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Americans are entering their tipping fatigue era. Last year, 63% had at least one negative opinion about tipping; in 2026, nine in 10 Americans say that tipping culture has gone too far. Recently, we’ve seen posts from FIFA World Cup fans calling out the ridiculous tipping practices in America, but the truth is that the call has been coming from inside the house for a long time.
Since 2015, there’s been a community on Reddit called r/EndTipping that advocates for a system in which service workers don’t have to rely on customers for their salaries. Here is a list of the newest posts from their group, filled with new dystopian developments like tipping for a sonogram and suggestions to tip 99%, as well as some positive ones where business owners have realized that paying a livable wage should be the norm, not the exception.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I Was Extremely Surprised When I Saw This At A Coffee Shop
RELATED:
#3
Restaurant Owner. My Take On Tipping
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 day ago
Tipping is a choice, for exceptional service, it should not be expected.
It seems like back in the day, we used to tip people for exceptional service and a pleasing attitude. Nowadays, businesses expect us to tip self-service checkouts and iPads when no fellow humans are in sight. Experts notice that consumers are becoming especially frustrated with digital tipping solutions.
According to a 2025 Bankrate survey, 38% of American consumers report annoyance with pre-entered tip screens. Industry insiders worry that iPads are driving people away from tipping in general. Indeed, 27% of respondents in the Bankrate survey said they don't tip at all or tip less when the cashier presents them with the iPad.
#4
Helping The Cause
#5
Seen In Nw Arkansas
#6
Ice Cream Shop’s Take On Tipping
The idea behind digital tip screens was to make tipping easier, and in this day and age, that means eliminating the need for cash. Some people don't carry around cash with them at all nowadays. Brits aged 18-24, for example, make 72% of their payments with their digital wallets. In the U.S., cash payments made about 16-18% of in-person consumer transactions in 2025.
Therefore, digital tip screens had to make the tipping experience more seamless for consumers and ensure service workers received their tips, even in the age of digital wallets. But it doesn't make the consumer always happy: in many cases, people feel ripped off because they can't always freely choose the tip amount or have to cover the tax portion of the tip.
#7
Local Pizza Joint Does It Right!
#8
Push The Red Button
This week I learned that when these point of sale systems prompt for a seemingly unskippable tip percentage, the red button skips the tip, and the transaction finishes. I had previously thought it might cancel the transaction, but it does not.
That is all.
#9
I Pay A Subscription For Dog Grooming. They Asked Me For A Tip And Then Messaged Me For A Rating
Fire Singer 13 hours ago
I have to ask, my dog groomer charges a 3% fee for credit and debit cards (it's technically not legal to do that for debit cards as they are to be treated as cash - I've looked into this and it's actually a law at least in my city), so because she does do a lot of work, the cost of the cut - comes with all the trimmings like ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, nail clip, is $85.00. Seems reasonable, so I usually give a $15.00 tip for a round $100.00, right? Well if I use a card, my debit card, I deduct that 3% from the tip. Is that an AH move on my part? I feel like a card reader is something common for business and that cost of that should not be put onto the customer. Or they should just raise their prices.
When presented with the tipping iPad, many consumers may succumb to the cognitive bias of choosing the first tipping option that is available. In some cases, businesses present the 20% tip option or higher as the first one because the "anchoring effect" makes us go for the first option we're presented with. The option to skip the tip is most often presented last.
#10
I Tipped $20 Cash
I tipped $20 cash on a $85 mani/pedi. As I was handing her the $20 bill, she told me she prefers Venmo (but still took the cash). As I’m walking out, she forces me to scan her Venmo QR code. I obviously don’t want to tip again so I just walk out. She looks my reservation up in the system, and finds my number to remind me to Venmo her… unprofessional and I won’t be back.
#11
Seems About Right
#12
No Tip At Restaurant Is Making Me Ditch Old Favorite
Debby Keir 17 hours ago
In the UK (OK, everyone knows we don't HAVE to tip) but we usually pay by card with no tip, and leave the tip in cash on the table. This prevents the manager or head heijin, from taking the tip and ensures the server that you wanted to tip, actually gets it.
Research shows that sometimes people tip more on a digital tip screen precisely for this reason. According to a 2023 Forbes Advisor survey, 11% of American consumers leave a larger tip when they pay digitally rather than in cash. On average, people leave a 16% tip, so businesses offering 20% as the default tipping sum seems a bit like cheating. If there were a tip jar instead of an iPad, people would most likely leave less than 20%.
