Tipping Is Getting Out Of Hand
By Loretta
@noni1959 (11749)
United States
December 28, 2025 11:05pm CST
I may have written about this before, but I honestly don’t remember, so I apologize if this sounds redundant.
This came up again today, when my son and I went into the city and stopped for late take-out to eat back at home. We walked up to the counter and paid before walking with said containers to the buffet to fill our containers by outselves. The only thing the person did was ring us up and hand us a receipt with suggested tip percentages at the bottom.
The amounts were inflated, plus the tips were calculated on the post-tax total, not the pre-tax amount.
For example, 18% of our $32.18 bill was listed as $6.87. It should have been $5.79. The other percentages were wrong too. And beyond the math, tipping shouldn’t be based on the total with tax included anyway, tax doesn’t go to the server, it goes to the government.
The incorrect amounts next to the percentages isn't just at this place, but several we've frequented in the past.
We also did all the work. Nothing was brought to us. So no, we didn’t tip. Tipping is supposed to be about service, not inflated totals or guilt built into a receipt.
I still tip fairly, but based on actual service and the pre-tax amount, not an automatic screen telling me what I “should” pay.
Before someone tells me how little waitresses get paid, I know this establishment pays minimum wage to start out (relative used to work there). It was also the owner at the cash register.
Even the transfer station I go to weekly, has a tip cup at the pay window.
I drive onto a scale, get weighed by a machine that prints it out, I back in, get out and unload by myself and if I have recycling, drive to that area and take out myself.
Then I weigh again, park and pay. They want a tip for me working? They also get paid a starting of $23 an hour. I applied before.
It's getting out of hand.
8 people like this
8 responses
@NJChicaa (125698)
• United States
6h
I happily and generously tip servers, bartenders, etc. when I'm out. DON'T ask for a tip at a bagel shop when you are just toasting and buttering a bagel. DON'T ask for a tip when you are making me an iced coffee that I walked in for and will carry out myself.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (108871)
• United States
6h
I agree with you, and it gets worse and worse because the prices for everything goes up, thus making the suggested tips increase. Despite that, I have not increased tipping (still do 15% on legit services), and if all someone does is hand me my order on pickup, I do not tip. I also do not tip the cook any longer when I see a jar for that. I used to tip so well, but it HAS gotten out of hand. Europe doesn’t tip, and I realize they pay better, but still, I’m tired of the restaurants and other places try to bleed me dry. Be assured though, I blame the businesses, not the workers.
I remember wanting to take my groceries to my car myself because I didn’t want to have to tip the bag boy. I was so annoyed he absolutely insisted he push my cart. I gave him a buck, and didn’t feel bad about it. However, if I get exceptional service, proper appreciation is shown. It just rarely happens.
2 people like this
@noni1959 (11749)
• United States
5h
I don't blame the employees either. Businesses can change some of their own practices to save money and pay their employees better. None should rely on tips to make up wages. Sometimes, I order for pick up at Safeway or Walmart and once tried to tip both places and was told they are not allowed to take tips. I was surprised.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (164309)
• United States
5h
I ignore tips at places that only run the register for me. Those people are making minimum or higher wages. If they don't do part or all of the work, they don't deserve a tip.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (164309)
• United States
4h
@noni1959 We don't normally eat out. We order take-out so we can eat at home. We don't tip for that.
@noni1959 (11749)
• United States
4h
There are places that can confuse too, like the Sizzler in Albany, OR. When you go in, you order at the cash register and they give you your tray and cups to take to your table. The receipt has a place to put a tip.
You get your own food and drinks buffet style, (unless order a steak), and a waitress may come by to take your used plates, and maybe ask if you want cheese bread.
Later, the waiter/waitress will bring a saucer with mints and a doily with a happy face and thank you written on it.
If I have someone coming by my table while I'm there, I will leave a tip, but for awhile, it was confusing if I was to leave it at the register or at the table or both.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (368133)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
Thankfully tipping is almost unheard of here. Some restaurants have a tip jar but it's pretty rare. It's a bit of a nightmare for us if we go overseas as we're not used to it.
@LooeyVille (38)
• United States
28m
Yes, tipping is totally out of hand. I'm tempted to go back to 10% or whatever I feel is merited by the service that I received,.
@RevivedWarrior (3695)
• India
4h
I completely understand your frustration. Believe me, you’re not alone in feeling this way.
Tipping was meant to reward service, not to compensate for incorrect math or social pressure. Calculating tips on post-tax totals is misleading, especially when tax has nothing to do with the service provided. What I cannot understand is when customers do all the work themselves, it’s reasonable to question why a tip is expected at all.
The growing presence of tip prompts in places with little or no service feels excessive.
It can start to feel less like appreciation and more like obligation or guilt. In a way , it looks like a bribe to get things done.
You’re being fair by tipping based on actual service and on the pre-tax amount.
Knowing that some of these jobs already pay a decent hourly wage adds to the confusion.
At this point, tipping culture does seem to be getting out of hand, and it’s okay to push back thoughtfully. I am sure many would support you on same!
