NEW YORK (AP) — Across the country, there’s a silent frustration brewing about an age-old practice that many say is getting out of hand: tipping.
Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media complaining about tip requests at drive-thrus, while others say they’re tired of being asked to leave a gratuity for a muffin or a simple cup of coffee at their neighborhood bakery. What’s next, they wonder — are we going to be tipping our doctors and dentists, too?
As more businesses adopt digital payment methods, customers are automatically being prompted to leave a gratuity — many times as high as 30% — at places they normally wouldn’t. And some say it has become more frustrating as the price of items has skyrocketed due to inflation, whicheased to 6.5% in Decemberbut still remains painfully high.
“Suddenly, these screens are at every establishment we encounter. They’re popping up online as well for online orders. And I fear that there is no end,” said etiquette expert Thomas Farley, who considers the whole thing somewhat of “an invasion.”
Unlike tip jars that shoppers can easily ignore if they don’t have spare change, experts say the digital requests can produce social pressure and are more difficult to bypass. And your generosity, or lack thereof, can be laid bare for anyone close enough to glance at the screen — including the workers themselves.
Dylan Schenker is one of them. The 38-year-old earns about $400 a month in tips, which provides a helpful supplement to his $15 hourly wage as a barista at Philadelphia café located inside a restaurant. Most of those tips come from consumers who order coffee drinks or interact with the café for other things, such as carryout orders. The gratuity helps cover his monthly rent and eases some of his burdens while he attends graduate school and juggles his job.
Schenker says it’s hard to sympathize with consumers who are able to afford pricey coffee drinks but complain about tipping. And he often feels demoralized when people don’t leave behind anything extra — especially if they’re regulars.
“Tipping is about making sure the people who are performing that service for you are getting paid what they’re owed,” said Schenker, who’s been working in the service industry for roughly 18 years.
Traditionally, consumers have taken pride in being good tippers at places like restaurants, which typicallypay their workers lower than the minimum wagein expectation they’ll make up the difference in tips. But academics who study the topic say many consumers are now feeling irritated by automatic tip requests at coffee shops and other counter service eateries where tipping has not typically been expected, workers make at least the minimum wage and service is usually limited.
“People do not like unsolicited advice,” said Ismail Karabas, a marketing professor at Murray State University who studies tipping. “They don’t like to be asked for things, especially at the wrong time.”
Some of the requests can also come from odd places. Clarissa Moore, a 35-year-old who works as a supervisor at a utility company in Pennsylvania, said even her mortgage company has been asking for tips lately. Typically, she’s happy to leave a gratuity at restaurants, and sometimes at coffee shops and other fast-food places when the service is good. But, Moore said she believes consumers shouldn’t be asked to tip nearly everywhere they go — and it shouldn’t be something that’s expected of them.
“It makes you feel bad. You feel like you have to do it because they’re asking you to do it,” she said. “But then you have to think about the position that puts people in. They’re paying for something that they really don’t want to pay for, or they’re tipping when they really don’t want to tip — or can’t afford to tip — because they don’t want to feel bad.”
In the book “Emily Post’s Etiquette,” authors Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning advise consumers to tip on ride-shares, like Uber and Lyft, as well as food and beverages, including alcohol. But they also write that it’s up to each person to choose how much to tip at a café or a take-out food service, and that consumers shouldn’t feel embarrassed about choosing the lowest suggested tip amount, and don’t have to explain themselves if they don’t tip.
Digital payment methods have been around for a number of years, though experts say the pandemic has accelerated the trend towards more tipping. Michael Lynn, a consumer behavior professor at Cornell University, said consumers were more generous with tips during the early days of the pandemic in an effort to show support for restaurants and other businesses that were hard hit by COVID-19. Many people genuinely wanted to help out and felt sympathetic to workers who held jobs that put them more at risk of catching the virus, Lynn said.
Tips at full-service restaurants grew by 25.3% in the third quarter of 2022, while gratuities at quick or counter service restaurants went up 16.7% compared to the same time in 2021, according to Square, one of the biggest companies operating digital payment methods. Data provided by the company shows continuous growth for the same period since 2019.
