Let's pretend for a moment that 22-25% actually is now standard for very good service (it's not, but stay with me).

How often do you actually get very good service?

Because for me, it's rare. I get adequate service most places, which means I received my order without having to wait an unreasonable amount of time and it was correct. But this also often means the waitstaff was rude or indifferent, the restaurant/cafe was not as clean as I'd like, the ambiance was poor, etc. And then there are the places where people are not just rude but very unpleasant, where my order is incorrect, where I am expected to wait an unreasonable amount of time or where basic services (water, flatware) are never brought.

I can count on one hand the number of service experiences I've had in the last couple years that I think earned the top end of whatever the tipping range is, and I definitely tipped over 20% in this situations because it was exceptional service. But most service is just adequate (18-20%), and sometimes it's truly bad, in which case you are honestly fortunate if you get a tip at all.

Anonymous wrote:Amazing. A bunch of rich white professional and allegedly liberal women who purport to care complaining about leaving a few extra pennies as a tip.

The hypocrisy of DCUM is over the top.

I agree. What a ridiculous thing to whine about. It takes a small cheap person to complain about adding a few dollars for the people who served you. Their excuses are laughable.

You have a lunch for two. The bill is $20. How hard is it to leave $25? What is the big deal?

Anonymous wrote:At BWI the other week and bought my kids Auntie Anne’s. The cashier then turned the iPad around for a tip. That one surprised me. I understand a lot of people are underpaid but it’s really not my responsibility to pay extra to an already ridiculously inflated price in an airport. He pushed a button and the other person picked up a pretzel. I think that was my tipping point with all of this. I already stopped going to Starbucks bc really I’m not tipping there either. Strangely though I will tip a housekeeper at a hotel a lot. The psychology of this is fascinating.

BWI airport is a 'special' place. Every interaction I've had with any service employee there has been bad, ranging from cold to terrible. They just don't care. and this was way before the pandemic. No f'ing way, I'm tipping anyone there. All get paid a good wage and if they don't like it, they should quit and find other jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The growing expectation and entitlement by workers whose employers should be compensating them appropriately, is pretty outrageous. Plus, the "service" is way, way worse now than pre-pandemic. A nation of handouts and shake down artists.

Okay I don’t like tip culture, but I don’t blame workers that service is worse now. Guess what, workers have more options and aren’t going to put up with as much bs from customers and employers. As the population ages more, it’s going to get more pronounced that workers are heavily needed in service and menial industries.

Thankfully we won't have to deal with 'workers' in a few years once they introduce service robots!

Anonymous wrote:The growing expectation and entitlement by workers whose employers should be compensating them appropriately, is pretty outrageous. Plus, the "service" is way, way worse now than pre-pandemic. A nation of handouts and shake down artists.

Okay I don’t like tip culture, but I don’t blame workers that service is worse now. Guess what, workers have more options and aren’t going to put up with as much bs from customers and employers. As the population ages more, it’s going to get more pronounced that workers are heavily needed in service and menial industries.

I do 20% tip pre-tax sit down restaurants, 15% pre-tax if service was bad. For coffee shops, I do a $1 if I’ll be sitting there for a bit. At bars, I tip $1 a drink. I feel like maybe I’m being cheap, but I’ve cut back on tipping. Hoping I’m middle of the road.

Anonymous wrote:At BWI the other week and bought my kids Auntie Anne’s. The cashier then turned the iPad around for a tip. That one surprised me. I understand a lot of people are underpaid but it’s really not my responsibility to pay extra to an already ridiculously inflated price in an airport. He pushed a button and the other person picked up a pretzel. I think that was my tipping point with all of this. I already stopped going to Starbucks bc really I’m not tipping there either. Strangely though I will tip a housekeeper at a hotel a lot. The psychology of this is fascinating.

You don't need to tip , it's turned around for you to verify and sign but it does try to guilt you. Stand strong don't tip

It's only 22% if you choose to tip that much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just do 15 and be done with it. 0 for carry outs. i refuse to buy into this crazy tip-sh*t culture we are in

What’s your HHI?

you make enough so you should tip more is just another shaming tool.

What’s your HHI?

What the HHI of the business owner?

Anonymous wrote:You can afford it.

Sure but once of these businesses can also afford to pay their employees a better wage. But they don’t. Instead they scam their customers into doing so and line their own pockets.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
just do 15 and be done with it. 0 for carry outs. i refuse to buy into this crazy tip-sh*t culture we are in


What’s your HHI?


you make enough so you should tip more is just another shaming tool.


What’s your HHI?

So tipping is some kind of socialist activity where there is income redistribution going on? Who knew.

What pisses me off is being asked to add a tip at the point of sale on an online order and then they get the order wrong/it’s late or whatever.

At BWI the other week and bought my kids Auntie Anne’s. The cashier then turned the iPad around for a tip. That one surprised me. I understand a lot of people are underpaid but it’s really not my responsibility to pay extra to an already ridiculously inflated price in an airport. He pushed a button and the other person picked up a pretzel. I think that was my tipping point with all of this. I already stopped going to Starbucks bc really I’m not tipping there either. Strangely though I will tip a housekeeper at a hotel a lot. The psychology of this is fascinating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just do 15 and be done with it. 0 for carry outs. i refuse to buy into this crazy tip-sh*t culture we are in

What’s your HHI?

you make enough so you should tip more is just another shaming tool.

What’s your HHI?

What does this have to do with it? The basis of paying or deserving a tip is not dependent on whether the person being asked to tip can afford it. Obviously tipping gives more income to the recipients, and while you may benefit from that, that’s not a reason to force more tipping.

Why don’t you explain what tipping is for to us. Not quips about eating at home, or it’s a good plan to stop going out - but what is the purpose of tipping.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I hate the most is this strategy of shaming you or making it so awkward and uncomfortable that you are "forced" to tip higher amount. I can deal with it now but it took some getting used to.

Yes, I had to adjust the way I approach these interactions. I used to view tipping as a form of thank you or a compliment to the staff, and I was happy to provide the tip. Now that places aggressively ask for tips or provide a "default" tip on electronic transactions that I must affirmatively change, I view it as what it is -- a negotiation. It's not a thank you or a compliment, we're bargaining and your goal is to get as much of my money as possible. Well now my goal is to keep as much of my money as possible, and I'm not going to bullied or manipulated into giving more. See how that works?

You’re cheap. Make your own coffee and eat at home. Done.

I’m engaging in a transaction with your business owner. I am not running a charity or a subsidy for your boss. If you don’t like your wages talk to your manager or quit. I DGAF. It’s not my job to pay you more to keep you happy. I have no skin in the game regarding your retention.

This. 1000x this. And no I don’t care if restaurants close.