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

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

#151

Post by PrimeMcFly »

catiopatio wrote: post #83

I’ve always assumed that tips are for any non-professional personal service where the output quality can vary massively depending on care and/or attention to detail, and which requires a degree of trust in the service provider — whether or not there’s actually “table service” involved, or a human being directly handling your money. Tipping is effective at encouraging that care and attention to detail, and shows a deg…

> I think the US’ tipping culture produces a better overall level of service than we’d have otherwise

I think the opposite is true. I've had better service in the UK and New Zealand and pretty much any country that doesn't have US tipping culture.

I could see it being true for high-end restaurants and offerings though, maybe.

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

#152

Post by harshalizee »

SoftTalker wrote: post #110
harshalizee wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No that's not how it works. If the tips don't work out to minimum wage, the employer pays the difference. That's how it is in all the states. Some cities, like Seattle, has a minimum wage at $15 for wait staff. So tipping is on top of that.

That's interesting. Did Seattle consider banning tipping also when they raised the minimum wage for wait staff? It's probably impossible to ban someone voluntarily leaving extra money on the table.

Absolutely not. We still have the 15%, 20%, 25% kiosk tip option nonsense.

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

#153

Post by gnicholas »

I'm almost glad they're doing this on self-checkout now, since it clearly demonstrates that they will ask for tips even when there is no actual reason whatsoever.

Before this, you always had to wonder if perhaps you were being unreasonable in not tipping someone who merely rang up a purchase for you. After all, if the machine is prompting for a tip, then perhaps a tip is appropriate in this circumstance? But now it's clear that they will ask for tips even when it's absolutely unwarranted. So you can now decide for yourself where the 'line' is on tipping, since "did the machine suggest a tip?" is no longer an accurate heuristic.

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

#154

Post by gnicholas »

eappleby wrote: post #149

There needs to be a Supreme Court ruling that outlaws tying wages to tips received. This is what caused the mess we are in now. Tipping is rife with racial and sexual discrimination[1] and contributes to wage instability and other problems, but it is a prisoner's dilemma situation because if one company increases their prices to incorporate tips, but another does not, the prices of the company that increased their pr…

What would be the legal reasoning for such a SCOTUS opinion? It seems like you're hinting at equal protection, but I'm not clear how you'd tie together the necessary pieces. Even assuming the composition of the court changed to be more friendly to living constitution arguments, I'm just not seeing this. Can you spell this out a bit more?

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

#155

Post by wrenky »

deverly wrote: post #114
wrenky wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its not that employers are cheating them- Thats the job and what it pays. Most waiters/waitresses are payed below minimum wage and make up the difference with tips. Its something like $3/hr on average, its even accounted for in the tax code. Is this your fault that the industry as a whole legally shifts that responsibility onto the consumer? Definitely not! Does that make a person an asshole for knowingly paying less…

And the difference in their pay and minimum wage is? And the difference between their pay and living wage is? Maybe the employee it’s well compensated? Again, the customer is asked to guess the restaurant’s payroll and make up the difference with the market wage. How does one know if they are paying too little? Or too much? Or just right? Maybe customers don’t want to play the guessing game. Pay a competitive livable…

Customers dont have to guess, just pay the 15% and leave. Thats just the standard.

If a company chooses to pay more, their prices go up and they cant compete. Even though its just shifting the cost from a hidden to a declared one, its enough where restaurants struggle and either abandon the model or go out of business. Its an industry problem that needs to be fixed at that level, you cant just say "Go out of business, Done!" as thats not a realistic solution.

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

#156

Post by CogitoCogito »

corey_moncure wrote: post #34

I took my wife out to a fancy steakhouse over the weekend and remembered what "service" is supposed to be. Our waiter poured my wine, cut up our steak table side and served us, cracked pepper over our salad, went above and beyond in every way to ensure that we were comfortable and satisfied. I gladly tipped him 20% on $300 and would do so again. On the other hand, I left $10 on top of a $50 takeout order at a local I…

> On the other hand, I left $10 on top of a $50 takeout order at a local Italian place and the bored, empty-handed young waitress just sat there watching me while I struggled out the door with pizza boxes and a couple bags.

Why did you leave a tip?

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

#157

Post by croutonwagon »

yamtaddle wrote: post #10

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…

I really have no problem hitting 0% without hesitation or remorse.

In the off chance someone says something (and it’s happened) I never go back and just move along. It’s not worth a verbal argument over what amounts to an opinion or peer pressure. Just nope, goodbye.

Funny thing is, I have been told I’m an overly generous tipper when the service is worthwhile. But the whole charade has me recoiling to a more extreme stance thanks to the likes of stripe and other off the shelf SaaS POS systems.

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

#158

Post by Scottn1 »

This is getting worse. I was at Jimmy Johns the other day and their POS now blatantly makes it difficult to NOT tip. It doesn't give you a clear option to choose $0, only the three standard options (from memory) of 15,18 or 20%. This on top of my turkey sandwich w/cheese added and chips + drink that came out to like a ridiculous $15.

I was stuck staring at the machine trying to find out how to NOT tip right in front of the register person. I eventually just decided to hit the red button that I thought was canceling the order and it went on to next screen for payment. I was so aggravated in being manipulated into feeling like a cheap non-caring ass I might not go there anymore.

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

#159

Post by mikrl »

catiopatio wrote: post #108
disruptiveink wrote: post #71

As a non-US citizen/resident, I can't wait for Americans to finally riot against tipping, just so they stop doing it abroad. A shame that it had to take comical proportions domestically for people to start questioning it. Americans tipping abroad while on holidays ruins service for everyone that isn't American – as a non-American you are guaranteed to get worse service than a American in touristy places (and sometime…

I’ve never tipped 20% in places without a tipping culture, but I must admit your comment makes me think I should — at least, in the places where a tip would not be considered insulting. I tip in the US to receive better service. If it’s not considered rude to tip, and it results in better service, why wouldn’t I do that?

>I tip in the US to receive better service

How does this work, unless you tip before being served?

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

#160

Post by _boffin_ »

lastofthemojito wrote: post #28

Tipping has officially gotten out of control. Just saw the other day that some Apple Store employees want to start asking for tips: https://daringfireball.net/linked/2023/05/04/apple-store-mar...

that to me like a throwaway during negotiations between the union and Apple.
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