Baking a cake from scratch might not be something everyone enjoys, while some people take a special liking when it comes to preparing almost all their food and baked goodies at home, others would rather outsource and have a professional baker handling things when it comes to baking.
When it comes to outsourcing and having a professional baker doing the job, the inner debate of how to tip a baker comes to play, and people often wonder- “should I tip a baker?”
Yes, you can tip a cake baker, but only because you are impressed with the service that has been rendered, you received complimentary treats, or a delivery service was offered as well. It is not mandatory but when you chose to, you should tip between $10 to $25.
We completely understand your dilemma, receiving baked goods means that the baker is offering some sort of service. But since it is not an immediate service like how you get your coffee or meals at a restaurant in one go, deciding how much to tip could be tricky.
Tipping Explained
We’re sure that being on this end of the internet, you already have standard knowledge id what tipping entails. But to give you a definitive reason for our stance on tipping cake bakers, we would also provide an accurate explanation of what tipping really means and the people it targets.
Tipping simply refers to an act of giving a small amount of money to people who have provided you with a service such as waiting tables, parking your vehicle at a hotel, carrying your bags in a hotel, or delivering food to your doorstep.
Tipping is seen as a way to encourage workers for a service provided, a way to reward satisfactory service, and a way to compensate workers for the little they earn despite providing services that make our daily lives better.
How Much to Tip A Baker
After being made aware of the fact that tipping is essentially a way of compensation for people that offer direct services in businesses where they are usually paid under, exactly, or slightly above minimum wage, we can now clearly dig into the big question- “do you tip a cake baker ?”
Getting a cake done for an occasion by a cake baker means that you either need a cake design that a DIY might not help you achieve accurately or you need a custom-made cake for a significant occasion that requires the services of a professional cake baker.
Most bakers that bake as a private business usually prefer a recommendation or review that draws in more customers but if you feel inclined to tip we believe that you should base your choice to tip or not on the following reasons listed below;
1. When you are impressed with the work done and you are inclined to reward them
There is the feeling of joy and satisfaction that overwhelms one when they get a cake that is done perfectly well and meets or exceeds their standards, especially if it is custom-made for a special occasion such as a wedding or a big birthday.
In this case, feel free to tip your baker between $10 – $25 for a job well done, they were able to impress you and this is a great way to express your gratitude.
2. When the cake is delivered by the baker or a delivery service
While some people may opt for going to pick up the cake from the bakery, sometimes your baker might want to go the extra mile to deliver your cake to you and this means that he/she has offered an extra service and you can appreciate them with a $10 – $15 tip.
If your baker sends a delivery service, you should tip the delivery man or lady instead, especially if your cake is in great condition, cakes are delicate and tricky to transport so you can appreciate them for handling it with care.
Also, delivery workers are underpaid sometimes and tips make it easier for them to afford their basic needs.
3. When the baker adds some treats or extra baked goods
Your baker might decide to add some lovely cookies or other simple baked goods to your order as a means of improving their service delivery and customer satisfaction.
If this impresses you and you see the need to tip them and show gratitude, you can also give them a $10 – $20 tip for satisfactory service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you tip someone who makes cakes?
If you are wondering how much is usually acceptable as a tip for cake bakers, it’s between $10 – $25 depending on what you feel they deserve as a reward for a job well done.
Are you supposed to tip at a bakery?
Yes, if you’re picking up already made donuts, cookies, croissants, or cakes from a bakery you can tip the person attending to you 10% or 15% of the cost of the baked goods. They are just as good as servers and they usually earn minimum wage or less.
Summary
Deciding whether to tip or how much to tip when it comes to bakers is a tricky and sometimes confusing situation to be in. We understand that and we’ve made things a lot easier for you in that aspect.
Bakers might own private businesses and earn way above minimum wage and not be on a tight budget like waiters, delivery persons, valets, and other workers that earn below or slightly above minimum wage so tipping them is not mandatory.
Despite the reasons we’ve given to guide you on how to tip bakers, it is mostly based on your satisfaction with the service being offered. But when tipping, you should lean towards tipping between $10 to $25.