Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

Associated Press ^ | January 23, 2023 | Haleluya Hadero

[Olog-hai]

Across the country, there’s a silent frustration brewing about an age-old practice that many say is getting out of hand: tipping.

Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media complaining about tip requests at drive-thrus, while others say they’re tired of being asked to leave a gratuity for a muffin or a simple cup of coffee at their neighborhood bakery. What’s next, they wonder — are we going to be tipping our doctors and dentists, too?

As more businesses adopt digital payment methods, customers are automatically being prompted to leave a gratuity — many times as high as 30% — at places they normally wouldn’t. And some say it has become more frustrating as the price of items has skyrocketed due to inflation, which eased to 6.5% in December but still remains painfully high.

Traditionally, consumers have taken pride in being good tippers at places like restaurants, which typically pay their workers lower than the minimum wage in expectation they’ll make up the difference in tips. But academics who study the topic say many consumers are now feeling irritated by automatic tip requests at coffee shops and other counter service eateries where tipping has not typically been expected, workers make at least the minimum wage and service is usually limited. …

[Farmerbob]

[...tipping is out of hand.]

And service has taken a nose dive. Many times I will sit through half a meal with an empty glass or have to go find my server because they delivered the food but no utensils.

[Tellurian]

"Tipped employees" can have an hourly wage of as little as $2.13/hour under Federal law, so long as their tips are at least $5.12, totaling $7.25. Some States or cities require that the wage and tips add up to more, like DC: $13.25, or the highest, NY City: $15.00.

Counter service employees are paid minimum wage with no tips assumed. That's $7.25 federally, but higher, up to double that, in most states, and $16.50/hour in DC.

However, I wonder if employers are relabeling their counter service employees, who must get the $7.25/hour outright, as "tipped employees" so they can pay them less. Not legal to call them "tipped" when they work that way, but if there are 20 or so counter service transactions per hour, that tip "account" could easily grow to $100 in that time, Split that among the mis-labeled crew (3 or so? $33/hour or so?), and they aren't going to complain to the Labor Board.

What a racket.

[Pure Country]

Next we will be tipping Walmart cashiers that stand and watch you do their job.

[Sequoyah101]

Or have to go find your check, or wait for 15 minutes for your change or to even get someone to take your money.

My rule is never take the first table they offer you either and darn sure not the one near the kitchen.

We at at a place a month ago that was so noisy I couldn’t wait to leave. Didn’t enjoy a bite of my meal.

I never complained about service, now I have reason to.

[alexander_busek]

“What’s next, they wonder — are we going to be tipping our doctors and dentists, too?”

My doctor doesn’t deserve a tip.

My doctor always pre-warms the stethoscope in his hands before applying it to my chest. He always hands me a tissue paper to wipe off the gel they use for sonograms. When asking me to turn my head and cough, he always says, "Please."

So I always hand him a couple of bucks before I leave his office.

Regards,