Posted on 08/03/2025 1:06:48 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Everyone has an opinion on tipping. Whether you add a standard 20% across the board or hate a tipping screen “on principle,” you might’ve noticed those opportunities popping up more frequently these days.
Nearly nine in 10 Americans think tipping culture has gone too far — a sharp increase from the around 75% who thought the same last year. That’s according to a new report from personal finance company WalletHub, which examined Americans’ current attitudes toward gratuity. Survey respondents shared their views on this tricky subject, and it shows just how annoyed (and ultimately confused) Americans might feel about adding an extra 20%.
“Tips have gone far beyond traditional establishments, which include sit-down restaurants, bars, and hair salons. Now, it’s everywhere you look,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo tells Food & Wine. “I think that’s part of the frustration, because people are at a point where they don’t know who to tip and how much to tip.”
Lupo says that if these survey results tell us anything, it’s that Americans are “fed up” with increased tipping opportunities.
“You’re tipping for personal service. If you have a cup of coffee pushed to the end of the counter or someone’s handing you a bag of fast food through a drive-thru window, that’s not traditionally what tipping should be about,” Lupo explains. “If they feel like these tipping screens are invasive, these respondents say they’ll tip less or not even tip at all.”
A little less than half of Americans agree that tipping should be replaced altogether by an employee rating system. Still want to show your gratitude, yet don’t know where to add an extra tip? Lupo recommends tipping when possible for services (especially at restaurants and hair salons), as well as toward hotel hospitality, rideshare and cab drivers, and housekeepers...
(Excerpt) Read more at foodandwine.com ...
When I was married to my wife in the 80s, she worked at Pizza Hut. They split the tips for all the waitresses.
Recently in a hardware store and a farm supply store. Both had tip jars at the checkout counter. The tipping, i.e. begging, culture has gone way too far.
Guess it depends on your region of the country, but here it was about the time ObaMao was elected POTUS.
It's one of those things I miss from living in Japan, and I still had some of the best service I've ever had. It's that sense of pride about offering the best service possible for a known cost.
In the U.S. now, it's tough to find a scenario where you aren't prompted for a tip, and the service is typically mediocre or poor, and good service really is the exception.
This weekend I was prompted for a tip on the card reader for a dozen donuts. Yeah, ok, someone did put them into a box; but was that service really worthy of a tip? I don't think so.
The real fear of eliminating tips is by the businesses that have traditionally had employees count tips as part of their basic wage. Add the additional cost of wages/benefits into their costing/pricing plan, and I think they are afraid that many would re-think eating out. But also, many would not, and it wouldn't make a bit of difference to them.
I've even seen a few restaurants automatically add a gratuity on the bill, even though it was only for four people. So if you do add a tip, you are paying twice. Of course, they don't always make that well-known or post in a very visible manner.
“Imagine a waitress asks for 20% while God asks for 10%.”
You know better than that... He asks much more than that.
But I heard it is supposed to pay off in the end... :)
Just back from Italy which is a no-tipping country. But as an American I tip everyone - a Euro for the guy pumping my gas on a hot day, maybe a Euro for the woman who prepares my cappuccino. If I win 200 Euro on a scratch-off, I’ll give the guy who cashed it for me five or ten. They do appreciate it. That goes for waiters and waitresses too.
Just completed a three night stay at a Days Inn. They did not ever make up the bed. I got fresh towels after the second night. I left them three dollars.
My wife gives everything saved with a coupon to the wait staff.
You probably have been a snipe hunt too.
LOL no that is in no way true.
“Recent trip to the grocery store. Cashier “Do you want to round up?” Me: “What is it going to?” Cashier “the homeless”. Me: “NO”.”
I got hit with that at Burger King one time. It was going to pay for “Burger King Employee” college grants. But it was advertised with a bunch of “little kids” in the picture. I asked is Corporate at least matching my donation? No...
This is fraud and misrepresentation. How many “little kids” work at Burger King? And why would I help pay for an adult to go to college? And why should I pay anything if the company is not willing to also chip in?
As a businessman, this type of immoral greed pisses me off because it makes ALL business look bad... It is dirty money and reflects on all businessmen.
Irrelevant. Candy bar prices are subject to inflation. But a percentage will be applied to all amounts and accommodates inflation. There is no need to tip a higher percentage because of inflation.
I’m done tipping. I will tip at my favorite restaurants 15-20. Cracker Barrel, unless it is good 10%. Counter service of any type 0. Services 0.
I make staff tip me. My mere presence does not come freely.
When I was young my mom, who had been a waitress in college herself, told me I should tip servers 15 percent of the pre-tax bill. So that’s traditional and that is what I am returning to. I recall that tipping cab drivers too was expected, so in the unlikely event I take a cab again I will tip them 15:percent.
Everyone else — hotel-room cleaners, baristas, on and on, can go take a long walk off a short pier. Their income should,be seized at the same rate mine is. Nothing tax-free for them.
“The left wants the end of tips because they want a stratified society, where you are only allowed to earn a certain wage, in accordance to your position in society.”
Short sighted statement... I know you know that what they really want is all government owned business, and employee compensation is a grub stake and a roof with no heating or cooling. And depending on who’s rear you shine you might get a little better grub stake and roof.
These are just the incremental steps towards that end goal.
I went to one of the sit down movie theaters that serves food and drinks to you in your powered recliner chair.
It was me, and two of my 20+ year old kids.
They added an automatic 18% tip.
For 3 people. It wasn’t even a group of 6 or 8, just 3 people.
I won’t be going back to that theater.
“Huh? When did 20% become “standard?””
Agreed I thought it was %15
My Japanese stepdaughter loved to tip when she was in the US.
Forgot about not tipping when she was back in Japan. She did and the server ran up to her and said she (stepdaughter) had left some money on the table. Stepdaughter’s face was red.
Jonty30 wrote: “The left wants the end of tips because they want a stratified society, where you are only allowed to earn a certain wage, in accordance to your position in society. Getting rid of tips means every dollar is tracked and taxed.”
Actually, the left wants an end to pay for performance which they believe is akin to slavery. BTW, tips given in cash rather than added to the credit card cannot be tracked and taxed.
It was 15% at the top end. 20% is ridiculous with server wages at $20-30 an hour.
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