Why am I Tipping for Everything?

There I am, driving up to the glorious drive up-window of my favorite drink stop. I can't wait to get my hands on my beloved Diet Pepsi with little ice. I place my order, I wait for the total, I hand over my card and then... I see the cashier start to hand over the handheld POS system. I know what is coming, you probably do too. She says, "It's going to ask you a question..."

How much would you like to tip?

Of course, the tipping starts out at 15%, then 20%, and then jumps to 25%. I look closer trying to find the no tip button. I mean I drove here, they literally are getting paid to make my drink, nothing more and nothing less. Now I have to make the awkward decision of whether to tip or not tip. I run through the tipping criteria in my head. "Am I going to show my face here again?" "Do I know anyone in the line behind me?" "Will they find out that I didn't tip?" " Will my drink get spit in if I choose to not tip?"

The employee is looking at me and now I feel even more awkward because I am taking too long to decide if I am going to give them extra money. I don't want to look cheap but with what I am paying already for the premium drink, I don't want to have to pay even more.

As I weigh all of the choices it pops in my mind, "Why am I tipping for everything?"

Tipping used to be fairly simple. You go to a restaurant and receive service throughout the meal including taking your order, bringing your drinks, bringing your meal, making sure you don't need additional food or supplies and asking if I need a refill on my drink. The tip was given based on the service that you received. If it was terrible service, they either didn't receive a tip (although I could never do this) or if it was good you could do about 20%-25%. Now I am being asked if I want to give the cashier additional money for doing something as simple as making a drink. I walk into a fast food place, coffee shop, food truck, etc. and every one of them asks the dreaded question. And the crazy part of it is that it is usually asked of you before you have even received your product that you ordered.

I don't mind tipping for great service. I am happy to throw a dollar in the tip jar if the person was friendly and made me enjoy the experience. I just don't like that it is now expected of me for the most basic of service. You now have to make the very conscious decision to NOT tip. Having that screen turned towards you or a handheld POS system handed to you just brings this feeling of making the wrong decision every time. If I don't select an amount they are pleased with will it affect the quality of my food or drink?

I have even seen a tip jar in our local gas station asking for tips for the employees that have to work on a holiday or weekend. A TIP, TO WORK THEIR SCHEDULED SHIFT THEY ARE ALREADY GETTING PAID FOR!

It no longer feels like an option and it no longer feels like it is given for exceptional service. It is now an additional fee added to your purchase.

Tipping is neither good nor bad but it seems that it is becoming excessive. It is expected at almost every service-based business and by the time you are done tipping throughout the day, you have spent an undesirable amount of money on just tips. It seems the rules of tipping changed without us ever agreeing that the rules should change.

And since this is the culture we are living in. I will go through the same dilemma, with the same internal dialogue, asking the same questions when I see that screen turn around asking me "The question".

I guess this is the new normal...but should it be?

Audience Statement

My intended audience is the ordinary consumer that deals with tipping. More so the younger generation such as college or high school students who are big fast food consumers. I made the story relatable and humorous to appeal to those that have had the same experience as I have. I feel this story is relevant because we have all experience this at least once and we are all trying to decide if it is something we want/ can afford to keep up with.