Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#61

Post by eatsyourtacos » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:55 PM UTC

cammikebrown wrote: post #5

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…

>but most people tip fine.

We tip out of guilt. I literally freaking hate it, and I'm starting to tip less and less and prices go up.

Why should I tip you to pour me a drink? You are literally just doing your job. I don't call up my customers for a tip when I release an update to their program. I don't send them invoices with a TIP line and show how much 15, 18, 20% of the invoice is so they can add on to it.

Tipping culture is literally (1) employers paying their workers as little as possible and (2) preying on peoples emotions.

It's also a completely asymmetric transaction. How do I know if you are receiving below minimum wage or minimum wage/more? How do I know if you are getting healthcare, or other benefits? Yet I'm supposed to just assume you are being paid almost zero and give as much of my money to you as I can otherwise I will feel guilty.

I'm ranting in general obviously, not at you. But seriously people tip out of guilt and thinking people like you are not making very much money otherwise. It's the dumbest system ever.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#62

Post by jakelazaroff » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:56 PM UTC

maerF0x0 wrote: post #33

Some (many?) countries have demonstrated that no-tipping can work just fine. > makes them less competitive to any nearby coffeeshops that haven't raised prices Maybe I'm an outlier but for me I'm sick of the mental game of "Am I good member of society for the % I selected, and how much will my date judge me if I choose what used to be the norm -- 10%-15%... and am I the sucker if I choose a high amount while other pe…

> Why cant we just give employees dignity and a fair wage?

Apropos of nothing, I’ll just mention that the Fed is currently trying to decrease employment [1] and eliminate people’s savings [2].

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2022/08/27/fed-chair-...

[2] https://twitter.com/schwarz/status/1587873284997218304

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#63

Post by Der_Einzige » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:56 PM UTC

lghh wrote: post #18

Der_Einzige wrote: post #3

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 w…

I'm talking about being spat in the NEXT time you go there.

If you're known to not tip, you're at risk of this behavior.

It's far worse with things like UberEATS. Your paying the driver to not eat your fries and sip your drink

One time, my drink from UberEATS had a line of lipstick on the rim of the straw. I guess I should have tipped more.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#64

Post by FalconSensei » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:56 PM UTC

joenot443 wrote: post #48

kshacker wrote: 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.

Of the dozens and dozens of times I've smiled and happily tapped 0% or No Tip, I've never had the cashier say a thing. I did four years of minimum wage work at McDonalds. The only time I can remember getting tipped was when I jumped out the window after a $50 the guy had dropped. He let me keep the $10 change. If people running a drive-thru for 12h without a break don't deserve tips, I don't see why the people pourin…

Exactly. Nothing makes sense in the end when you think about it.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#65

Post by mgkimsal » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:56 PM UTC

aforty wrote: post #50

What I really don’t understand are mandated tips. One of my favorite local bakeries implemented a 20% tip at checkout, whether paying cash, card or otherwise and then a screen comes up that allows you to tip extra. Just raise your prices at that point.

wondering if it lets you account for that money separately. IIRC, 'tips' don't necessarily count as 'wages', and would be taxed differently. however, also, IIRC, automatic tips - like you described - aren't counted that way. so yeah, just raise your prices.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#66

Post by reidjs » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:56 PM UTC

snowwrestler wrote: post #44

This is exactly how I think about tipping. I, and many friends and family, worked retail and food service jobs when we were young. Now I’m professionally successful and will not miss a couple extra bucks on a cup of coffee. So I’m happy to help boost the person serving it to me. I know it means way more to them than it does to me. This also explains why people (including me) get SO MAD if they find out that tips don’…

This is why I always try to tip in cash, even when paying with a credit card. Higher chance of the tip actually going to the worker(s) and not their managers.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#67

Post by dheera » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:57 PM UTC

lbriner wrote: post #54

maerF0x0 wrote: post #33

Some (many?) countries have demonstrated that no-tipping can work just fine. > makes them less competitive to any nearby coffeeshops that haven't raised prices Maybe I'm an outlier but for me I'm sick of the mental game of "Am I good member of society for the % I selected, and how much will my date judge me if I choose what used to be the norm -- 10%-15%... and am I the sucker if I choose a high amount while other pe…

It seems different in the US, where everyone is expected to tip as part of the overall price, like the article describes, and there is tipping Europe where the tip is not needed to boost the wage to an acceptable level but is simply to reward people who have gone above and beyond. In many restaurants in the UK, a "tip" is automatically included for large parties to reward the extra work required but can be removed on…

I live in the US and I HATE tipping.

Just multiply all the menu items by 1.15, 1.18, 1.20, or whatever you need to ensure your wait staff is happy, and re-print the menu.

Don't make ME have to bust out a calculator and do math after my meal, and then have to decide which of the above numbers I should use.

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#68

Post by FalconSensei » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:57 PM UTC

waynesonfire wrote: post #14

sergiotapia wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> employee that's willing to show up to work and service you

So you tip the cashier at the supermarket? They bag your groceries for you

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#69

Post by soperj » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:57 PM UTC

snowwrestler wrote: post #44

This is exactly how I think about tipping. I, and many friends and family, worked retail and food service jobs when we were young. Now I’m professionally successful and will not miss a couple extra bucks on a cup of coffee. So I’m happy to help boost the person serving it to me. I know it means way more to them than it does to me. This also explains why people (including me) get SO MAD if they find out that tips don’…

I used to work shipping & receiving, where I got minimum wage, and didn't get a tip for anything. That's why I'm happy to let people working retail & food service jobs just do the work for their wage.

See how that works?

Re: Why Is Tipping Everywhere You Checkout?

#70

Post by ghaff » Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 4:57 PM UTC

krustyburger wrote: post #28

Arguing that new (or newly-conspicuous) PoS tipping is just a way to get price-insensitive spenders to pay more ignores the social dynamic which will cause many price-conscious customers to tip when they can’t really afford to or else to not tip and feel uncomfortable. In either case, these price-conscious customers are less likely to come back. But since this PoS tipping trend seems strongest in hip, gentrified shop…

>new (or newly-conspicuous) PoS tipping

Increasingly, in the US, people don't carry cash/coins with them. I might have a "just in case" $20 or two but I mostly don't have currency to cash tip which is probably one reason you see it appearing more on PoS devices.