A Few Thoughts on Tip Culture

The plan was to walk up to the IN and Out burger for lunch as it's not the worst burger I have had and it's pretty much what's available here in what looks to be the corporate suburbs of Dallas. But then there was a thunderstorm out of nowhere so I had to find an alternate and I did: Uber Eats.

I did end up getting my burger and fries for free because it's the first time I have used the app and Uber wants me to be a repeat offender and so it's offering the no charge burger in front of my nose. But then when I went to confirm my order I got asked "do you want to tip?"

Umm...not really. I don't have my food yet and I don't even know if I will get it, what shape it will be in when it gets here and you want me to tip the driver before I even see the food or the driver? Oh, come on!. This has gone too far.

The system has been gamed so much that you have to tip ahead so that somebody, anybody will take your order in the first place. Try ordering off one of these apps and not tip. See what shape or when your food arrives. I bet it won't be pretty. The apps have taken the payment for the service fee, and then want you to tip the driver which is really what they get paid. The system sucks and stockholders get richer.

And this is my rant of the day. When did tipping become such a thing? It's one thing to tip the waitress where you know her entire wage is made up of what you tip - and has been this way for years and years, and I'm okay with that. Or if I round up the coffee purchase to the dollar amount rather than asking for my 53 cents back - I'm okay with that too. What do I do with change anyway?

But everywhere you go now, and every time you buy something some screen is getting waved in your face asking you if you want to tip? This tipping is getting out of control.

For example, look what was left on the desk at my hotel where I wanted to get away from the stressors of day to day life. I'm on vacation. I haven't even taken my shoes off yet and I see this:

The other day I went to take the dog in to get groomed and the screen asked me for a tip. What?! The $85.00 bath the dog had wasn't enough money? You want more? No way.

If you wanted to charge $100 for a dog bath, then charge $100 and be done with it - no tip needed. This is at our dog groomer who sent out an email the other day that she's no longer taking any more dogs as clients as she's at maximum capacity. It's not like the prices didn't got up this year either. It was $75 or so a year ago for the same service. I know that stuff is more expensive and wages have gone up, but if that's the case just charge $100 for the dog bath and forget this tipping thing.

This isn't to say I don't tip, but I have become a selective tipper. I will tip our local hairstylist because she's part of the community. We talk and share stories about our kids. Heck, she's family almost. The last time BW went there they had such a good time complaining about their nerdy husbands and who was nerdier (I win!) they almost forgot about the hair cutting part.

I think it's the automated tipping that pisses me off. The fact that the screen is blinking at you to dare you not to tip. Somebody might see and then you'll be the guy that doesn't tip.

I don't want to 'round up' for the charity of the day either. I wonder if it was reverse? If you asked your employer to tip, or better yet - round up to the next pay rate. I bet I know what the answer would be. "Would you like to add 15 percent to Jim's paycheck?" Ha.

So when do we tip? That's the question.

I thought the value of the tip was for extra service. In the case of the waitress the tip is for you or your family not having to cook and clean up after a meal. They bring it to you, they refill your drinks, they suggest items on the menu., etc. They provide a service and in pretty much all cases - pretty good service.

Also, they are getting paid like 2 bucks an hour. We know that if you can't afford to tip you can't afford to eat out. You made a choice to eat out and you know you're going to be asked for a tip. Some places just add it in, which is almost easier.

But what about the other stuff? The dog groomer, the delivery driver, the hotel housekeeper? The car wash? When do you tip and when do you not.? Lord knows we can't afford to tip every person every time we use a machine to check out. At the rate we're going we will be tipping the greeter at Walmart pretty soon.

So, tipping. It's the annoying pop-up ads of the 2020's. The person that designs a tip-blocker is going to be rich I tell you.

Just one more thing...

Did you like this post? Would you like to leave a tip?

Keep Tipping,

TH and Co.