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Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

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Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#11
Is there any empirical backing for this narrative? Some of this reads as pretty counter to intuition.

Most suspicious in my mind is the core presupposition (not a contention, a presupposition--the article doesn't even argue for it!) that rich people will step up to the opportunity to fulfill their noble obligation to give more to the less wealthy. Having known some pretty stingy wealthy people (and some very generous blue-collar people), it's not obvious to me that this is true.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#14
post #2

But the cost of carrying deadweight by shaming is not going to work forever. I have been shaming myself and clicking lowest % shown in the screen but this past weekend I finally said no and clicked on 0%. Was not a restaurant just to pick up something pre ordered forget where.

I think it's a US thing. I came from Bolivia and never once tipped anywhere outside of restaurants. No, I won't tip you for packaging 4 cookies in a box at Crumbl Cookies lol.

The intent is not to reward a task. It's a nod of appreciation that there is even an employee that's willing to show up to work and service you. You give them a dollar.

At least that's how I look at it. I'm not a fan either just articulating my attitude towards it.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#15

The only reason I continue to tip is the knowledge that my food will be spat in / worse if I don't. I would happily pay higher food prices to avoid tipping culture. Tipping culture simply doesn't exist in most of the world, and Americans who can't imagine a world without it here have no vision.

I personally got so exhausted from decision fatigue and being forced to choose a tip or not that I just go to fewer coffee shops as a result.

Make it a seamless experience (single tap) and charge enough to cover costs plus profits plus a good wage and I'm happy to support.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#16

Cash tips seem like the way to go primarily because you're not relying on the employer to calculate and distribute them to line employees and because they're not being reported as income and taxed. That might not be the "law", but that's pretty much de-facto what happens everywhere.

> they're not being reported as income and taxed.That might not be the "law", but that's pretty much de-facto what happens everywhere

In other words, it punishes the most virtuous; those higher on the spectrum unscrupulousness benefit the most. Not a good arrangement.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#18

The only reason I continue to tip is the knowledge that my food will be spat in / worse if I don't. I would happily pay higher food prices to avoid tipping culture. Tipping culture simply doesn't exist in most of the world, and Americans who can't imagine a world without it here have no vision.

The post addresses why raising prices isn't a good option for most businesses. I find the argument convincing. Tipping culture _is_ you paying the higher price.

> The only reason I continue to tip is the knowledge that my food will be spat in / worse if I don't.

I know this is anecdotal, but I have worked in many places that serve food/drinks & take tips. I have never seen someone get their food spat in. The places where tips are most expected, restaurants with wait staff + bars, ask for tips at the end of service. All other places don't have the expectation of tips beyond it being nice to get one.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#19

As a bartender, I know that I will make more money from tips than any business owner would ever pay me, even if prices were raised 20+% and tipping was removed. I’d rather risk a slow shift with less tips than work a job with a slightly higher hourly rate and no tips. I know there is a lot of bitching online about tips, and I agree that since COVID I’ve seen some absurd situations with asking for tips when the custom…

Question, how much to tip per drink to be a good patron? :)

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#20

Is there any empirical backing for this narrative? Some of this reads as pretty counter to intuition. Most suspicious in my mind is the core presupposition (not a contention, a presupposition--the article doesn't even argue for it!) that rich people will step up to the opportunity to fulfill their noble obligation to give more to the less wealthy. Having known some pretty stingy wealthy people (and some very generous…

Seems anecdotally true to me that middle class+ people will mindlessly accept the 20% default grat, and budget-conscious people don't.
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