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

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61–70 of 161 posts

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

#61

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…

Charitably, I used to assume that they use the same POS or credit card system for carry-out as dine-in, so all the credit card tickets have the tip line.

But now you see it in places that are carry-out only, maybe with the excuse that "it's for the kitchen." That doesn't fly for me because tips were always a reward for good service. Handing a bag of food over the counter doesn't qualify as far as I'm concerned. Even if a dining room is provided, if I'm carrying my food to the table, filling my own drinks, etc. then there's nothing to tip for.

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

#62

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?

I've gotten to the point where I will flat out boycott any new service that expects tips. Tipping at restaurants is deeply ingrained into our culture and will be hard to change, but the ever expanding set of places where tipping is now requested/expected is ridiculous. New startups whose business model is to pay their employees shit and then guilt customers into tipping will never get my business.

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

#63

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?

Probably not. Prices for just decent places are already ridiculous since the pandemic, and they would use salaries as an excuse to raise prices further or to fight it. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the revenue goes to the owners but they still whine about tight margins though.

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

#64
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.

Honestly, the clerk didn’t put that screen in, they may be just as abashed as we are furious. I don’t envy their position. I doubt point of sale tips even go to the clerk.

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

#65
post #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?

Yeah, and a tip jar would have done the trick, too. But just handing her extra money would be a bit socially weird—having the tip button or a jar or something takes that factor out of it.

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

#66

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.

They also ask you to tip before you've been served.

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

#67
I tipped my local coffee shop three dollars, drove away with my three drinks, then discovered later they had messed up all my drinks. That was humiliating.

On the other hand, somebody at our local pizza joint recently made the most perfect version of our favorite pizza we've had yet. When it was time to pay, I tipped extra and wrote a note complimenting the worker who made our pizza. That felt good and just.

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

#68

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?

Yes, raise the minimum wage to something that a person can live on.

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

#69

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.

From a business perspective, that's fantastic ROI, almost infinite. It's basically a donation, handing over money voluntarily with getting nothing in return.

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

#70
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you do any of that, you might get to stay for a little longer than you expected!

So how much is it per day to each prison guard?

In case you aren't trolling (perhaps you are from a country with a culture of Baksheesh for instance [0])

Tipping a government official/government worker will land you in big trouble and is a punishable crime. Trying to bribe a security agent at the mall will get you funny looks and might get the police called on you. Tipping is pretty much only for services to consumers like delivery or at a restaurant or barber or taxi.

If a government service has any fee these will be clearly posted somewhere official and you will be charged the exact amount. Note that prices typically exclude sales tax, but the receipt will show the breakdown for you and the percentages are, again, available from an official source.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baksheesh

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