As tip requests have become more common, some businesses are advertising it in their job postings to lure in more workers even though the extra money isn’t always guaranteed.
In December, Starbucks rolled out a new tipping option on credit and debit card transactions at its stores, something a grouporganizing the company’s hourly workershad called for. Since then, a Starbucks spokesperson said nearly half of credit and debit card transactions have included a gratuity, which – along with tips received through cash and the Starbucks app – are distributed based on the number of hours a barista worked on the days the tips were received.
Karabas, the Murray State professor, says some customers, like those who’ve worked in the service industry in the past, want to tip workers at quick service businesses and wouldn’t be irritated by the automatic requests. But for others, research shows they might be less likely to come back to a particular business if they are feeling irritated by the requests, he said.
The final tab might also impact how customers react. Karabas said in the research he did with other academics, they manipulated the payment amounts and found that when the check was high, consumers no longer felt as irritated by the tip requests. That suggests the best time for a coffee shop to ask for that 20% tip, for example, might be on four or five orders of coffee, not a small cup that costs $4.
Some consumers might continue to shrug off the tip requests regardless of the amount.
“If you work for a company, it’s that company’s job to pay you for doing work for them,” said Mike Janavey, a footwear and clothing designer who lives in New York City. “They’re not supposed to be juicing consumers that are already spending money there to pay their employees.”
Schenker, the Philadelphia barista, agrees — to a certain extent.
“The onus should absolutely be on the owners, but that doesn’t change overnight,” he said. “And this is the best thing we have right now.”
(Copyright (c) 2022 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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FAQs
Why tipping should be removed? ›
Tipping is supposedly a repugnant practice because it dehumanizes servers who “must grovel for our change” to make their living. It also supposedly perpetuates poverty among servers, “enshrines” racial and gender discrimination, and encourages sexual harassment.
Who benefits from tipping? ›Tipped Employees Support Tipping
Tipping provides an incentive for exceptional customer service that creates unlimited earning potential for servers. Typically servers earn between $19-25 per hour but many earn significantly more.
"Tipping is important. There are so many services where people aren't even paid minimum wage," says Debby Mayne, etiquette guide for the resource website About.com.
Why do so many places ask for tips now? ›Tips may also be a way for some businesses, already struggling with pandemic-related expenses, difficulty finding staff, and now inflation, to keep their costs down and attract more workers. With tips, workers effectively get a pay raise even if their base pay stays the same.
In what culture is it rude to tip? ›Whilst in much of Asia tipping is not expected, tipping is actually considered rude in the following countries: Japan. China. South Korea.
Is it offensive to tip too much? ›Overtipping proponents say a generous gratuity is a great way to appreciate underpaid service workers like servers and bellhops, but that you shouldn't put your personal finances on the line. If you can't afford to tip, get takeout or skip the tour. In other words, you can tip too much.
Why do Americans tip so much? ›But there's actually a legitimate reason why Americans continue to tip more than Europeans. In the 1960s, the U.S. Congress decided to a so-called “tipping credit,” which meant that the employer could pay the employee under the minimum wage if they earn tips.
Why is tipping mandatory in America? ›Under federal law, tips belong to front-of-house staff, such as servers and bartenders. They earn a lower base pay than back-of-house staff, like cooks and dishwashers, with tips covering the difference. So while the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, it is $2.13 an hour for tipped workers.
What happens if you don't tip in America? ›In America, tipping is optional in name only. Legally it's voluntary but if you slink out of a restaurant without leaving a gratuity of between 15 and 25 per cent, you're likely to be chased by a waiter demanding to know why.
Do you tip at McDonald's USA? ›Large chain stores such as McDonald's don't expect tips. There is often a jar on the counter, but don't feel inclined. Supermarkets can also be confusing. There is no need to tip the checkout employees when you are doing your grocery shop.
