Tipflation – Tipping Culture in the United States is Out of Control!

 

There's pressure to tip at the counter

The concept of tipping has never bothered me. I believed that if someone performed a service in a good and meaningful way, I would show my appreciation with a good tip. I had no issues with that situation until recently.

I'm basically bothered about tipping requests for most purchases that I make in a store. While I can understand tipping a waitress who served me at a table, someone handing me a takeout order in the diner or a cup of coffee in Starbucks is a different story. Why should a screen pop up asking me to choose the percentage of tipping I want to give? In those cases, I hit the "No Tip" button, but it is always awkward.

The History of Tipping in the United States

Tipping started with serfs

To understand the concept of tipping in the United States, it is a good idea to look across the pond. Tipping started in Europe during the Middle Ages between masters and their serfs. If servants did excellent work for the master, it was customary for the master to give a gratuity to the serf as a reward. 

Many years later, well to do Americans traveling in Europe during the middle 19th century encountered the tipping custom, and they thought it was an excellent idea. They brought that custom home because it made them feel like the aristocrats that they saw in Europe when they tipped someone. 

Tipping Was Unpopular at First

Many Americans resisted the idea of tipping in the beginning. Eating in a restaurant was expensive even in those days, and the notion of making it cost more was unpopular. 

There was also a sense that the idea of a gratuity was a way of showing off or making it seem that someone had more money than they actually had. It also made some people who didn't have the money to tip feel uneasy in those situations. 

The Civil War Changed Things

With the end of slavery after the Civil War, many freed Black people sought jobs in the hospitality industry. These jobs paid little or nothing to the workers, so they would do an excellent job for their customers and hope they would give them a gratuity. 

Tipping spread from Pullman trains

George Pullman started the Pullman Company of luxury railroad service, and this caused an explosion of tipping as a popular practice because he hired many former slaves as porters and servers for his trains. While Pullman at least paid them a low wage, the concept of tipping became the norm on all of his trains, causing the practice to spread across the country.

20th Century Challenge

Despite tipping being widespread by the end of the 19th century, in the early 20th century there was more outrage from many in the public feeling that they had to pay for things twice. Eventually, 48 states passed laws to get rid of tipping. 

In 1926 the state governments overturned those laws because there was difficulty to enforce the ban because the practice had become so widespread.  Restaurant owners capitalized on these overturned laws, paying their workers less and making them rely on tips for good service. 

Many Americans Are Feeling Annoyed about Tipping

Must tip a table server

A recent Pew Research Center survey indicates that 72% of Americans feel like tipping is more prevalent in a variety of places than it was just five years ago – like the dry cleaner or the corner deli. This rise of requested tipping in places that never asked for gratuities before is called Tipflation. 

A recent survey by Bankrate – a financial services company – finds that two thirds of Americans now have negative feelings about tipping and prompts to tip. Because of this pressure, people are reluctant to tip according to the electronic prompts forced upon them, and even in some restaurants with sit down service some people are not leaving any tips – I do not agree with that practice at all. If someone has served me at a table, I'm going to be leaving a tip for that service. 

Tipping in Hotels

Hotel tip placement

I have traveled on six continents, and stayed in many hotels – although in recent years I have preferred staying in an Airbnb – and the questions about tipping are really a difficult call depending on where you are staying. 

According to Conde Nast Traveler, tipping rules in hotels vary "by country, by region, and by scenario." For example, in countries like Japan or South Korea, leaving a tip in a hotel may seem offensive. In the United States, a tip is expected – $2 to $5 per night – and should be left on the nightstand or pillow. 

In Western and Southern Europe, tips are not expected due to wages being higher for hotel workers, but a tip of $1 to $2 a night will not be unwelcome, and in China tipping is not customary and may cause unnecessary confusion as to why the tip is left.

In general, I try to check on the customs of the place I am visiting, and if someone does bring my luggage to my hotel room – I always feel obliged to give a tip no matter where I'm staying. 

Feeling Pressure to Tip

The pressure is real here

Sometimes I feel like a Hamlet-like customer at my time to pay at the counter – To tip, or not to tip? That is the question! This becomes even more of a dilemma especially at counters in a variety of establishments when the cashier is waiting for you as the screen appears to request a tip at varying percentages or no tip, and sometimes they turn the screen with tipping options in order for you to see it. 

In what circle of hell has this situation been devised? This person is waiting to see if I tip or not. There is no more awkward ten seconds in my daily life. If I hit one of the tip percentages, I'm going to walk away feeling cheated. If I hit on "No Tip," then I'm going to feel like Scrooge. Oh, this is just simply madness personified. 

What to Do Going Forward

I'm not sure that I know what to do moving forward. Even when I order a meal to be delivered, the person on the phone will ask, "Do you want to include a tip?" I always say, "No, I will tip at delivery." If I place the order online, that tip box pops up as always, and I hit "No Tip." When the order arrives, I always give the tip in cash, and I see delivery people smiling, so I think that's appreciated. 

I just think that something has to give. I believe in tipping in the proper places at the appropriate times, but what's happening now seems like a tipping epidemic, and I'm feeling like a victim. It's so pervasive right now that it seems like there's no turning back. 

The Brown Bag Prescription

My lunch option now

After much contemplation, I could only think of one thing to do – the brown bag prescription. When I go to work, I bring my lunch in a brown bag just like a kid going to school. If I go to a park or the pool, the brown bag is coming with me. This way I don't have to face that awful situation of the electronic screen with tip suggestions. 

I encourage you try the brown bag prescription. At least you know the food is what you like and made the way you like it. There's nothing wrong with that!

* Please watch this video about how Americans feel about tipping!