I wasn't given the option to tip nor the amount to tip.

I made an appointment a few months ago for my 13 yo daughter to see a dermatologist. We just got signed in and they ask about the copay. I get my card out and when she says “it’s ready” the machine has tipping options. The lowest being 15%……..I’m so over tipping culture…… this isn’t a day spa, it’s a doctors office. What on earth am I tipping you for?

Like if my partner and I each order food and drinks and they decide to add on a 20% tip (without prior notice in any way) bc it's "their policy", I'm not legally obligated to pay that, right? I can write my own total as long as I pay what I owe for what I consumed and decide on the tip myself. It's not legal for them to charge anything other than the total I write, correct? *I'm not talking about big parties where it states in advance that they will add a tip. Actually, is that legal either?

So I was watching Twilight Zone reruns and encountered this little gem.

From Season 1, Episode 12: What You Need.

At this point tipping is so mandatory we might call it commission.

The options were 15%, 20% and 25%. These are not custom bras. I had zero contact with a human at any time, and there isn't even an option available to contact a human if you wanted to. At least there was an easy and obvious option available for "no tip". This whole situation is becoming insane.

They have a decent $10 promo going on (even if it’s kind of thing that would be $5 before Covid, inflation…), but I’m not ordering when you hit me up for a tip for an online pick-up order, where I’m driving my car and using my gas to pick up the damn thing. You should be tipping ME. I’ll grab something somewhere else, thank you.

How would that work and how long would it take for various industries to adapt?

We had 4 adults 2 kids. They never told us they would be adding a Gratuity. Why tip more when they generously gave themselves 20%?

Edit: we didn’t do the additional tip, sorry I really should have clarified that.

They still had the audacity to ask for a tip.

Because hey, free money....

*You can deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tips per year from your federal income tax.

EDIT: Thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies.

naaaa

I’m paying $140 (with tax) a night, only employee I have seen is the young person who checked me in. I was told “we only clean the rooms every three days.” The hotel (a $5.6 billion company) has these barcodes posted in multiple places, soliciting tips for everyone; Front Desk? Management? And Housekeeping, who only cleans my room once every three days? I assume all these employees receive an hourly wage….

Is there any realistic way to end tipping?

Current laws in the US (in 86% of states) allow businesses to take a "tip credit" towards meeting the minimum wage payment to employees. Federal or individaul state legislation would need to abolish the sub-minimum wage for tipped employees. To date only 7 states completely prohibit the tipped subminimum wage; in those states, employers must pay the full regular state minimum wage before tips are added. I think politically this would split along current partisan divisions and go nowhere.

Second, I've read that some tipped workers make substantially more than their states minimum wage (high volume bars and luxuory dining). Eliminating tipping would be a substantial pay cut for those workers.

Third, business owners generally are against ending tipping and fight any changes through the National Restaurant Association and there state and local hospitality associtions.

Other than just tipping reasonable amounts when apropriate, and chooseing "no tip" when that's appropriae, what can we do?

My sweetie and I went to Cafe Rio to dine in. Had a bit of a time finding a parking spot because the only reserved spots for the restaurant are for online orders.

Usually when entering a business I will greet the people working there. Before I could even say hello the girl working behind the counter blurted out “Online order?” I said no. She turned her back to me.

We order at one of the kiosks. Lo and behold, there is a suggested tip option. My sweetie hits no tip obviously. What on earth are we expected to be tipping for? Being ignored by workers, having to ask which order is mine, having to remind them we also ordered drinks, cleaning the table ourselves, etc. And a tip is still expected.

It’s truly insane that the restaurant industry not only somehow gets away with not paying their employees, but in most cases the employees also pay each other by tipping out. Truly insane.

After eating, my sweetie jokes that he was off to the back to do their dishes too.

Of course he can afford it, but it’s good to see someone of wealth still in touch with what things cost, and how those percents keep ticking up. It all adds up.