Are tips going away? ›
Even though many Americans said they would tip more than usual once business activities resumed after the Covid pandemic, consumer habits haven't changed much in the end. Tipping 20% at a sit-down restaurant is still the standard, etiquette experts say.
What is tip shaming? ›Such "public displays of gratuity" can sometimes lead to "tip shaming," making some customers feel less than generous. "If the guy's standing right there it's like, hey guy, back up," said David Brown Jr. of Harlem. "If he did good work, I'm going to tell him he did good work but don't pressure me."
Who should you not tip? ›Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting founder Jodi Smith says tipping is typically set on precedence and evolves over time. Academic professionals, highly skilled people and small-business owners are a couple of people who you wouldn't typically give a gratuity.
In what countries do you not tip? ›Similarly, waiters and drivers in Australia and New Zealand don't expect a tip, though they appreciate if you throw in a little extra. And in Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and parts of Turkey, it is not customary to tip, but also not frowned upon.
Why do they not tip in Europe? ›At table-service restaurants, the tipping etiquette and procedure vary slightly from country to country. But in general, European servers are well paid, and tips are considered a small "bonus" — to reward great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to a convenient number.
Is America the only country that tips? ›Similar to the U.S., patrons in Canada and Colombia also tip staff 15-20%. In Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru, servers are used to a little less, with 10-15% gratuity being the norm. Most restaurants in Brazil, Chile, and Costa Rica include a 10% sit-down charge to the bill (referred to as a cubierto in Chile).
Is it American culture to tip? ›While tipping is not mandatory in most of the United States, it is customary in many circumstances for service, especially at almost all sit-down restaurants which offer table service and many food servers depend on tips as an essential part of their wage.
Do rich people tip worse? ›Michael Lynn examined the results of a nationwide telephone survey and “found that the higher the income the more people reported tipping waiters and waitresses,” he said today in a telephone interview.
What country tips the most? ›The United States is leading in the countries that tip category, every single time. Tipping is called a gratuity here, where servers or those in customer service ask for a thank you in the form of money. Standard tip amounts range from 15 to 20 percent.
Why is it rude to not tip? ›Tipping gives the waiter an incentive to provide better service. Waiters are paid less than minimum wage and need the money. Refusing to tip is embarrassing: it makes you lose face in front of the waiter and your colleagues. Tipping is a strong social norm and violating it is extremely rude.
How many people don't tip? ›
Remarkably, a little over 7% of American adults say they don't tip at all — almost 19 million people." On the subject of tips, can you make any as an Uber driver?
Should we stop tipping at restaurants? ›Tipping should only occur if you get the nicest, most accommodating server of all time, but it should not be customary. Several states–but still not even close to the majority–have voted to end the two-tiered pay system in restaurants, in which tips belong to front-of-house staff, who then get paid less of a salary.
What is a normal tip in the USA? ›The average tip for perfect service in the U.S. is 20 percent. However, that number can fall as low as 6 percent for bad service. Tipping averages also vary based on the gender of the customer, the region of the country, and the specific services provided (or not provided).
Why is tipping rude in Japan? ›The reason why tipping can be seen as rude in Japan is because they value dignity and respect much more than tipping. The Japanese believe you are already paying for a good service, so there is no need to pay extra by tipping.
Do waiters prefer cash tips? ›Restaurants and Dining Out
tip. According to The Takeout's advice columnist The Salty Waitress, most food industry servers prefer cash tips. They receive that money right away, instead of potentially having to wait until the next payday to receive credit card tips.
Tipping at Starbucks is as voluntary as it is anywhere in the U.S., but a new digital payment solution is now making it tough and awkward to avoid doing so. Some customers, and even some baristas, are displeased with the development.
Do you have to tip the mailman in America? ›Who shouldn't you tip? Tipping the mail carrier may be the most common practice that's technically against the law. Federal regulations forbid postal employees from accepting cash or cash equivalents — that includes that Visa gift card, although they can accept gifts worth $20 or less.
Why is there no tipping in Australia? ›In Australia, culturally we've been more attuned to make tipping voluntary. Tipping is usually an expression of gratitude for service that goes beyond the ordinary, says Mr Dee. “In Australia it's more an expression of your appreciation of better customer service.
