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Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

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21–30 of 161 posts

Re: Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

#21
For me, tipping is always emotional blackmail. When you're expected to pay an indeterminate sum above the official price of the service, there's always an implicit pressure to leave more rather than less for fear of looking stingy. Which is why the "unofficial, but official" percentage of tips always goes up. If anything, at a self service it's easier to tip 0, as no one is looking at you while you do it.

Re: Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

#23

I've started favoring cash when buying take-out, if paying in person, for that reason. Damn "tip" field showing up all kinds of places tips were never expected before. What the inappropriate tip screens could do to be a whole lot more like how the world operated just a few years ago, is to add a "round up to next dollar as tip" option and make that the most prominent. However, are employers using the expanded presenc…

But couldn't you have also just given her an extra $20 without it being an integrated and ingrained experience?

Re: Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

#24

Tips are for table service. That's it. When you go to Starbucks, ask for a product, then make payment for that product, and the little POS machine basically says "hey, can we have extra money?" it's systematized panhandling.

What about delivery - GrubHub / Amazon Fresh?

Re: Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

#25
post #7

At the Ferry Building in SF there is a grocery store that also has a cofee shop counter. They use the same POS system for checkout as for coffee/pastries. The grocery side asks for tip on checkout. You bring the groceries, they ring you up, you have to bag them yourself. Then they ask for tip. Makes me furious. “If you could just answer the quick question on screen …” And of course the default options are 15, 20, 25.…

There is nothing more passive aggressive than the phrasing “if you could answer the question on the screen…”. You don’t even have the gall to ask for a tip directly, but you still expect one. If they will be bold enough to look me in the face and ask for a tip, I will give them one, But otherwise no.

Re: Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

#26
I want to see an end to tipping in America. I also want to see servers paid at least a living wage, and the excellent ones to earn more (perhaps by having to move upscale where wages ought to be higher reflecting more skill and effort)

Is there a viable path forward? Is there some way I can support it happening?

Re: Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

#29
post #7

At the Ferry Building in SF there is a grocery store that also has a cofee shop counter. They use the same POS system for checkout as for coffee/pastries. The grocery side asks for tip on checkout. You bring the groceries, they ring you up, you have to bag them yourself. Then they ask for tip. Makes me furious. “If you could just answer the quick question on screen …” And of course the default options are 15, 20, 25.…

Tempting to bring out a calculator at checkout, especially if there is a long line, and start doing the math on the various tip percentage options, then ring for assistance.

Re: Tipping at self-checkout has customers crying ‘emotional blackmail’

#30

I've started favoring cash when buying take-out, if paying in person, for that reason. Damn "tip" field showing up all kinds of places tips were never expected before. What the inappropriate tip screens could do to be a whole lot more like how the world operated just a few years ago, is to add a "round up to next dollar as tip" option and make that the most prominent. However, are employers using the expanded presenc…

How does an employer being a dick make you a dick?
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