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People in the United States are being encouraged to leave tips almost everywhere they visit – and they are beginning to resist.
Seventy-seven percent expressed that tipping has "become absurd," while 65 percent stated they are "tired" of paying extra for services, according to a poll.
Sources informed the Daily Mail that the surge in tipping is being driven by two key tactics that subtly extract additional money from patrons, usually without their awareness.
The first point is that eateries and pubs determine recommended tips following the inclusion of credit card charges and taxes.
This minor change can result in customers paying 40 or even 50 percent more than the real price of their meal.
Izzy Kharasch, president of restaurant consultancy Hospitality Works, said to Daily Mail: "If my bill was $100 and tax is 10 percent, that makes it $110. If the restaurant calculates tip based on the $110, I become very upset because they're charging me a tip on the tax."
There are dishonest eateries around that aim to steal your money in every possible manner.
Some places also include a mandatory service charge on the bill, followed by a blank line encouraging guests to add an additional tip, a tactic that often catches busy patrons off guard.
Jacqueline Whitmore, an etiquette specialist and the founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, said to Daily Mail: 'Your tip should be based solely on the cost of food and drinks, excluding tax or additional charges. You need to be cautious when signing.'
The second expansion strategy involves the increasing use of touch-screen tip suggestions, typically set with default choices reaching up to 35 percent.
Last week, Daily Mail covered the story of a pizza delivery customercollecting their order reached the payment screen and saw a message that said 'don't forget a tip!' featuring pre-set choices of 15, 20, or 35 percent. There was no 'zero' selection, just a 'custom' field.
However, when the customer entered $0, the website rejected the order and displayed a bright red alert: 'Please input a valid tip amount.'
"How can it be a tip if I don't have a choice?" thecustomer wrote on Reddit, adding that they cancelled the order and went elsewhere.
Some companies assert that the high percentages are already set and cannot be modified, but Kharasch stated that this is incorrect.
And when staff turn the screen around and silently ask for a 20 to 30 percent increase, he stated he reacts in kind: "I give no tip. To me, that's being greedy. That's absurd."
Whitmore mentioned that the standard tip was previously 15 percent, with 18 to 20 percent regarded as 'outstanding' service. Today, 20 percent has become the norm, and 45 percent of those surveyed report tipping at least that amount, marking a new peak.
The pandemic sped up the cultural change, as numerous customers gave higher tips as a sign of appreciation for employees who kept working in public roles despite the health dangers.
But now the balance is shifting again. The research revealed that 66 percent of Americans feel compelled by digital screens to give a tip, and guilt has maintained high tipping rates even when service is subpar.
Whitmore stated, "Individuals often feel compelled to tip due to guilt or a sense of duty. They express, 'If I can't spare an additional dollar or two, I shouldn't be dining out.'"
Kharasch claimed that Americans have hit a turning point: "People are beginning to realize and are stating, 'I don't have to tip every individual who requests it.'"
The survey findings, provided by the digital ordering company Popmenu, support this.
The percentage of people who reported feeling "fed up" with tipping has increased by 5 percent compared to last year and by 12 percent since 2023. Respondents estimated that they are asked to tip approximately ten times each month, which is a factor in 43 percent of them saying they are tipping less this year.
Whitmore mentioned that although it's typical to add a tip out of duty, customers should avoid giving a complete 20 percent if the service is subpar.
If the service is poor, I leave a smaller tip. I don't give 20 percent," she stated, but she advised patrons to talk to staff or management before giving nothing at all. "I truly believe you shouldn't leave zero. That's not proper manners.
Public disputes about tipping came to a head in October when a video went viral of aA server pursuing a manNobody left a tip, and even blocked his vehicle and contacted the authorities. The man exited his old Honda, visibly upset, with his children, including an infant, inside the car.
Internet users were strongly split. Some claimed that eating out without leaving a tip is unethical, while others stated that confronting someone about it is "definitely against the law," noting, "If they desire more pay, they should take another job."
Kharasch and Whitmore both emphasized that gratuities should recognize exceptional service, rather than serve as an obligatory fee.
The key factor is excellent service," Kharasch stated. "People are frustrated because they receive poor service while expecting a 20 percent tip. That's unjust.
Whitmore mentioned that extra-high tips are meant for big groups or challenging tables, moments when patrons are requesting service that exceeds normal expectations.
Both specialists forecasted that tipping could one day vanish from American society, substituted by mandatory service fees, much like in Europe.
"The service fee will ultimately become standard, similar to Europe, where you don't tip servers at all," Kharasch stated.
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