#13
This Lady Is My Hero. Always Remove Auto Tip When You're On A Cruise!
#14
As A Doordash Driver - Please Don't Tip
#15
Finally Done With This- The One That Pushed Me Over The Edge
It's a clever psychological trick: we're inclined to choose the first option we see, and, over time, we might even become conditioned to think of 20% as the default tipping sum.
Dipayan Biswas, a professor of marketing at the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida, likened the phenomenon to extra airline charges when he talked to the BBC. "If you change something, it becomes the norm. A decade ago, airlines didn't charge for baggage. The public doesn't like it, but now they are used to it."
#16
Always Grab The Customer Receipt Copy!!
Be sure to always grab the customer receipt copy, waiter decided to give himself a $180 tip on a $93 dollar meal. Took a month of bouncing around corporate (major hotel chain) to fix this. Conveniently they “lost” the restaurant copy too.
Finally found the hotel general manager on LinkedIn and threatened to press charges, they quickly refunded the meal.
#17
"Your Card Isn't Processing"
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 day ago
Isn't this illegal? Adding tips without consent? Sackable offence.
Some businesses may also cheat their customers out of a few dollars by using digital tip screens. The suggested tip amount they give may be based on the total bill amount, not the pre-tax amount, as is standard.
Recently, Dave & Buster's was accused of inflating their tips this way after a customer noticed that the amounts on the digital and paper receipts differed. Restaurants typically calculate their tips based on the bill before tax, but it seems that, with the advent of digital tip screens, this may now be changing.
#19
Tipping 20% Wasn’t Good Enough
Firstname Lastname 22 hours ago
I would have felt the urge to take my dollar back out of the jar.
#20
Coworker Ran Off One Of Our Regulars Because They Were Rude About Them Not Tipping
KatSaidThat 20 hours ago
I really want an update on this. Hope the homie who decided to be rude and lie about his custom did indeed get fired.
#21
I’m Just Done
Fire Singer 13 hours ago
Sounds like you went to the new pizza place I tried too! Nearly same thing. Only one size pizza, over priced, still wanted a tip for carry-out, and maybe it was the bitterness I already felt but the pizza wasn't even very good. :(
What's your wildest tipping experience, Pandas? Have you ever had to do a double-take at your receipt or a tipping screen? Do you prefer tipping people in cash, or are you fine with screens either way? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! And while you're here, check out these stories about a waitress confronting a customer over an offensive tipand a server going berserk after not getting a 20% tip.
#22
I Had The Weirdest Interaction At A Restaurant Today
#23
I Finally Found One On Threads
Megalodon Meg 23 hours ago
While, yes it seems small, 20% is 20%. If our f**k a*s tipping culture is based on percentage like it is, can't really be mad about this type of thing.
#24
15% Wasn’t Good Enough, Apparently
This waitress was friendly, decent enough service. Left our waters empty for a while, so overall fine, nothing excellent (though really enjoyed the food). But the absolute audacity to scratch out the 15% like it wouldn’t be good enough for her. I was not the one footing this bill, or else I would’ve given a big fat zero for this alone. The entitlement is infuriating, and just another reminder of how screwed up the whole system is. We have got to end this nonsense, I’m so sick of dining out.
john doe 18 hours ago
I worked for tips for over a decade between about 2008 and 2018. Back then 15% was good you would be happy with that, 10% was kind of the bare minimum. 20% was rare and special. I don't know what changed but I stopped tipping on things that aren't traditionaly tipped jobs. (servers and delivery drivers)
#25
Server Posted "Was Wondering Why I Got Stiffed"
#26
Tip Expected For Prenatal Sonogram?
#27
I Have Enough Friends
#28
Charged A “Quiet Time Surcharge” Because The Restaurant Wasn’t Busy
KatSaidThat 21 hours ago
That's how you get even quieter with my very public review about "quiet time surcharge" as a warning to others.
#30
"I Need Change For A $100 Bill But Make Sure It's A $20 And A $10 So He Has To Leave The 20"
#31
Shady Situation At Starbucks
#32
The Replies To This Have Been Absolutely Bonkers
#33
Oh Yes, I’d Absolutely Love To Tip You 99% (After Tax, For Good Measure)
#34
This Person Told The Server To “Round Up To $70.00” And The Employee Used A Discount To Increase Their Tip
Earthquake903 22 hours ago
They'd probably get fired if you reported that. It's theft. From the restaurant.