Why arent tips going up with inflation? ›TIPS can help protect investors against inflation over the long term, but they aren't a hedge against inflation in the short run, because price changes may more than offset the principal adjustment over shorter periods of time.
How much do you tip a waitress in 2022? ›For the wait staff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be 15 percent to 20 percent of the pretax bill. Tips are not necessary at fast-food restaurants.
Are customers tipping less? ›
Fewer consumers tip 20% or more
Even though many Americans said they would tip more than usual once business activities resumed after the Covid pandemic, consumer habits, in the end, haven't changed much. Tipping 20% at a sit-down restaurant is still the standard, etiquette experts say.
"In a sense, both are gifts intended to strengthen social bonds and each is offered in conjunction with advantageous service. One could even argue that the main difference between the two acts is merely the timing of the gift: Tips follow the rendering of a service, whereas bribes precede it."
Why is accepting tips unethical? ›According to the laws in most states, tips and gratuity constitute money that belongs to the people that earn them, which means that employers are forbidden from taking these funds and utilizing them for their own means.
Why do we tip some services but not others? ›One reason we tip certain professions and not others is because of this perception. It simply makes us feel better knowing we can reward others for their service and attention.
Why is tipping an ethical issue? ›Tipping gives the waiter an incentive to provide better service. Waiters are paid less than minimum wage and need the money. Refusing to tip is embarrassing: it makes you lose face in front of the waiter and your colleagues. Tipping is a strong social norm and violating it is extremely rude.
What are the cons of tipping? ›The most compelling case against tipping is that it drives inequality, promoting age, race and gender biases and huge pay discrepancies. Incorporating the gratuity directly into prices can help eliminate these issues and ensure a fair, predictable wage for all.
Should restaurants do away with tipping? ›Leaving a generous tip is a nice way for customers to show their appreciation for the service provided to them. To discourage tipping may cause confusion for guests and it removes the emotional connection that servers and diners have become accustomed to as part of the restaurant-going experience.
Why is it offensive to tip in other countries? ›In some countries, it's considered rude to tip because doing a good job is just part of the job.
Why is tipping culture so big in America? ›But there's actually a legitimate reason why Americans continue to tip more than Europeans. In the 1960s, the U.S. Congress decided to a so-called “tipping credit,” which meant that the employer could pay the employee under the minimum wage if they earn tips.
What was the original purpose of tipping? ›The practice of tipping began in Tudor England. In medieval times, tipping was a master-serf custom wherein a servant would receive extra money for having performed superbly well.
Is it ethical to not tip? ›
It's mandatory. It may seem voluntary and perhaps it is legally, but in the U.S., a tip of 15% to 20% is necessary and standard. It's built into the wage and price structure of wherever you dine and if you leave less than that – or don't tip at all – you are docking your server's salary.
Why not ban tipping? ›Tipping gives customers more control.
Anti-tippers complain about the social pressure tipping causes, as if some poor waitress's college education and entire future rides on whether a few customers here or there leave her 25% rather than 15%. It doesn't.
Similarly, waiters and drivers in Australia and New Zealand don't expect a tip, though they appreciate if you throw in a little extra. And in Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and parts of Turkey, it is not customary to tip, but also not frowned upon.
Why does China not tip? ›Tipping in China is generally uncommon and can even be considered rude or embarrassing in some circumstances. Seriously. Leaving money on a table in an authentic restaurant may confuse a staff member or cause them stress.
Is it OK not to tip in USA? ›Tipping is not mandatory in the United States, so there are no laws that govern how much gratuity should be paid. That means it is generally up to you to decide how much of a tip to leave a server at a restaurant.
Why do Germans not tip? ›Under German tax law, Bedienungsgeld (“service money”) is a mandatory service fee that restaurant customers must pay, since it is included in the menu prices. That means it is subject to income tax, and that tax is deducted/withheld from the food server's pay. It is not “tip money”!