Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
passingtime.substack.com
Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
1–10 of 46 posts
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#2Minor tipping is a good thing in that it's a way to give feedback and create incentive. The problem is that the expected amount is too high. A full-service restaurant expects around 15%, but a sandwich shop should expect more like 5%. Tipping should also be done after the service is rendered, not before. Otherwise, it has no feedback value.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#3Minor tipping is a good thing in that it's a way to give feedback and create incentive. The problem is that the expected amount is too high. A full-service restaurant expects around 15%, but a sandwich shop should expect more like 5%. Tipping should also be done after the service is rendered, not before. Otherwise, it has no feedback value.
A sandwich shop is selling you an item for a price. Handing you the item you bought isn't rendering a service, and so there's nothing to tip for.
The idea of tips as feedback is fallacious - a server doesn't know if a 15% vs 20% tip is due to their performance or just the person tipping. And the service has to be really bad to leave no tip at all (and even then, there are plenty of people who do this regardless of service). Furthermore, especially with a to go order, customers won't even see their orders until they get to where they're going and unpack. The real incentive/feedback in the restaurant industry is whether customers come back.
The answer to the larger topic is just say no to attempts to expand the terrible practice - the original Uber had it right. And stop making excuses for not paying attention to dark patterned UIs, like being perpetually "in a rush" or worried about the people behind you in line. Take some responsibility for knowing how much your order should cost, so you notice when the big number disagrees.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#4Minor tipping is a good thing in that it's a way to give feedback and create incentive. The problem is that the expected amount is too high. A full-service restaurant expects around 15%, but a sandwich shop should expect more like 5%. Tipping should also be done after the service is rendered, not before. Otherwise, it has no feedback value.
It's a terrible thing. Just set the price and be done with it.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#5Service seems to be better in places that don’t accept tips. Maybe the business should be responsible for maintaining a level of service, not individual customers.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#6I think it's justifiable to tip for service but if you're just picking something up, it's retail, and that's not something you should be tipping for. The writer should've choose a custom tip of $0.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#7I simply do not return to a restaurant where the server holds the POS screen in front of you at the table for all to see. Usually the tip is pre-selected for something like 25%. Clicking "custom" and choosing a different amount is intended to make you feel embarrassed.
Another place is counter service. They want a tip right after you order and are paying. Haven't even tried the food. No idea how the service is going to be.....and you want a tip....based on what?
These places will not see me again.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#8I only tip bartenders, delivery people, and waiters at actual sit-down restaurants after the check arrives. Everyone else gets 0.
I don't think I've ever had any friction about this. Sounds like social anxiety.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#9I was happy to tip, even for counter service, during the pandemic. I think it sucks that people were out literally risking their lives to give me a cup of coffee and a sandwich.
"Essential" personnel have long been underpaid. The pandemic made that more obvious. I would rather that they get a decent salary, and set prices accordingly, but I can at least show my gratitude for the genuine risk they're taking.
Now that the pandemic is over, of course the store owners don't want to reverse the ratchet. They've had a hard time keeping staff, because they're fed up, and they're hoping to raise prices without raising prices.
I know that tipping is controversial even among tipped staff. For many the net result is well above minimum wage, and they'd take an effective cut if we paid them $15/hour. Places that experiment with eliminating tipping often give up, in part because customers are bad at math and will go to places that are "cheaper" on the menu.
It's just a bad situation. It's clear that the lack of tipping in Europe does not create bad service, but there doesn't seem to be any way to that point from here.
Re: Tipping Is Spreading and It Sucks
#10I simply do not return to a restaurant where the server holds the POS screen in front of you at the table for all to see. Usually the tip is pre-selected for something like 25%. Clicking "custom" and choosing a different amount is intended to make you feel embarrassed. Another place is counter service. They want a tip right after you order and are paying. Haven't even tried the food. No idea how the service is going…
Are there even any places left for you to go?