Tip Culture

[SlammedZero]

Is it just me, or is tip culture getting out of control?

I stopped by Dairy Queen today, and when I paid, the tip screen popped up, even though it was just a quick counter order. I don’t mind tipping for good service, but it feels like everywhere you go now, you’re being prompted to tip for things that never used to require it. Even drive-thrus these days.......you’re just handing me my food through a window in a paper bag.

I get that times are tough and workers deserve fair pay, but when there’s no real service beyond handing over the food, it feels like the tipping expectation is more about guilt than gratitude. Am I being cheap, or are others feeling this way too?

 

[nightrain]

Another gift from the covid lunacy period. Take-out employees suddenly became front line workers. Now, we are expected to tip for a cup of coffee at the take-out counter.

 

[Tabascocat]

I believe that tips have their place like servers, bartenders, valets, etc etc but it is getting out of hand. I went to a liquor store, not a bar, but a store the other day. I picked out my own wine and beer. After the guy rang it up, I get a prompt to tip and it was 20, 25 or 30%……not even a custom option. That is absurd and I feel guilty if I decline in that situation.

There is a McDonald’s near me that has a tip jar

 

[Doomsday]

It is beyond out of control. Saw a sign on a restaurant the other day that said if you can't afford a 30% tip you are not welcome.

Long story short, I had no interest in being welcomed and went elsewhere.

 

[nobody]

I only tip when it is a traditional tipping position.. Waiters/Waitresses, bartenders, valets, etc. There's ONE exception. This one sandwich place I go to for a cheesesteak sandwich. That cook always gets a tip from me, because he's that good.

Aside from that, I would never pay a fast food worker a tip, or a Barrista, or anything like that. They get paid minimum wage or better, not waiter pay. Here in Texas, wait staff typically makes $2.13 an hour plus tips. The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25

That's quite a difference. Bear in mind, those are just the minimums, but I shouldn't be expected to lift up a fast food worker's wages to living wages on top of paying for the food. That's on the businesses. Of course, I think wait staff should absolutely have their minimum wage raised to the regular minimum wage, but that won't change any time soon.

It is beyond out of control. Saw a sign on a restaurant the other day that said if you can't afford a 30% tip you are not welcome.

Long story short, I had no interest in being welcomed and went elsewhere.

I hope places like that go out of business.

 

[Runwildboys]

I believe that tips have their place like servers, bartenders, valets, etc etc but it is getting out of hand. I went to a liquor store, not a bar, but a store the other day. I picked out my own wine and beer. After the guy rang it up, I get a prompt to tip and it was 20, 25 or 30%……not even a custom option. That is absurd and I feel guilty if I decline in that situation.

There is a McDonald’s near me that has a tip jar

I went to Popeye's yesterday, and there was a tip box. I actually gave a dollar, just because I got my sandwich in a reasonable amount of time, and the people behind the counter didn't act like I wasn't supposed to be there. It's been a long time since I've had good service at a Popeye's, so I wanted to encourage it.

 

[CyberB0b]

Is it just me, or is tip culture getting out of control?

I stopped by Dairy Queen today, and when I paid, the tip screen popped up, even though it was just a quick counter order. I don’t mind tipping for good service, but it feels like everywhere you go now, you’re being prompted to tip for things that never used to require it. Even drive-thrus these days.......you’re just handing me my food through a window in a paper bag.

I get that times are tough and workers deserve fair pay, but when there’s no real service beyond handing over the food, it feels like the tipping expectation is more about guilt than gratitude. Am I being cheap, or are others feeling this way too?

You’re not insane. It’s out of hand. It’s easy to hit $0, though.

 

[nobody]

I went to Popeye's yesterday, and there was a tip box. I actually gave a dollar, just because I got my sandwich in a reasonable amount of time, and the people behind the counter didn't act like I wasn't supposed to be there. It's been a long time since I've had good service at a Popeye's, so I wanted to encourage it.

I like how Arby's does it here. No tip jars. if you have good service, ring the bell on the wall as you're exiting. They always cheer when it's rang. Every single time.