#35
It's Finally Happened. Im Tired Of The Entitled Doordashers
Placed a doordash order, usually I either tip out in cash or after the order has been delivered since Ive been burned so many times before. As soon as the dasher accepted the order, he proceeded to bombard me with these messages. He then proceeds to pick up the order, not deliver it and marked it as undeliverable. Doordash then proceeds to tell me that they can't offer a refund because it wasn't the dasher fault they couldn't deliver.
Touhou Youyoumu 18 hours ago (edited)
Dispute the charges through your bank or PayPal. Will get the money back, as it's non delivery of goods you have paid for.
#37
This Math Doesn’t Add Up
#38
You Servers "Win". I Can't Afford The Meal Now At All So I Don't Go Out To Eat
Science Nerd 1 day ago
Once you drop the takeout food, you might be surprised at what you can afford to cook at home. Filet Mignon with loaded baked potatoes and salad for two costs about the same as two delivered pizzas.
#39
Another Reason To End Tipping
Elisabeth Smith 14 hours ago
When I worked front of the house, my hourly wage was $2.10 per hour. We relied on tips to even get to minimum wage.
#40
No Tip Orders Are Getting Cold…
Wingstop no tip orders not getting picked up.
#41
Miscommunication Or Intentional Theft?
Was dining at the Cheese Cake Factory and had a $114 bill with 3 guest. My friend gave me $60 cash so the intention of paying $40 cash and leaving them a $20 tip. The waitress grabbed the check, charged the full amount to the card and kept the $60 as her tip. She Came back and said “thank you have a good day”
When confronted she acted a bit confused and tried to skirt the situation. So I asked for my change back, And left her no tip. Still felt a little bad about leaving nothing, but felt she was trying to take advantage of us since she never came back to confirm.
I get irritated when a server assumes all the change is for them when it’s over 50%. Yes I do want my $12 back for my $8 beer.
EDIT:
- This seems like quite a controversial topic, I read some of the replies and a lot of the questions ask "Why did you not explain the payment situation to the server?" The server was busy and took about 15 minutes to collect the check with the card and $60 cash. In that time we got engrossed in our conversation and I did not realize she picked it up. Normally I would explain how I wanted the payment to go, as I always try to tip in cash when possible, but instead just got the notification on my phone the full amount was charged.
- Another common question is "why did I not pocket the $40?" I like to use cash before putting anything on my credit card when possible, makes sense to just reduce your credit card bill.
- Some other comments mentioned some servers do get great tips, and I agree. I have left 100% tips before because I had a great time when the server. Normally its it's a $20 on $20. But I think assuming a 53% tip was a bit bold.
- I know some servers that make over $100k a year in high end restaurants and some are making less than minimum wage. So it can go both ways, and I think that's the case with any job you put effort into. I'm in the mindset of paying for the service when there is a service, and paying extra when it's a great service.
#42
Paid At A Food Truck With Cash To Avoid Getting “Tip Guilted” On A Card Payment. They Still Got Me With A 3.99% “Card Fee” Even Though I Paid With Cash!
#43
Is This Our Problem?
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 day ago
Sounds like the business is the problem, not the customers.
#44
Went Out To Eat With A Friend And Saw A New Strategy I’m Going To Start Using
Michael Largey 14 hours ago
If your costs have gone up 10%, raise your prices to reflect that and say so on the menu. (You don't need to raise the prices a full 10%, since a price reflects both costs and profit.)
#46
Worker Tipped Himself $10 After We Gave Cash
#47
I Think Kids Are Being Tricked Into Tipping At A Snow Cone Truck At School
Science Nerd 1 day ago
Yes, this needs to be brought up with both the school principal and probably publicly at a school board meeting. And this would be a refreshing change from most issues that are taking up unnecessary time at school board meetings.
#49
Energy Fee?
#50
Tip Fee…
#51
40% Auto-Selected, I Kid You Not
#52
Drink From The Water Fountain? Did You Tip?
Michael Largey 14 hours ago
Yes. I have to tip my head back if I want to drink the water from the bottle.
#53
Airport Transfer In Cancun. Tipped Driver $1 USD. He Declined And Gave It Back. The Sign Suggests $20 LOL
#55
It’s Not A Tip; It’s A Bribe!
#56
I'm Not Tipping 25% For Taking Pre-Made Ice Cream Treats Out Of A Box
K Barnes 10 hours ago
I had a friend that worked for DQ years back. Made minimum wage and had to work hard keeping everything clean, which is no small task in a sugar and dairy filled space. Now she has a "respectable" job and spends half her workdays texting and online shopping, but no one would dare call her current job low effort because it pays well and has a good reputation.
