I have stopped tipping in many (new) situations

[Anonymous]

I have always been a generous tipper.

Restaurant service — baseline is 20%, a little more for good service, a little less for poor service (but never nothing at all).

Hair salon, taxi, food delivery, bell hop (which I don’t really use, but …) I would tip.

But like many of you, I have grown appalled at the ask for a tip at places like restaurant counters, coffee shops, ice cream place, concert T-shirt kiosks, pretty much anywhere now that has an iPad and spits out a screen that asks you to add a tip, often with the base amount of 20% and going up from there.

I have started just pressing “no tip” and don’t feel guilty about it. I used to feel guilty about it but no longer. These people may not be earning a living wage but they’re also not earning $2 an hour like a waiter, and they’re not actually performing services for me other than what is literally in their job description (fix the sub, wrap the sub, hand me the sub and a cup to dispense my own soft drink).

Many of these jobs pay $16-$20 an hour. Why is it on me and other customers to further supplement that wage?

All that said, it took a conscious decision to act that way. And a deliberate conversation with myself over what will I tip for and what WON’T I tip for. It’s like someone should publish a guide for tipping in 2022 America.

[Anonymous]

Cool story. You’re cheap.

Here’s a cookie.

[Anonymous]

Have you posted this before? I feel like there is a post in tipping (or really, not tipping) every other week.

[Anonymous]

I am like you OP. Country’s gone tip crazy

[Anonymous]

Why did you post this?

[Anonymous]

My local liquor store asks for a tip. I think it’s so funny. Obviously I hit “no tip”.

[Anonymous]

It's part of the credit card app they use. It's not personal.

[Anonymous]

I will say, I live in Europe now and it's so lovely to check out and just pay the tab for what you've ordered. No having to scribble in a dollar tip while the barista stares at you. No having to worry that the person making your food might spit in it because you declined to tip. It's really nice.

[Anonymous]

I think it might default to have the tip options in the electronic/iPad software .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will say, I live in Europe now and it's so lovely to check out and just pay the tab for what you've ordered. No having to scribble in a dollar tip while the barista stares at you. No having to worry that the person making your food might spit in it because you declined to tip. It's really nice.

+1 same in Asia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's part of the credit card app they use. It's not personal.

I get it, and I make enough money that I am happy to distribute it to people who are helping me. I don't decline to tip. However, I don't like that it's a forced choice, regardless of why -- it's just a bit weird and uncomfortable.

I've become more likely to pay in cash again (how strange to be carrying cash) at the places where tipping would be nonsense, or just do things for myself or at home -- self check-out when I can, more cooking, etc. I mean, I'm not fleeing in terror from the tip question, but it factors into my decisions a little bit. That's going to add up over tip and across more people, if I'm not the only one. I wonder what this will look like in three years.

I'd definitely be factoring it in when deciding where to patronize, at least at some level, if some businesses make the choice/effort to remove that.

[Anonymous]

The tipping creep is real. I like OP have always been a generous tipper. I worked as a server for almost 10 years (for $2 an hour) so I get it. I do not think that you packing a bag of to go food warrants a 20% or 15% tip. That amount of effort should be paid from the hourly wage that you receive - which in Montgomery County ranges from $14.00 to $15.65 an hour. The tipped employee minimum wage is only $4.00 per hour but your wage must reach at least the standard minimum wage - so the people working at Playa Bowls, or Shake Shack are making at least $15.00 per hour.

I have to admit that as I typed those figures, I'm realizing that 30K (the equivalent annual salary of $15 per hour) isn't really enough to live around here.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the tipping expectations have become insane. My list of where to tip looks like yours, OP. It's so uncomfortable to be put in that position at the ice cream shop. It makes me avoid places with the iPad asking for a tip where it's not appropriate.

[Anonymous]

I’m ok with the screen for a tip, whatever, it’s just part of the app. What irritates me is the constant asking for charitable donations when I check out at the grocery store, petsmart, other places as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the tipping expectations have become insane. My list of where to tip looks like yours, OP. It's so uncomfortable to be put in that position at the ice cream shop. It makes me avoid places with the iPad asking for a tip where it's not appropriate.

Especially because they stand there and watch you while you deal with the iPad. Awkward.