5 times when it’s acceptable not to tip
59% of Americans view tipping negatively, but how obligatory is the practice of leaving a gratuity? 5 times when it is acceptable not to do it.
The tipping culture has reached its limit, or at least more than half of Americans believe so. According to a survey conducted by the financial website Bankrate, 59% of Americans view tips negatively, which is equivalent to six out of ten adults, while 35% of them think that the culture has gotten out of control.
“Tipping is a hot-button issue that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon‚” says Bankrate senior analyst Ted Rossman. “People don’t like the pre-entered tip prompts at food trucks and coffee shops. I was even asked to tip once at a self-checkout machine at Newark Airport,” he added.
Given the discontent and fatigue of customers, etiquette experts revealed to CNBC some specific situations in which it is not mandatory to tip, no matter how pressured they make you feel. Here are the five most common scenarios.
5 times when it is acceptable not to tip
Counter purchases
Generally, people who work at a counter receive a salary, so customers are not obliged to leave them a tip. On the contrary, those who bring food to the tables or even home service delivery drivers do depend on tips.
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Open bar events
The people in charge of bartending usually end the day with good tips. However, etiquette experts say that this is not mandatory. If you are at a private event, chances are that the host has already arranged to pay the bartender for his services; while in establishments these people usually receive a salary.
Built-in tips
In some establishments the custom of including tips in the service has been adopted, so it is not necessary for customers to pay twice for the same thing. “That is just the establishment trying to get more money out of you,” assures Elaine Swann, an etiquette expert.
Bad service
If the service you received was bad or you simply didn’t like it, you have every right to deduct your tip, especially in the case that its a one-on-one service. In the case of service for a sitdown meal, take into account that the waiter cannot control every step of the process of getting the food to your table.
She recommends not leaving less than 10% even if you’ve had bad service, the majority of a servers pay in most cases comes from tips. But speak to the management first, there may be a valid explanation.
People who provide a service
In general, the people who provide a trade service, such as plumbers, cable technicians, doctors, lawyers or teachers, have their own salary, so it is not necessary to leave a tip. Additionally, in some cases, the situation can be misinterpreted as “bribery.”