Hi Dien and Tom:

Tom:

I am really not trying to nitpick here.

I am not opposed to tipping...we all do it...and if we are regulars we generally get friendlier service and a little more attention than others ...especially if we are good tippers....but is that the prime reason for tipping? Or is it because the people really rely on tips because they are paid a lower wage because they are expected to collect tips...and if they do their job well they deserve it?

And I agree money should be returned.

What I found disconcerting was the idea of doing this "expressly for the purpose" of getting something in return....and in the case of the food probably at the expense of the owner and perhaps the employee's job.

I have fired people for giving things away with out express permission to do so. In fact my daughter is a supervisor at a fast food and an employee there was recently terminated for handing out a cookie for free.

Dien:

I caught the lesson....I do an awful lot of pro bono work every week....it is the old saying - what goes around comes around - most of the time.

And yes many of the food places have guidelines for throwing out food and they also have guidelines about giving it away because of liability...but no matter the case... until the clock points to the hour and minute for disposal that food remains the property of the owner and is a profit item that is to be sold.

Now if the person says thanks for the ticket and gives the customer something in return of his own that is one thing...also if the person pays for the giveaway that is acceptable...but to give away his employer's goods - unless authorized to do so is ....well......in my eyes that is theft.

I also have had establishments offer something free just before closing ...saying that they were just going to throw it out anyhow....but it was after the deadline....whether they had permission to do so or not is unknown...but I had to presume so.

I guess it is up to the individual to decide on this...the lesson is good...the "reason" for doing it does not sit well with me.

Let's leave it at that.

Cornell