DEFEATING THE TIP JAR AT STARBUCKS

Everyone knows that tipping is totally out of control. Tip jars have started popping up everywhere…coffee shops, fast food restaurants, funeral parlors…etc. And ever notice how they always give your change just inches above the jar, thereby laying claim to any spillage that may occur? For the most part these tip jars should be ignored, yet when certain conditions are met, donations are mandatory.

To determine when you need to tip, it's helpful to remember the following words….. Gratuity is Required, When Food Touching has Transpired. If you are ever in a position in which people are handling your food and a tip jar is present, you absolutely MUST tip. Unless, of course, you don't ever expect to see them again, such as those hillbilly-types working at interstate rest stops. Yet for those workers you will encounter on a regular basis, ignoring their tip jar repeatedly will eventually result in foul play, most often in the form of sabotization ( I know it's not a word but if enough of us start using it the dictionary people will be forced to add it) of your food or drink.

Since I have now established that tipping is often necessary, our next goal will be to leave as small a tip as possible without creating suspicion. Most of you have probably figured out where I'm going with this, yet for those who haven't perhaps a little introduction is in order. Ladies and Gentlemen….please allow me to introduce you to…..
 

The Quarter Pinch!
 

The "quarter pinch" is probably as old as money itself, but savvy customers can still use it effectively on unsuspecting cashiers. The concept is this…when you receive a handful of change, quickly pinch all the quarters between your thumb and index finger while letting the rest of the change drop into the tip jar. If the coins you drop into the jar total three or more, the resulting pings of the coins ricocheting off other coins will give the illusion that the entire handful of change was dropped.

It's quite easy to master this technique with only a few hours of practice at home. Have family members give you various denominations of coins and then quickly attempt to pinch the quarters while dropping the rest. If you save 75 cents each trip (say your latte comes out to 4.09 ever day), you will save over $5 each week. You can then use your savings to purchase Powerball tickets, thereby giving you the possibility that mastering the quarter pinch could result in untold riches, including fast cars, jewelry and exotic furs. Now if that's not enough to motivate you to master the quarter pinch, you'd better check your pulse!

Many often ask me how they should handle change such as 76 cents, when an effective quarter pinch will only leave a penny left for the drop. Certainly a lone penny will not create the acoustics you need to make them think an adequate tip was dropped. For this reason, it is often necessary when dropping a coin(s) into a jar to simultaneously create a noise distraction, such as a hacking cough or high-pitched scream. As a result, cashiers will only have visual evidence of your drop, and a perfectly executed quarter pinch is indiscernible to the naked eye.
 

Beware Of the Empty Tip Jar
 

The empty tip jar can strike fear and panic into even the most composed tipster. The empty jar signifies that no trickery or sleight-of-hand techniques can disguise your tipping practices. Your tipping "footprint" will be left there in the jar for the entire world to see, so proceeding with extreme caution is recommended.

Many will simply choose to leave the establishment, which I believe is an effective way to deal with the situation. If leaving is not possible, such as when you're with friends or co-workers, I recommend pulling out a secret weapon that we have yet to discuss….the debit/credit card. These cards keep coins and paper bills out of the equation, and should be utilized whenever faced with the empty jar. Even when the jar is full, plastic can also be used in situations when you become flustered and don't trust your facilities to successfully execute the quarter pinch.

SPECIAL OFFER - For a limited time only, I am please to announce that laminated tip guide charts are available on my web site for the low price of $4.95, plus shipping and handling. Using my handy chart will allow you to handle every denomination of coins that could come your way…from the solitary penny all the way up to the granddaddy of all coin drops….99 cents!

Here are some excerpts from the chart:

When the cashier gives you back…..

7 cents (nickel and two pennies) - make it look as if you are fumbling in your pockets for additional change to add to what they have given you, then drop the coins in the tip jar, attempting to hit the bottom of the jar to gain maximum echo effect. You will gain instant respectability in their eyes for adding on (or so they think!!!) to the change they already gave you, making future drops much less suspicious.

72 cents (two quarters, 4 nickels, and three pennies) - even with pinching the two quarters, you still have plenty of ammo for a decent sounding tip. One caveat, if you should get two dimes instead of 4 nickels, the tip will sound rather weak and you'll need to create noise distraction when making your drop. Always remember that in the world of tip jars, a dime is NEVER your friend, and off-the-cuff strategy changes are required when faced with a significant number of them.

99 cents (3 quarters, 4 nickels, and four pennies) even novice pinchers shouldn't screw this one up. Pinch the three quarters and drop the rest. More advanced pinchers may also try to retain a nickel or two with the quarter pinch, which would result in additional savings.

Why not order your tip chart today!!! These laminated charts are the size of restaurant menus and fit easily into most large purses. For the guys, the chart will give them something to carry around and make them look more important.

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