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People no longer know how much to tip

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Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#11

Post by photochemsyn »

Stop calling them tips, start calling them commissions on sales, and automatically include that in the price of each item. This eliminates tipping entirely and if the customer doesn't like the quality of service, they can make their displeasure known by not returning.

Nobody working in high-end retail sales gets tips, but they do get commissions, which are included in the listed prices. This is really a much better, fairer, and less socially awkward approach to the issue. Note it's also much better than replacing tips with an hourly wage increase because the staff is rewarded if the business is busy, so they're incentivized to keep the clients coming back.

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#12

Post by graton »

I've started paying cash more at places that have tipping screens for what I consider to be a service that a tip is not required. For example the local donut shop has a tipping screen for them spending 1-2 minutes of time to get the donuts.

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#13

Post by ynx »

This might be a self-report, but...

I used to tip anywhere from high 20's to low 30's, but in the years since COVID, _everything_ asks for a tip even when no extra service is provided (i.e. take-out), so I default to 0%, or a modest 10 or 15% if it's dine-in at a local shop.

I support workers' rights and a living wage, but can't really justify upholding the current scheme of exploitation by store owners in the name of supporting labor. I would much rather laws and/or unions force the issue of laborers getting paid what their labor is worth than giving more money to business owners praying that they are not crushing their employees.

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#14

Post by denysvitali »

It can sound controversial, but can we please stop with tipping altogether?

Leaving aside for a second the fact that now tipping is basically asked everywhere (even at automated machines) - as an European I consider it an extremely stupid trend. If you're "forced" to tip, then it's not a tip anymore.

The concept of tipping, at least in Switzerland, has always been to show gratitude for an *exceptional* service. I totally understand the situation in the States, where the tip is basically the employee's wage - but this shouldn't be the case to begin with.

It shouldn't be considered rude to not tip the service was good / OK. Employees / waiters should be paid adequate wages regardless of their tips - in the end this is why the food in a restaurant is so expensive (compared to cooking at home).

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#16

Post by dankwizard »

jmcphers wrote: post #7

Yesterday I had lunch at a Shake Shack. Humans don't take orders there any more; you place your order at a self-serve touchscreen kiosk. As I finished placing my order, I was prompted to leave a tip; 10% was the default and you had to press a button to change it. Who am I tipping, exactly? The kiosk? Myself? No one had even made eye contact with me up to this point. I have ordered fast food from a computer. When I ha…

The tip wouldn't have gone to the food staff prepping your burger so doubt they'd even know

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#17

Post by yreg »

jmcphers wrote: post #7

Yesterday I had lunch at a Shake Shack. Humans don't take orders there any more; you place your order at a self-serve touchscreen kiosk. As I finished placing my order, I was prompted to leave a tip; 10% was the default and you had to press a button to change it. Who am I tipping, exactly? The kiosk? Myself? No one had even made eye contact with me up to this point. I have ordered fast food from a computer. When I ha…

Don't worry, you will stop feeling bad about it after it happens a few more times. You haven't done anything wrong.

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#18

Post by sokoloff »

jmcphers wrote: post #7

Yesterday I had lunch at a Shake Shack. Humans don't take orders there any more; you place your order at a self-serve touchscreen kiosk. As I finished placing my order, I was prompted to leave a tip; 10% was the default and you had to press a button to change it. Who am I tipping, exactly? The kiosk? Myself? No one had even made eye contact with me up to this point. I have ordered fast food from a computer. When I ha…

You think if you tipped that it would go to the kitchen workers anyway? If so, you have a lot more faith than I do.

If I walk up to the counter to order and walk up to pick up my order, the maximum tip is the coins I don’t wish to carry away.

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#19

Post by teaearlgraycold »

denysvitali wrote: post #14

It can sound controversial, but can we please stop with tipping altogether? Leaving aside for a second the fact that now tipping is basically asked everywhere (even at automated machines) - as an European I consider it an extremely stupid trend. If you're "forced" to tip, then it's not a tip anymore. The concept of tipping, at least in Switzerland, has always been to show gratitude for an *exceptional* service. I tot…

I’ve seen more and more places just include an obligatory 20% service charge. Should that just be priced in? Yes. But I think it’s a baby step in the right direction.

Re: People no longer know how much to tip

#20

Post by adoxyz »

Tipping has gotten absurd in the US. I am unironically waiting for the self-checkout machines at grocery stores to start demanding tips.

I still cave and end up tipping almost every time, since it's not the employees fault, but man - going to a frozen yogurt place, preparing everything myself, and having the checkout employee swing the tablet around for a tip always irks me.

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