- Certain individuals are encountering " "tip exhaustion" since additional establishments now ask for gratuities For additional products and services.
- However, customers are resisting this trend, despite some employees stating that they now depend on tips more than before.
- Is it alright to just do this? not What do experts advise in such instances—even when requested to?
The practice of tipping seems to be expanding wherever you observe. —and some customers are tired of it, questioning when it’s acceptable to just not tip.
Ultimately, nowadays, when you buy something from a café, convenience store, or even a self-checkout kiosk , you could receive a prompt on the checkout screen asking for a tip.
Some customers could potentially be disregarding these prompts due to a wave of tipping exhaustion Others may simply be curious about the unwritten rules that have emerged recently.
Their dissatisfaction is evident: Approximately 59% of American adults hold an unfavorable opinion about tipping (down slightly from 66% in 2023), and over a third believe that the practice of tipping has become excessive, as reported by Bankrate. survey from June.
"People are being asked to tip in contexts where they have not traditionally been asked to tip, and they're being asked to tip larger amounts in those occupations where they are used to leaving tips — and it's that felt social pressure that's irritating people," said tipping expert Michael Lynn He is a professor specializing in consumer behavior and marketing at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
Business Insider consulted tipping and etiquette specialists to determine precisely when you can skip a gratuity without committing a social blunder.
Consider it a recommendation, not a requirement.
During the pandemic, people began tipping more kindly, setting a new standard for worker tip expectations. As we transition to life after the pandemic, many companies continue to depend on tips to enhance their employees' earnings.
The widespread presence of checkout stations featuring tip suggestions also stems from this. an increasing number of companies that have implemented retail-oriented checkout technologies , similar to Toast or Square, over the past few years.
Thomas Farley, a New York-based manners specialist referred to as Mister Manners said to Business Insider that these elements do not automatically lead to the assumption that tips should be increased.
"Even though the display during these point-of-purchase or over-the-counter transactions offers you this recommendation, consider it simply as advice rather than something mandatory," Farley stated.
You have the option to bypass adding a tip when using self-checkout kiosks...
We understand the importance of tipping when receiving services, but how should we handle situations where we’re the ones offering the service?
What truly astonishes me is that individuals are now expected to tip for using self-service kiosks andcheckout lanes," Lynn stated. "This is the aspect that shocks me the most since it’s unclear who actually benefits from these gratuities.
If you're scanning your own items, there's no need to tip, he assures.
... and avoid tipping for takeout and counter service, such as when getting coffee.
If you're collecting your own meal, you might as well omit the tip as well. Of course, food delivery varies when it comes to tipping. .)
Since you’ve already covered the cost when paying for your takeaway, it’s simply waiting on the counter; once you’re ready, you can just pick it up and head out,” explained etiquette specialist Avery Johnson. The Academy of Southern Politeness. Nevertheless, she points out that you can leave a tip of 10% or higher when ordering takeout, particularly if you made special requests such as asking for extra items.
Lynn similarly omits tipping when ordering takeout—this includes scenarios where she orders items such as a cold brew and a pastry from a coffee shop with self-serve options.
There's no need to feel obligated to leave a tip for a sweatshirt you've recently purchased.
The guidelines for tipping etiquette can become somewhat unclear when tips automatically appear as prompts during retail transactions, according to Farley.
Imagine you secured tickets to catch the largest musical event of the year , and you decide to purchase a $100 sweatshirt as a memento of the event. You head over to the merchandise booth where the attendant has to use a pole to retrieve the sweatshirt you chose from an upper shelf. As you proceed to pay at the checkout, the screen asks whether you’d like to add a tip to your payment.
Customers who have never previously left tips for this kind of service might question whether they should add an extra amount now.
Farley mentioned that in such situations, customers are not supposed to leave tips. He explained, "Even when there’s a transaction and someone is friendly and offers good service with a smile, tipping remains optional."
... or a tip on a meal for which you've already covered the gratuity.
Farley mentioned that the strangest tipping request he has ever encountered happened at a full-service eatery where the menu clearly stated that a mandatory service charge of 20% would be added to the total bill amount.
When the server presented Farley with the final bill, however, the card reader prompted him to add an additional 20% as a tip.
“I felt quite perplexed,” Farley stated. When he inquired with the waiter about the additional fee, he mentioned that the server informed him the 20% tip was meant to be shared among all the staff members, whereas the 20% suggested on the credit card machine pertained exclusively to his personal service during the evening.
Farley stated, 'The service wasn’t 40%, it was only 20%, yet I ended up having to pay for 40%.'
If you're concerned about finding yourself in this scenario, Farley suggested asking the restaurant to eliminate the upfront gratuity fee. He noted that “if you feel very strongly about it and believe that responsibility should not fall upon you, many of the restaurant owners I’ve spoken with or whose interviews I’ve read would agree to remove that charge if customers express their desire for it to be waived.”
Alternatively, he recommended researching a restaurant's tipping policy beforehand to prevent an uncomfortable situation.
If you liked this tale, make sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.
Post a Comment