#58
Waffle House To Go Fee
Problematic Pangolin 13 hours ago
So the answer is to dine in at the bar and ask for a doggy bag.
#59
Can't Believe I Was Just Asked For A Tip By A French Waiter
Rick Murray 1 day ago
That sounds like a scam aimed at clueless foreigners. If staff doesn't get anything from the bill, would they care to explain the legal "service compris" which is, uh, exactly that?
#60
Pay Me Extra Money First Or Else I'll Ruin Your Food
#61
When You See It
LakotaWolf (she/her) 23 hours ago
Guest count: 2 people. But "Large party" fee of 20% was still added.
#62
Went To A New Restaurant Last Night. Didnt Notice Anything On The Menu But Regardless I Wont Be Back
Michael Largey 14 hours ago
No, it's to subsidize the restaurant owner, who should be paying it.
#63
Always Read All The Original Receipt!
#64
How Is It Not A Tip?
2bwhctmvgn 17 hours ago
It is a tip. Large parties frequently fail to tip, so many restaurants will automatically add a tip directly to the bill. S***s if you felt like you didn't want to leave a tip, but if you wanted to tip, you shouldn't feel like you need to add more.
#66
Just Now On The News LOL!
Michael Largey 14 hours ago
We keep hearing this phrase - tipping "culture". Since when did a cheap employer wage scam merit the word culture?
#67
Employers Blame Everyone But Themselves
#68
18% Gratuity At Buffet. No Service
Michael Largey 14 hours ago
Well the server at a buffet does do everything the way I like them.
#69
Tipping On Top Of Corkage Fee
#71
Giving A 20% Tip And Getting A Snarky Response From Waitstaff
#72
This Is So Totally Ridiculous
#73
Owner Publicly Shames Guest And States That Servers Have To Pay Out Of Pocket If They Don’t Get Tips?
#74
Grocery Store Apparently Adds $1.00 Tip To All Orders
Fire Singer 12 hours ago
A grocery store???? That's insane. Maybe this is for the mobile pickup thing?
#76
This Is A First For Me
Michael Largey 14 hours ago
"We know we underpay our staff, and it's all your fault, isn't it?
#78
Op So Brainwashed He Tips 25% After Being Served Moldy Bread
#80
Amazon Prime Delivery Asking For Tips
#81
Tipping Is Getting Outrageous
#82
Large Party, Count 2
#83
This Rubbed Me The Wrong Way
#84
Auto 18% Added To Bills Of $150 Or More With A Snarky Gaslighting Comment
#85
Science Nerd 1 day ago
You are right. We cannot afford to order anymore. A new business model may be necessary if you wish to continue operating.
#86
Last Time We’ll Ever Go Here…
#87
Server Was Mad For Leaving A Cash Tip
#88
Outrageous Tip Expectation
Poppy 22 hours ago
I used to work on Home Shopping in a well known UK supermarket. We did 6 different orders at a time and yes, the carts were brutal to push around fully laden (which is why I left, I hurt my back) but I was paid a proper wage and never even thought of getting a tip. We might have been given a box of chocolates for the whole department at xmas by a regular customer but that was really rare.
#89
Picked Up My Own Food And Got Hit With The "Intentional Delay" For Not Tipping
#91
This Is Not My Check But It Has To Be Posted Here
Lukas (fuck/transphobes) 23 hours ago (edited)
This tip was for five servers who served 75 high schoolers and their chaperones at an Olive Garden, which does not charge auto gratuity. They tipped five dollars per server, after arriving late. Olive Garden servers make on average seven dollars an hour, but may make as little as three. They deserved more for their work. Hell, even if they were paid a living wage, a big party like that, they deserved extra.
#92
It's Just A Dollar Or Two! LOL
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Cee Cee 1 day ago
It's getting worse. UK doesn't have a tipping culture like America thankfully. However I came across this in June. Online purchase for a phone charger and cable. Get to make payment and the cheeky so and so's wanted a tip. They didn't get one which maybe why items never arrived and I had to do a charge back with my bank. Unbelievable.
Cee Cee 1 day ago
It's getting worse. UK doesn't have a tipping culture like America thankfully. However I came across this in June. Online purchase for a phone charger and cable. Get to make payment and the cheeky so and so's wanted a tip. They didn't get one which maybe why items never arrived and I had to do a charge back with my bank. Unbelievable.
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