Has tipping at bars, restaurants and stores gotten out of control?

[Date_a_Snob]

I'm not wealthy but believe in rewarding people for their hard work. It seems that almost every store includes a tipping prompt on the pinpad machines when you go to checkout/pay. I order a pizza online last weekend and was presented with the option to tip (I was pickup up the pizza and didn't tip). Its frustrating that most stores only offer 10, 15 and 20% amounts with no option not to tip (on some machines you have to navigated to "other" on tipping screen and manually input 0). I'm not against rewarding people for their hard work I'm just not going to pay them for doing their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Tipping has gotten completely out of control. It seems EVERYONE expects a tip now just for doing their job. But that does not mean all tipping is bad. Tipping servers in restaurants is a good thing for everyone. Here's why.

The whole idea behind tipping is to take some of the money we as customers would have had to pay anyway, and make it optional and contingent upon the server doing a good job. It's a motivator for the sever to perform and make our experience as satisfactory as possible, and a tool for customers to penalize servers who underperform.

I'll put it this way. Say I go out to dinner with my hubby and the meal costs $40 total. If the server did a good job, we would leave a 20% tip, which means the total cost would be $48. If they did a poor job, we would tip them only 10% and pay a total of $44. If they did a really terrible job, we would stiff them (which they deserve) and leave only $40.

Now, say tipping was outlawed so we didn't have the "burden" of tipping anymore. In that case, restaurants would have to increase the menu prices to make up for the loss of income for their servers. In the above example the menu prices for our meals would be $48 instead of $40, so the same price we paid with tip before. The difference is we no longer have any control over how much we pay. We no longer have any power to show our dissatisfaction and send the message to the server that they screwed up so they have to pay a price. We HAVE to pay it regardless of how well the server performed. The motivation for servers to "earn" their tips would be gone and they could get away with providing mediocre service with no consequences. In effect, customers would ALWAYS have to pay the full $48 whether we're happy with the service or not.

Tipping is definitely out of control and shouldn't even exist unless it serves a purpose, which is to motivate employees / businesses to provide exceptional service. Putting a lid on my coffee and smiling as they hand it to me is not tip-worthy.

[Friendlybro79]

To the anonymous poster you're spot on here about if it were built in prices would be higher.

[DizzyDesii]

I don’t like mandatory tips because not everyone deserves one, especially the percentage they request. I actually know someone who used to snatch tips off the table if they felt the waiter didn't deserve it. Funny af

[D_Bone_Steak]

It is an annoying habit. Makes me miss Japan where they'll chase you down the street if you leave money on the table. The practice of tipping just makes everything complicated. It has been needlessly complicated by math and %'s when I'm probably just trying to eat and leave. I now take something like McDonald's as the better option than someplace where someone is trying to ask me if I need something every 5 minutes.

I get it... some people like that bullshit, but I just want to eat and be left alone. I don't want to sign up for mini-math problems when I'm just trying to drink enough coffee to stay awake. I have an accounting degree and I hate math and the idea of it when I'm half asleep.

When it was a matter of just throwing a dollar or two down, it didn't bother me. But now that these fuckers have turned into rocket science... I'm going to McDonalds. Now I just wished McDonalds would stop asking if I'll be using their app today or if I want to make it a meal.

[WanderingLoveWizard]

Are you using the app today, though?

[D_Bone_Steak]

@WanderingLoveWizard 😂 I know right? I've gotten to the point of just ignoring it and start ordering my food. It's a place where I specify just the sandwich and not a meal, and then they'll go on to ask, "Will you be making that a meal today?"

All I can do is facepalm and mumble out "No, just the sandwich please."

[WanderingLoveWizard]

😂😂 100% relatable. They probably get tired of asking it

[Friendlybro79]

@D_Bone_Steak You're obviously entitled to want to eat in peace but it's not rocket science to do the math. You're forgetting you not wanting to be bothered isn't their priority unfortunately. Their job is to profit so they're going to ask you if you want a meal everytime and force you to use an app so they can pay less people. That's why I barely go to fast food anymore... besides health reasons

[D_Bone_Steak]