 

[SlammedZero]

You’re not insane. It’s out of hand. It’s easy to hit $0, though.

That's fair, but I always feel like a cheap mofo. They guilt me in. Lol

 

[Runwildboys]

I like how Arby's does it here. No tip jars. if you have good service, ring the bell on the wall as you're exiting. They always cheer when it's rang. Every single time.

One Wendy's I go to has a bell. I've never heard it rung.

 

[Creeper]

A Chinese restaurant here has a space for tipping when you online order the food, even though it is pick-up. I never tip. I'm on the one driving to pick up the food!

 

[VaqueroTD]

Is it just me, or is tip culture getting out of control?

I stopped by Dairy Queen today, and when I paid, the tip screen popped up, even though it was just a quick counter order. I don’t mind tipping for good service, but it feels like everywhere you go now, you’re being prompted to tip for things that never used to require it. Even drive-thrus these days.......you’re just handing me my food through a window in a paper bag.

I get that times are tough and workers deserve fair pay, but when there’s no real service beyond handing over the food, it feels like the tipping expectation is more about guilt than gratitude. Am I being cheap, or are others feeling this way too?

Call me old, but yes, I've stopped tipping some of the accepted norms after covid. Don't get me wrong, I'll always tip 20-30% at a restaurant if they are working their butt off and have a good personality, but I stop at the 15% minimum for Door Dash and Uber Eats. Unless you're having someone go shopping for you, they can take the $5 like the pizza guy. They're doing the same freaking thing. And yes, the pickup counters with tip jars are annoying as hell, as are the coffee shops. I don't get anything fancy, just a shot of espresso with my coffee which is already overpriced, they don't need restaurant level tips. Seems like most places, I have to add my extras myself, and now the corporations want me to also tip so they can save some money?

 

[Vtwin]

I know it is cliche and overblown at times but if you ever find yourself in a "discussion" with someone about the rise of an entitlement mentality with each new generation you can use the current state of tipping culture as your sledgehammer.

Also useful in a discussion about the new age 'identity kindness' era we're in.

 

[CyberB0b]

I know it is cliche and overblown at times but if you ever find yourself in a "discussion" with someone about the rise of an entitlement mentality with each new generation you can use the current state of tipping culture as your sledgehammer.

Also useful in a discussion about the new age 'identity kindness' era we're in.

I don't think service workers en mass started a campaign to push tips on all of the POS systems. I believe it is the credit card facilitators that have done this. They take a percentage of the total bill, so they are highly incentivized to guilt people into pushing the bill up 10-30%. In fact, I have seen some workers reach over and hit $0 for me before I can even see it on the screen.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Dont people that get tips typically make less than minimum wage?

 

[HungryLion]

Yes tipping culture has gotten out of hand.

Waiters and waitresses. Sure.

Delivery drivers yes.

Barber. Sure.

But takeout counters? Heck no.

If you ask me it’s just another ploy by the employers to not pay their staff a decent wage.

 

[CyberB0b]

Dont people that get tips typically make less than minimum wage?

Waiters do, no one else does. Drivers, stylists, masseuses, baristas, all make more than minimum wage.

 

[Tabascocat]

Dont people that get tips typically make less than minimum wage?

Outside of servers and bartenders, no.

 

[Vtwin]

Dont people that get tips typically make less than minimum wage?

A million years ago when I was neck deep in the restaurant business servers made 2.01/hrs plus tips. Minimum wage was something like 3.35/hr.

Not one of them would have traded that system for one that paid them double minimum wage with no tips. They made very good money on tips alone. Back when the standard was 15%.

 

[Vtwin]

I don't think service workers en mass started a campaign to push tips on all of the POS systems. I believe it is the credit card facilitators that have done this. They take a percentage of the total bill, so they are highly incentivized to guilt people into pushing the bill up 10-30%. In fact, I have seen some workers reach over and hit $0 for me before I can even see it on the screen.

Good point.

I was more talking about the tip jars on the deli counter, being asked if you'd like to tip when picking up your takeout, the standard percentage going up and the talk of "if you can't afford 20 or 30 percent tip you shouldn't go out. That kind of entitlement mentality.