Automatic tip
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (48232)
Staten Island, New York
November 16, 2025 12:01pm CST
I went to a steakhouse with my mom yesterday. When we got the check, I saw that they automatically added 18% tip to the bill. That is not right. They shouldn’t decide for me how much tip I give them or that I give them any tip at all.
I can understand if it’s a large party. And it seems a common practice to automatically add what they call a service charge to the bill. But if it is just two people it shouldn’t be done.
After I gave the waiter my credit card and she brought a receipt for me to sign, I noticed there was a space for an additional tip. Though not required, if they already charged me 18%, why do they ask for additional tip?
And I don’t understand the whole tipping thing in the United States. Why should I leave a higher tip for my meal just because something I ordered is more expensive? Whether I order a salad or filet mignon the amount of service I get is the same so why should the price of what I order determine how much tip I give?
4 people like this
4 responses
@DaddyEvil (161678)
• United States
2h
I don't know. I would have marked through the 18% surcharge and told the waitress to take it back and take that off my bill.
That surcharge shouldn't have been on your bill. That IS for parties of 6 or more so the waitress/waiter is sure to get tipped for their service.
Edit to add: In Missouri, restaurants must notify the customer of any automatic charges before taking your order. If you still order, then you're agreeing to pay the automatic charges.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (48232)
• Staten Island, New York
1h
We’ve been to the restaurant before. I don’t remember them automatically adding an 18% tip. I should’ve asked them about it yesterday even though I would’ve added an 18% tip myself anyway.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (161678)
• United States
1h
@lovebuglena As long as you don't care, then why worry about it?
@lovebuglena (48232)
• Staten Island, New York
27m
@DaddyEvil I do care about it. Tips should not be automatic.
@Dammy4life (195)
•
2h
Is it a must I leave a tip? it's something people do out of the goodness of their heart..you don't force it on people
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (48232)
• Staten Island, New York
1h
The additional tip is not mandatory. And I don’t think any tip at all is required. But if you don’t leave any tip, the server will not be happy and if you go back to the place next time, they won’t serve you as well as they could.
@kaylachan (80629)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6m
It's desperation and greed. Tips exist so that service works can be legally paid not even half of minium wadge an hour. In fact, service workers earn on adverage 2.13/hour and rely on tips. It's a flawed system that should not exist. and it's boiling down to corperate greed.
That so-called tip, when it's taken from your check automatically, you want to assume it'll be used to make up the lost hourly wadge the servers are not getting, but how do you know that? How do you know where the money is really going?
We need to stop the greed, we need to stop treating people like their expandable, because more and more people are realizing food service-- or any service industry really-- isn't worth it.
They could do their job perfectly, give you above and beyond service, but someone somewhere is going to be an a-hole to them and treat them like trash. Just because they're having a bad day, or are just an a-hole in general.
It's wrong, and I don't like it.
But, I'm guessing the so-called auto tip really isn't one, and having the 'tip' line is what the restaurant will actually give that server at the end of the night.
@dgobucks226 (36979)
•
2h
That is not right! If you received bad service, you should be allowed to tip accordingly. I would not go back to that establishment. Freedom of choice is gradually being taken away from citizens.
With the increasing prices restaurants have been charging customers from 2020-24, that policy is not going to make them popular if more observant people like yourself notice.
1 person likes this