@Friendlybro79 Yup you're right about most of that... I feel entitled to just be left alone and how they do what they do for money. But damn... I've been so tired that trying to figure out what 30% of $28.32 starts to feel like rocket science. I mean I'm so fucking retarded when I'm sleepy like that even figuring out how to pull up the calculator app is rocket science for me. I can't even see the buttons until I'm fully awake. Plus I'm an alcoholic and I usually wake up like that and I'm still drunk. I'm already not legal to drive and still doing it, but thinking like that is not my forte when I'm all messed up like that. You hit the nail on the head to with me forgetting me not wanting to be bothered isn't their priority. I mean... they don't give a tiny speckle of shit about me just wanting them to leave me alone. As I mumble "just the sandwich please" after I had already specified just the fucking sandwich... they don't give a shit. If I express that I'm annoyed by that repetitive fun... they won't care in the least. They're told to say that shit and make sure they say that shit. They're not listening to me when I tried to avoid answering that question to begin with. Probably just as fucked up and tired as me... possibly also still drunk. Just us humans getting through the day I guess. No hard feelings... just is what it is.

[Friendlybro79]

@D_Bone_Steak Dude if it's 28.32 just round it up to 30 and it's 6 bucks lol. You're cracking me up but I get it. Yeah the other stuff they're told to say that but to be fair they're paid to say that as it's their job. I do agree it's annoying and it's like bro I just said sandwich only no meal... Now you're asking if I want a meal like I didn't just say no meal two seconds ago lol. That makes me laugh but it is dumb that they're forced to ask anyway.

What's worse that they ask you for a meal or a annoying customer in front of you asking a fast food employee... What's good here?

I've heard someone ask that a while back, and I reacted with an outburst which is rare for me in public. I was what's good? It's fucking MacDonalds man. This isn't some Michelin star restaurant. It's horse meat. Just get the frigging #1 or let me order.

Thankfully my outburst wasn't met with a karate chop to the back of the neck by security but I did immediately apologize and made employees laugh.

[D_Bone_Steak]

@Friendlybro79 Damn... the way you just rounded up the number like that and got it out of the way... me... I end up pulling out change to get some correct amount in the most complicated way.

It would be hilarious to have you in the order line. I get so many fat chicks in front of me not knowing what to order... I just sit there rubbing my eyes. I just want a egg & sausage McMuffin... I didn't go there for decisions and shit.

I just got back from McDonalds... they forgot the sausage in my order. Egg and no sausage Mccheese sort of day I guess. It must be a hard job.

[WanderingLoveWizard]

@D_Bone_Steak Did you use the app today?

[Friendlybro79]

@D_Bone_Steak now that's how you ruin someone's day.

[snowboarder720]

I tip depending on the quality of service. That goes for picking up food or dining in.
Picking up food I normally tip 10% if the food was ready when it should, the order is correct, and nobody has to talk to me (I’m not a fan of talking to the open public when I’m hungry and have places to be). Seriously a 10% tip is close to nothing and it really can help brighten a servers energy for the shift.
When I dine in I normally tip 20-25%.


I used to work at Burger King and a Wendy’s long ago. We were trained to not accept tips due to company policy. Even when the customer really insists.


Due to COVID a lot of this has really changed about how I should tip. My world is almost back to the way it was with extra precautions and respecting those who serve me and others food. They put up with a lot of shit.

[Friendlybro79]

Tip in cash if you want to avoid the options on a card. It's that simple and stop pretending you can't go to an ATM lol.

Also we should all be mad about employers not paying enough in salary to give living wages and expecting customers to pay their employees. Reality is wages going up makes you pay anyway because prices go up. Tipping is prob cheaper for the customer because you can choose how much. If employers gave living wages they'd have to increase their prices more than what you're paying plus tip now. Just go get some cash once a week or month and keep it with you to tip as you please.

[Massageman]

Even when we pay by CC, I always tip in cash! I have only found one place that we still go to that has a "required" tip line on the receipt. Years ago there was a buffet restaurant that we ate at that had a "required" 25% tip. I changed it to about 5% for the set-up of the water glasses, and had a discussion with the manager.

The most interesting part is that these people do not understand 4th grade math. When the food prices go up, the tips automatically rise too.

[SaoirseS]

I don’t tip on take-out orders either. But I also use mostly cash, and if I use a card when I get the prompt I just input zero. I tip servers, delivery drivers, some others as is customary. Although a lot of people complain about tipping, I haven’t heard too many people willing to accept a 20-30% increase in meal prices to do it.

[SaoirseS]

*do away with it.