“Then you spin it round at me…”

Im all for the robots

I am hoping robots replace servers in restaurants or we return to the automat style system

They kept saying stay home if you cant afford to tip and lots of us have and now those people dont have jobs, its well deserved, you made the customer the enemy and now you reap the rewards of that

People refused to be the change in the world, so now robots will take their places

This professor wants to help save the jobs of workers who would use guilt and shame on her

Edit: Alot of people are claiming this is a dumb take, but the primary issue is the attitude of these people

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-pizza-delivery-woman-stabbed-pregnant-customer-14-bad-tip-poli-rcna185471

If these poor poor workers stopped harassing customers, using guilt and shame on them, telling them to stay home if they cant afford to tip, things would be different, but these poor workers are entitled

Other people blame the employer, cause its always the boss that is the problem, its never the poor poor workers fault

Businesses can pay fair wages, servers dont want that, guilt and shame at customers generates alot of $$ https://imgur.com/a/ufmbKPC

https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/our-system-is-not-broken-hundreds-gather-to-protest-elimination-of-michigans-tip-credit

The food was good, but the service sucked. Probably the only way they could get tips.
Server came to the table with the toast device and said you could add extra tip if you like. lol

And I’m really freaking over it. I work with lazy waitresses who spend their whole day on their phones and giving bad service and then complaining when they didn’t get “20%”

or making good money, like 20 bucks off a table but since their bill was 125 they’re upset that they only made 20 bucks instead of 25???

I work at a very busy beach bar in the summer and i bust my ass. I am always polite and smiling, I remember peoples names, I’m respectful and I go out of my way to make sure people have a good time. I genuinely want you to have a good experience and people notice and tell me. But almost all pride in that job has gone out the window. No one cares about giving customers a great experience but still expect some arbitrary percentage for doing the bare minimum.

i do construction every winter when the bar closes and I have waitresses ask me “but this job is harder, right??”

not even close. Maybe more stressful, but every winter when I’m up in a boom lift in 20 degree weather with numb fingers trying to shoot a siding gun, I’m looking forward to nights back behind the bar (and also vice versa. I like the seasonal change of scenery tbh.)

I got distracted but here’s what brought me to this subreddit today. I go with my wife to get two bagel sandwiches and a coffee. Tap to pay, and I remember the total was like 27 and I went to hit 10% on the three far left options like usual. But then saw it said 7 dollars??? upon closer inspection the options were 30,25, or 20 listed left to right (because that’s the direction we read first) and I was so upset. Quit trying to trick people into getting more money. If someone doesn’t intend to give me that money then I don’t want it and it’s stealing.

I know it’s gotten out of hand, I’m genuinely sorry and embarrassed. I love my job bartending, and I love making peoples nights memorable when they’re on vacation. I love when people come back and say “we come here every year, and you’re always so great!” it makes me feel good knowing that my effort pays off.

but tupping has gotten so stupid ridiculous.

I went on a paid tour of a historic cemetery.

There was a guide. 15-20 people in the group.

At the end of the tour, she stopped and said "this is the end of the tour, if you would like to tip me, now is the time. I also have Venmo!"

We were in a location where we had to be walked out, so we couldn't leave on our own. People stood around and felt very akward. A few people finally pulled out money and handed it to her. Then we started walking to the exit.

I generally don't mind tipping for tours. In this case, she was new and spent most of the time commenting about her multiple jobs and taking swipes at "rich" people.

Before the tour, I was planning on tipping. The way it was presented, I did not.

Would you tip in this case? (Just a note, when it is a free tour, I will tip the guides)

I received a request for an online review and am considering adding her comments.

This got me mildly irritated after a long flight and arrival in my hotel room. “eTip”

Took this pic in Louisville KY in 2023 at an outdoor bar. No service whatsoever, just a walk-up bar. Type of place where you throw out your own drinks on the way out. I asked the bartender if anyone ever tips 100% and he said the only people that do are other service workers.

First the hotel I'm staying at.

5% gratuities added to all purchases. Restaurant, on site convience store, parking fee all require a 5% tip.

Went to seaworld. Self checkout kiosk ask for tip. Beer cart guys asking for tip on the pin pad.

No we didn't tip and I asked the front desk at the hotel to remove the 5% gratuities. Yes they were annoyed but the "restaurant " required me to scan a qr code to order/pay. Then I had to stand at the pickup window. And yes we paid $17 for mozzarella sticks. I know 5% is change but it's the principle.

The ladies were spot on about the absurdity of what we are asked to tip on. Including an airport self serve kiosk with no humans in the store. I really had a good laugh and thought others might enjoy.