Automatic tip
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (50624)
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?
9 people like this
9 responses
@kaylachan (83734)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Nov
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.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (83734)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Nov
@lovebuglena If you really think about it, the items on the menu probably don't cost that much to make. Again it's more about greed than anything. Service fee is a fancy way of saying you're being waited on, and that comes at a cost. Same with getting something delivered. The gas, wear and tear on the car, come out of the driver's pocket. But your local Wal-mart doesn't tell you that, or your friendly take out restaurant.
Yes, a lot of restaurants do think paying an employee a living wadge, would cut into their profits, but does it really? That twenty dollar meal, probably costs maybe two to make. And, that's going off the idea that ingredents are sent frozen ready t go and all you do is asymbol heat and go. The actual overhead cost for each establishment varies for sure, but I guarentee it's about turning a profit at the end of the day. To keep going, yes, businesses need to turn a profit, but it should not come at the expense of the employees that keep it going.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
16 Nov
Unless the person is super rich, I doubt anybody is going to give additional tip after an automatic tip is already included in the bill. I don’t know the difference between tip and service charge. Sometimes when it’s automatic, they call it a service charge and then they ask for a tip when they give you the check.
I think they should pay people a decent wage without having them rely on tips to make a living. But some say if they pay them more than they will have to charge more for the items on the menu.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
16 Nov
@kaylachan when we used to go out to eat my husband would usually pay with a card for the meal and leave a tip in cash. He told me that if you leave a tip in cash they are not taxed on it. Is that true?
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (217838)
• United States
17 Nov
That is totally wrong. I agree with what DE said.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
Maybe they do automatic tip because they had instances where people refused to tip at all.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (217838)
• United States
18 Nov
@lovebuglena I still think it's wrong.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (170912)
• United States
16 Nov
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 (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
16 Nov
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 (170912)
• United States
16 Nov
@lovebuglena As long as you don't care, then why worry about it?
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
16 Nov
@DaddyEvil I do care about it. Tips should not be automatic.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (17301)
• Torrington, Connecticut
17 Nov
Some restaurants its added automatically cause some people just suck, they go out to dinner and then complaining about tipping their waters. If you cant afford to tip then don't eat out
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (17301)
• Torrington, Connecticut
17 Nov
@lovebuglena That's not the point, if your meal is (x) amount and you cant afford to tip 18% then just eat at home, the reasons some places make it mandatory is because of crappy guest who rack up 200+ dollar bill and think 10 dollars is a decent tip, my wife was a waiter for years and it would be terrible to work 6-8 hours and everyone out eating tipping 3 and 4 dollars
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
@BACONSTRIPSXXX I get what you’re saying but it’s not the fault of the customers that their bosses don’t pay the waiters enough money and they have to rely on tips.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
I disagree with the last statement. Why should I stay home if I can’t tip much? Maybe the waiter won’t make much from me but restaurant will make money.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (376111)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov
@lovebuglena We have a minimum wage and waiters don't depend on tips to earn enough to live on.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Nov
@JudyEv Seems here in the US waiters do. But maybe it depends on the restaurant they work at.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
We are not obligated to tip but it is expected.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37620)
•
16 Nov
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.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
Tipping is based on service so if I am not satisfied with it I shouldn’t have to tip a lot, if at all. It should be my choice.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (187219)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Nov
I don't understand this either. I have certain standards that need to be met before I tip. These places seem to want to such as much out of their customers as possible. I wouldn't be going there again.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (187219)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Nov
@lovebuglena .........The subject of tips is really something. I certainly would not pay 18%. And be made to pay it. How outrageous.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
I’ve seen people post on facebook if you can’t tip 20% or more don’t go out to eat. Really? If we won’t go out to eat restaurants will lose business. And waiters will be out of a job. And getting a smaller tip is better than getting no tip at all.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95920)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Nov
That certainly is not right, WIth prices these days you have to know yourself what you can or cannot afford,
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
Sometimes it is not even about the service but about how much we can afford to give.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111866)
• United States
17 Nov
I am not a fan of automatic tips either, even when it's a large party. I see a tip as something EARNED, not guaranteed. And it is ENTIRELY based on service. As for how much, I think a percentage is the best way to go, but I agree the whole concept of it has gotten entirely out of control.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50624)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Nov
But why should you tip more for exactly the same service just because what you order is more expensive? Doesn’t make sense to me.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111866)
• United States
22 Nov
@lovebuglena I guess it could be dependent upon a variety of considerations. Somehow that's just "where we arrived" when it comes to tipping.
Perhaps we assume the server has more responsibility if the value of the items ordered is more? Perhaps the perceived value of the dining experience is more important that just considering the clock?
There is also the consideration, I think, that a server may spend as much time with a "cheaper" group of diners than a more "loose spending one." So, let's say a server spends 90 minutes with your table who splits appetizers. The bill will be smaller, but the time the server spends on you is the same as the time spent with the loose spenders who all had appetizers AND entrees.
Granted, ultimately how much you tip and on what basis is entirely up to you. Unless, such as in a situation like this, the restaurant has predetermined what your tip should be, which I think is wrong to do.
1 person likes this
