anything you buy in the store, so they have to get money for the disposable/overhead somewhere. Employees (not the baggers) are GS employees ... and actually get paid pretty well (but not from the surcharge).
As for NEX - they operate entirely different. They earn a profit (albeit small) which is used for things like MWR.
From the DeCA director during my orientation brief:
The surcharge goes to buying things like bags and shopping carts and is mandated by Congress. They are not allowed to mark up anything you buy in the store, so they have to get money for the disposable/overhead somewhere. Employees (not the baggers) are GS employees ... and actually get paid pretty well (but not from the surcharge).
As for NEX - they operate entirely different. They earn a profit (albeit small) which is used for things like MWR.
Depends on what GS level they are at, the lower ones are not paid too much.......
Base: http://www.opm.gov/oca/07tables/html/gs.asp
Locality: http://www.opm.gov/oca/07tables/indexGS.asp
mustang_wife
Domestic Engineer Specialist
Ahhhh.....one of the main reasons I miss Japan baggers find it insulting when you try to tip them.
Of course, here in stateside I get a dirty look when I say, "no, I'll bag my own groceries thank you." I always pay by c.c. so I never have cash on me.
Then there are those baggers who pull you aside and say, "we work for tips" are they baggers or beggers? Sorry. I guess I'm a tightwad with our money. oopsy. ~Rebecca~
helo_wifey
Well-Known Member
Off base it is considered impolite to tip, its just part of the countries customs. On base is another story, and should be treated like any other American facility, tipping included. All commisaries I have been to here in Japan (Sasebo, a few on Oki, Yokota, Yokosuka, Atsugi, and Zama) all have tip boxes for the baggers and they work only for tips. And, we have a wide selection of baggers on Atsugi from high school to older and everything in between.
Even at the base eateries (O-club, Chiefs Club, golf course restaurant) it is preferred that you tip the waitstaff, even on nights where there is a buffet and they only bring drinks.
Don't get me started on tipping! When service is good, I go above and beyond, but people who expect tips for doing their jobs (read Starbucks chicks and other service industry automatons) will get nothing and like it. I realize the commissary folks are kind of a special situation that goes with the territory, but in all honesty, it's a make-work charity program that really doesn't merit tipping.
Brett
Brett
helo_wifey
Well-Known Member
I agree (for the most part..I can't agree with you totally, I just can't
). It really gets me though in the summer when the HS kids are bagging and are goofing off. Most of the time I end up starting to bag my own stuff (which is fine, I would rather do that...keeps me from having bags with only 2-3 items in it *don't get me started*) but then they come over, finish the job and give me the nastiest look...like I'm the bad guy.This goes to the club restaurants too...we have horrible service (yes, we've ICE'd it) but still feel the pressure to tip. Any idea behind the expectation?
I agree (for the most part..I can't agree with you totally, I just can't
This goes to the club restaurants too...we have horrible service (yes, we've ICE'd it) but still feel the pressure to tip. Any idea behind the expectation?
The commissary baggers are the kind of people who are too lazy to go out and get real jobs. It's welfare for dependents. As for the clubs, it's a little different if you're in a place where you're trying to cultivate a sense of community because you hang out there a lot. Up at Whidbey, there are the staff members who have been around forever and everyone is on good terms with, so you can excuse the occasionally bad service and throw them a bone anyway because they're going to be tending bar during happy hour and always hook you up. In that sense it's a two way street.
Brett
So true, "my" bartender remembers when I was "this high"
mustang_wife
Domestic Engineer Specialist
On Oki, there weren't any tip boxes in the commissary on Camp Butler. Of course, we were there from 98-00 so things might have changed after we left (maybe due to the summit), but I can honestly recall trying to tip the bagger and him pushing my hand away. That's when I found it was insulting to them. Maybe now they're more Americanized... who knows haven't been since then. We fly out to Iwakuni in October so I'll let ya'll know what Mainland is like on the tipping situation. Okinawans are different than Japanese....that I specifically remember.
Anyone been on mainland? PM please. I'd love to hear more about it!