Tipping is out of control (need some guidance)

[DirkG]

I wanted to get other opinions as I tend to be generous with my tipping for good service, but nowadays people/places are asking for tips when almost zero service has been rendered.

An example: Yogurtland

• I walk in with my kids.
• There's usually nobody behind the counter and the the worker is in the back.
• There's a station to grab a cup.
• We take our cups and fill the frozen yogurt ourselves.
• There's a station for toppings.
• We choose our toppings and fill the cups ourselves with self-serve tongs.
• We walk up to the register and place our cups on the weigh machine.
• At this time the worker comes from the back and pushes a button on the register.
• I place my ATM card in the reader and punch in my PIN.
• In looking at the screen, it asks for a tip with [22%] - [20%] - [18%] as options (in that order) and then [Other] is listed below.
• It was like $18.50, so if I selected 22%, that's an extra $4 or so. Did this person really deserve $4 for pushing a button while we did the actual work?
• I selected [Other] and punched in $2.00 (which I thought was very generous) and went on our way.

Is that being a dick?

I understand times are tough, but we're all having challenges and it seems everywhere I turn, I'm being asked for a tip. Plus, in the scenario above, I don't think the worker gets all $2 of my digital tip. So it's like Yogurtland gets extra profits.

What are your guys thoughts? I'd especially like to hear from someone in the service industry.

Like when I go pick up my pizza at the pizzaria (I drove there), am I expected to tip the guy handing me the pizza? They slip me my receipt and ask me to sign and I swear that "Tip" line stares back at me ? How much do you tip in this scenario?

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[Bobchadwickga]

Saw some guidance from a financial person the other day. They didn't recommend any tip for pushing a button but up to 15 or 20% if you go to a place like Starbucks where the Barrista takes and makes a custom order.

 

[Tom C]

For that situation, which I've enountered many times, I choose "Other" and put "$0.00" as the tip amount. It's kind of a way to guilt you into tipping.

There's a burger place that does the same thing that I go to. It is quite irritating. You go to the counter, place the order, and pick up the order when they call your name. The amount plus a choice of tip shows on the display. Sorry, maybe I'm cheap, but no tip for doing a basic job.

This also shows up on the screen when I go to pay at my local Sonic drive thru. Nope, no tip for me picking it up at a drive thru window.

To me, sit down restuarants, where you actually get service, is a different story. For average service, I still tip 20%.

 

[Shopshirt]

Tip Flation!

I feel you on tip fatigue. I hate being at a Burger joint for counter service when the cashier flips the screen and says ,"a couple of questions for you. Read... Tip me for ringing up your order that you'll have to come back to get yourself.

The rule of thumb used to be you don't tip for counter service you do tip for a sit down full service meal. To me counter service is same as fast food. By the way, only wait staff in full service restaurants make reduced wages. Generally, counter staff, bus boys, and cooks have to be paid an min wage or higher. Not that min wage is setting the bar much higher. I disagree on the Barista unless they are making you some weird a$$ concoction no tip.

The other thing is the scale starts at 20% now used to be 15%.

Don't get me started on the service fee they try to slide into the bill on top of tipping now.

 

[Tom C]

Tip Flation!

I feel you on tip fatigue. I hate being at a Burger joint for counter service when the cashier flips the screen and says ,"a couple of questions for you. Read... Tip me for ringing up your order that you'll have to come back to get yourself.

The rule of thumb used to be you don't tip for counter service you do tip for a sit down full service meal. To me counter service is same as fast food. By the way, only wait staff in full service restaurants make reduced wages. Generally, counter staff, bus boys, and cooks have to be paid an min wage or higher. Not that min wage is setting the bar much higher. I disagree on the Barista unless they are making you some weird a$$ concoction no tip.

The other thing is the scale starts at 20% now used to be 15%.

Don't get me started on the service fee they try to slide into the bill on top of tipping now.

I had one slip in a credit card fee of 4%. I feel that needs to be stated up front before I pay.

Tip Flation!

I feel you on tip fatigue. I hate being at a Burger joint for counter service when the cashier flips the screen and says ,"a couple of questions for you. Read... Tip me for ringing up your order that you'll have to come back to get yourself.

The rule of thumb used to be you don't tip for counter service you do tip for a sit down full service meal. To me counter service is same as fast food. By the way, only wait staff in full service restaurants make reduced wages. Generally, counter staff, bus boys, and cooks have to be paid an min wage or higher. Not that min wage is setting the bar much higher. I disagree on the Barista unless they are making you some weird a$$ concoction no tip.

The other thing is the scale starts at 20% now used to be 15%.

Don't get me started on the service fee they try to slide into the bill on top of tipping now.

I we all stick together and stop giving a tip for counter service, then not tipping counter service will become the norm again.

 

[Hootbro]

Yeah, I do not tip for counter or self serve establishments. That is a bare minimum threshold.

Table service is different but I do have issue with how the starting minimum percentage rates have gone up when my income has not. I remember 10% being the norm, then 15% and now they are pushing 20% plus. Better be hot damn great service before I am tipping 20% or higher.

I get the argument of how low they are getting paid base and the + tip income is their lions share, but part of me feels like I am feeding a system that is broken.

 

[SpeedNeed]

I agree, out of control. I’d guess the craziness is somewhat regional, and worse in urban areas. But I don’t know.

New York Magazine published a “guide” in Feb.2023 which at Least clarified the expectations:

https://www.grubstreet.com/article/how-much-to-tip-new-etiquette-rules.html

 

[Rusty PW]

They don't tip in Europe.

I'll tip for full service. The better the service, more the tip. Fast food places. No tip.

 

[legacy_etu]

Nope, for that situation they get a 0$ tip from me.

normally I’m a generous tipper but only in situations where they provide me with service. Standing behind a register and punching me out after I did all the work does NOT qualify.

 

[DirkG]

New York Magazine published a “guide” in Feb.2023 which at Least clarified the expectations:
https://www.grubstreet.com/article/how-much-to-tip-new-etiquette-rules.html

This is a great guide, thank you.

And thanks all for the feedback, and the @Hootbro note about "part of me feels like I am feeding a system that is broken" hits the nail on the head.

 

[Jefe1018]

I’ll tip cab and Uber/Lyft drivers, folks delivering food, runners if they bring food to the car for take out, my barber, my car wash guys, valets, housekeeping and of course traditional bartenders and servers. I’m probably leaving someone out. I’m not cheap, but I’m also not tipping a barista for making coffee I order through an app and already am paying $6-7 for or other restaurants where I walk up to a counter and all they do is hit some buttons and flip an iPad to guilt me into paying more.

 

[Rusty PW]

How much do you guys tip strippers and escorts?

 

[Shopshirt]

So basically the article says tip the world. I usually tip 20% but I'm not tipping in the button pushing, counter service. I found myself being guilted into tipping the world initially but i've generally stopped in the aforementioned scenarios.

 

[DirkG]

How much do you guys tip strippers and escorts?

I think the going rate is just the tip.

 

[SSinGA]

I agree, out of control. I’d guess the craziness is somewhat regional, and worse in urban areas. But I don’t know.

New York Magazine published a “guide” in Feb.2023 which at Least clarified the expectations:

https://www.grubstreet.com/article/how-much-to-tip-new-etiquette-rules.html

I am calling BS on that article!

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