[dreamstar72]

This is what people don’t understand who is going the pay the increase in pay. You the customer. So now your 100 bill becomes 130, and you get mediocre service.

[bolverk]

Tipping is not universal, here in the UK/Europe it is rarely done (only if you think you have received exceptional service), in many countries it is seen as an insult, those who have visited or lived in America see staff relying on tips to make up their wages as the employer failing to pay staff a decent living wage.
When I have tipped it has always been direct to the to the staff, not through the bill as you have no guarantee the staff will ever see it as more than a few employers never pass on all or any of the monies tipped.

[SawerBrown]

Where I live the minimum wage is $15 per hour so unless they give over the top excellent. service no tip. Definitely never a tip on take out. The problem with adding the tip to your credit card is you have no. idea if the server ever sees the tip. Some restaurant owners keep the tips.

[ImalwaysrightOK]

I believe in tipping only when you want. The dirty secret is that most businesses that employ servers pay a minimum wage of under $2 an hour. The rest depends on tips. Two dollars. You can't even buy a soda. What we need is to force restaurants to actually pay their servers federal minimum wage.

[DizzyDesii]

I heard Sonics used to do this and that it increased to $4 an hour if you put on rollerskates

[ImalwaysrightOK]

@DizzyDesii wow, $4, really lol. Maybe I better get some rollerskates

[DizzyDesii]

I don't know how my cousin worked there. No wonder she was hoeing for tips 🤣

[dynamicyandere]

It can be a little annoying. I always tip for good service. But, if it’s literally just a cashier taking my order at the counter and handing me my order, I don’t see why I should tip for that. If anything, I should tip the cook at the back. Waiters and waitresses deserve tips for good service. Cashiers that just type in your order and swipe your card, no so much.

[Googlemyahoo]

I only tip at a restaurant. For every issue the tip declines. If I’m seated for a long time without being looked after there 5% gone. If they don’t return frequently to see how things are if we want anything 5% gone. Until there's no tip.

Only did that once. They sat & forgot about us. Finally got a waiter who quickly took our orders but forgot the drinks. Then brought me the wrong order. Manager at least said our dinner was covered, we just up and left.

[Peter_Penetrator]

No. A lot of people do not know that most servers do not get paid minimum wage. The restaurants pay lower. The rest of a server’s income is dependent on tips. Sort of makes since. The more in tips you earn, the more likely the restaurant will continue to get repeat customers.

[Steelcore5280]

People in the service industry when it comes to food have reached a point where they feel ENTITLED to getting a tip, no matter what they do.

It's super selfish for people to expect a tip. I worked in the tour guide industry for a few years. Not once did I expect a tip. I just did my best job.

[Mrgoodstuff62]

💯 tipping is out of control. Everybody wants tips and most people don’t deserve one. In my opinion, only jobs that pay under minimum wage should ask for a tip. Everything is should not be asked and is only a bonus if you get one. You have a wage for a reason.

[Guanfei]

Tipping is typically American.

In the rest of the world, we tip for an exceptional service. Just doing your job doesn't earn you a tip, because you're paid for that, and that's the bare minimum you're expected to provide.

To earn a tip, you have to go beyond that, be extra nice, extra efficient. A tip is a reward, not a tax.

[Anonymous]

Having worked as a waiter and understanding how important tipping is as a motivator for good service, it pisses me off that everyone in the fucking world now thinks they deserve to be tipped just for doing their jobs. It's cheapens tipping and turns people against it.

[Likes2drive]

Yeah, I’ve been seeing that a lot if I use my debit card but if I pay cash, I don’t have to worry about seeing it. I have no idea why they think we’re going to tip when we’re just picking it up or buying it right there

[exitseven]

I go to a takeout place and they have a big tip jar on the counter. I don't leave a tip because they are just doing their job. I always tip the waitstaff when I go out to eat.

[LiamJHayden]

It has, but if one is trying to maintain trained staff and the competitors are offering the tipping at checkout, it makes sense to do the same. Eventually almost everyone in a given market ends up doing so

[sheikalana]

Tipping should be optional and not mandatory and you should give the amount you think it's fair.

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

In China they don’t tip, they’ll feel embarrassed if you tip and they will not accept it.

[ArrowheadSW]

I do tip servers of course. But I rarely tip where it is just a cashier.

[leahzrc]

I work at a starbucks in a grocery store and we have to deny tips every time