As prices rise and services decline many customers are beginning to hit a point of feeling tipping fatigue.
Key Details
- Since the pandemic, many places have adopted tipping prompts.
- Places that didn’t have tipping prompts pre-pandemic, like online shopping websites or self-checkout machines, are asking for money.
- Customers are feeling as if they are being asked for money in businesses they enter and are starting to suffer from tipping fatigue.
Why it’s news
Tipping fatigue is a growing phenomenon in the U.S. as tip requests are being implemented into many businesses. The fatigue is due to feeling worn out by the continuous tip requests.
“It feels like I’m being hit up for tips at every single turn,” says shopper Caitlin Green.
Pre-pandemic most consumers were accustomed to tipping at restaurants, bars, and other businesses but now tipping prompts are popping up at almost every business.
Self-checkout machines, online orders, and other places are not coming equipped with tipping services. The rise of tipping requests is leaving consumers tired and feeling like they cannot go anywhere without being pressured to tip.
Since the pandemic happened most businesses and restaurants have seen a significant drop in service as it is hard to hire help.
Restaurants are getting food out slower and servers are stretched so thin they can’t have conversations with every customer leaving customers feeling not as satisfied.
Along with worsening services, restaurants are also having to raise prices due to continued inflation. Customers are then feeling pressured to tip when services truly weren’t good and they had to pay more than they regularly would.
“There’s been a huge drop in service, at least in my experience at restaurants since the pandemic, which I totally understand why it’s happening. But prices are also more expensive and then I’m being asked to tip 25% as a preset option,” says Green.
Other opinions
Some customers have said that tipping is no longer about the services provided, it is about helping the underpaid workers.
“I’m tipping as much as I can and it’s no longer about service. It’s about supporting the workers and supporting my community. It’s one small way I can help,” says restaurant customer, Henk van Leeuwen.
