Stunned airline passenger asked to tip 18% at self-checkout kiosk: ‘This is what the world has come to’

nypost.com ^ | Oct. 21, 2026 | Aurielle Weiss

[V_TWIN]

Don’t forget to tip your robots.

A recent TikTok has exposed an airport store for prompting customers to select an 18% tip at a self-checkout kiosk.

Dr. Clay Moss, a longevity specialist, recently posted a TikTok where a self-service payment terminal automatically nudged him to tip. In an undisclosed airport, the doctor was stunned when he tried to purchase a bottle of water — which was already overpriced — and saw that he was automatically encouraged to tip — 18%.

Dr. Moss showed the store’s kiosk, which revealed the software — that seemingly uses a preset function — prompting customers to leave a 10%, 15% or 18% gratuity using an automatic tipping feature.

While he has seen the feature at other types of retailers, one major factor was missing — a worker. The airport store was completely self-service with not a single employee near.

Dr. Moss then asked two simple questions — has tipping culture gotten out of hand and who is the money going to?

“Who is this automatic 18% tip that I have to click out of for? Who am I tipping here? Is this what we’ve come to?” Dr. Moss said on TikTok.

He went on to say that in most cases, tips go to the staff associated with the store — like cashiers, attendants or shared tips for all the workers to split at the end of their shift. But what happens when the checkout machine is owned and operated by a third party?

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: idiocracy

[DugwayDuke]

V_TWIN wrote: “Yep. More and more places are refusing to even take cash at all.”

In many cases there is a very good reason for refusing to accept cash. Businesses go cashless to improve safety, speed up transactions, and lower labor costs. By removing physical money, owners eliminate the risks of employee theft, armed robberies, and counterfeit bills, while avoiding the time-consuming tasks of manual till counting and bank deposits.

There were many complaints when my country club went cashless. The major source was from a few men who did not want their wives perusing their club bills to see how much liquor they consumed. These members would charge one beer and then pay cash for the rest, “but honey, see I only drank one beer”.

When I was a company commander in the National Guard, I had several complaints when the NG insisted on sending drill checks to their home instead of them picking the checks up at the Armory. They didn’t want their wives to know how much they earned at drill. Some wives didn’t even know they were paid. I had two soldiers who convinced their wives that no only were they not paid, the NG was like a social club where they had to pay dues.

[Old Yeller]

This is why I have to take an Effemall tablet every day to cope why the regular crap.

[caver]

24 pack at Rural King for $2.49

[Organic Panic]

I have flown millions of miles. All over the world. The USA has THE WORST airport experience in the world.

[Dr. Sivana]

I use cash just to avoid this.

The hotel I am staying at is cashless.
The parking garage in downtown Memphis is unmanned and won't take cash. It is all getting harder.

[ridesthemiles]

SOME RETAILERS ARE NOW REFUSING TO ACCEPT CASH & ACCEPT ONLY CREDIT CARDS-—& THE SALES MACHINES ARE PRE-PROGRAMED TO CHARGE TIPS.

DO THAT TO ME & SEE MY PURCHASE LEFT ON YOUR COUNTER & MY BANK NOTIFIED TO NOT ACCEPT DATA FROM YOUR STORE.

[ridesthemiles]

AND A LOT LESS SAFE WHEN YOU ARE ELDERLY

[TheThirdRuffian]

There are at least 10 states that require retail stores to accept cash.

There should be more.

[RetiredArmy]

Yeah, all my miles are not in the USA. Ireland, UK, Holland, Germany, Japan, VIETNAM!! Been to a few other places besides the USA. But this man is through flying.

[sit-rep]

I would have canceled the transaction and left everything sitting there and walked out...