I went to grab a coffee the other day—nothing fancy, just a regular iced latte. I swiped my card, and before I could even process the price, the screen hit me with THE question.
💳 “Would you like to leave a tip?”
15%… 20%… 25%…
Wait. For what? The person just turned around, grabbed a cup, and filled it with ice. I’m all for tipping where it makes sense—but am I really supposed to tip for someone handing me a drink that I’m already paying too much for?
And this isn’t just coffee shops anymore.
📌 Self-checkouts are asking for tips.
📌 Fast-food places are expecting them.
📌 Retail stores are getting in on it.
Somehow, tipping has evolved from rewarding great service to feeling like a built-in tax on everything we buy.
So… what’s happening? Are we being guilt-tripped into tipping more, or is this just the new normal?
Let’s talk about it.
Why Tipping Screens Are Everywhere Now
A few years ago, you’d tip your server, bartender, maybe your barista if they went all out on the latte art. Now? Tip screens are popping up everywhere.
✔ Buying a bottle of water? Tip.
✔ Self-checkout? Tip.
✔ Picking up a mobile order where you did all the work? Tip.
At this point, it feels like we’re tipping for the privilege of spending money.
So why is this happening? A few reasons:
1️⃣ Digital payment systems make it easy – No one used to tip for counter service because there was no tip jar staring you down. Now, a giant screen does the job.
2️⃣ Psychological pressure works – Ever had a cashier watch you decide whether to tip? That’s not an accident.
3️⃣ Businesses are shifting costs onto customers – Instead of paying workers more, companies are relying on customers to supplement wages.
It’s subtle, but it’s everywhere.
Are We Actually Tipping More?
Yes. And a lot more than before.
📈 The average tip at full-service restaurants has gone up to nearly 20%.
📈 Tipping at quick-service places (where it wasn’t even expected before) has jumped to 15%.
📈 More people are tipping for things they never tipped for before.
Meanwhile, menu prices are also rising. So we’re not just tipping more often—we’re tipping on higher prices.
So, where does this end?
The Psychology of Tipping Guilt
Ever hit “No Tip” on a screen and suddenly feel like a terrible person?
That’s not just in your head.
Businesses know tipping is emotional. If they can make you feel guilty, you’re more likely to tip—even if the service didn’t really justify it.
- Pre-set tip options – Instead of starting at 10%, you’re now nudged toward 20-25%.
- Employees watching – Some systems show your tip selection right in front of workers.
- “Custom Tip” button takes extra effort – Ever notice that “No Tip” is often small or hard to find? That’s on purpose.
It’s all designed to make you hesitate just long enough to tip more than you normally would.
Are We Being Scammed, or Is This Just the Future?
Depends on who you ask.
💰 The Case for More Tipping:
✔ Service workers deserve better pay. If tipping helps them earn a livable wage, isn’t that a good thing?
✔ Other countries do it differently, but they also pay higher base wages. In places like Japan and France, tipping isn’t common—but workers earn more per hour.
✔ It’s still (technically) optional. No one forces you to tip… it just feels like they do.
🙄 The Case Against It:
❌ It’s turning into a hidden tax. Instead of businesses raising wages, they’re shifting labor costs onto us.
❌ Prices keep rising, but we’re still expected to tip. So… we’re paying more for the meal AND more for the tip?
❌ Not all tipping makes sense. Self-checkout tipping? For what, scanning our own items?
What Needs to Change?
At some point, tipping has to level out. Either businesses start paying workers better base wages, or tipping stays permanently inflated.
Until then? You’ve got two choices:
1️⃣ Keep tipping like usual and accept that this is just how it is now.
2️⃣ Start questioning it and stop tipping when it doesn’t make sense.
Because, let’s be real—not every payment screen deserves a tip.
Final Thoughts: Is Tipping Out of Control?
It feels like tipping has gone from a choice to an obligation—even in places where it never existed before.
Some people think we should tip even more to support service workers. Others think this has gone too far and we’re getting guilt-tripped into paying extra for everything.
So… where do you stand?
What’s Your Take?
Are we tipping too much? Should businesses be paying higher wages instead? Or is this just how things work now?
Drop a comment—I want to hear your thoughts.