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People in the United States are being encouraged to tip nearly everywhere they visit - and they are beginning to push back.
A survey revealed that an astonishing 77 percent found tipping to be 'absurd,' while 65 percent stated they were 'tired' of paying extra for services.
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 might 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 then there's a 10 percent tax, that makes it $110. If the restaurant adds a 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 tip on the bill, followed by a blank line encouraging guests to add an additional gratuity, a tactic that often catches busy customers off guard.
Jacqueline Whitmore, an expert in etiquette 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 increase in touchscreen tip suggestions, typically set with default percentages up to 35 percent.
Last week, Daily Mail covered the story of a pizza delivery customercollecting their order led to the payment page where they saw a message that said 'don't forget a tip!' along with pre-set choices of 15, 20, or 35 percent. There was no 'zero' option, 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 considered a tip if I have no option?" 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 this is incorrect.
And when staff turn the screen and silently ask for a 20 to 30 percent increase, he said he reacts by saying, "I give no tip. To me, that's being a pig. That's insane."
Whitmore mentioned that the standard tip rate 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, which is the highest level ever recorded.
The pandemic sped up the cultural change, as numerous customers gave higher tips due to appreciation for employees who kept providing services to the public 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 starting to realize and are saying, 'I don't have to tip every person who requests it.'"
The survey findings, provided by the digital ordering company Popmenu, support that.
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 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, although 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 car and called the authorities. The man emerged from his old Honda, visibly upset, with his children, including an infant, inside the vehicle.
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 income, they should take another job."
Kharasch and Whitmore both emphasized that gratuities should recognize excellent service, rather than act as an obligatory fee.
The key differentiator 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 difficult 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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