Tipping Is Getting Out Of Hand
By Loretta
@noni1959 (12518)
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.
12 people like this
12 responses
@NJChicaa (126396)
• United States
29 Dec
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
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
30 Dec
I thought we were the only country that had a tipping culture, except Mexico. I'm learning more about other places. We tip our postal employees and also other carriers. They work so hard. My son gets packages almost daily with his business. I like the idea of service on a bill already but would want to remove if the service was not there.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (113045)
• United States
29 Dec
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 (12518)
• United States
29 Dec
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.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (168294)
• United States
29 Dec
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
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
29 Dec
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
@DaddyEvil (168294)
• United States
29 Dec
@noni1959 We don't normally eat out. We order take-out so we can eat at home. We don't tip for that.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
30 Dec
@DaddyEvil I don't eat out often anymore. I've curbed trying to budget better. When I go to Oregon, we eat out at least once and then cook at my daughter's. We're sticking to easier meals like the Panda dinner pack. There is always a lot of food to feed five of us with leftovers.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
30 Dec
I can imagine. I host in state parks and volunteer. We are not allowed to receive tips, but some from other countries try to. They get confused about tips. They get overwhelmed and my advise to them is not worry about tipping at all unless in a nice restaurant and have good service. If unsure, ask someone their advise during that circumstance. Even then, enjoy themselves and don't over think it.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
2 Jan
@JudyEv Some places, mostly restaurants in different states, pay their employees less than minimum wage legally expecting tips to make up the difference. I don't like this since it's like we have to pay their wages for the business. It's a hard industry to work in. I did it years ago. Even with great service, not all tip.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (167793)
• United States
29 Dec
I tip at restaurants. My friend tips at coffee shops where they pour your drink and hand it to you, or hand you a cup. She tips at Subway as well. If I went anywhere for salon services I would and did tip as well.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (129855)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Dec
It has gotten ridiculous. I only tip when in a sit down restaurant getting served. And then only how much I feel is fair.
@RasmaSandra (94423)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Dec
Everyone seems to want to get as much money as they can,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (214197)
• United States
30 Dec
I agree. I hate being told what I should tip...plus I've heard that some restaurants add the tip into the bill. That's wrong.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
30 Dec
I wouldn't mind the tip added if we can have it removed with no issue for non-service. I get if there is a huge party and the waitress and waiters worked hard and got little. I saw that happen before. I was so embarrassed years ago. My ex's sister wanted to do Thanksgiving at the Black Bear that year and there were over 30 of us in an area they made up for us. They waitress and waiter worked very hard. We had separate tickets and now understand why they want it all on one ticket over a certain amount, and will auto add 18%. Most of those that went were only putting $2 on their receipts. I was more than generous and and my ex and I handed them extra in cash. I told my ex husband I will not go with them again at any time. He agreed.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
2 Jan
@LindaOHio I agree to this. I won't go to a business that does an auto tip for small groups. Most who do this will have the info on a sign or menu.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (214197)
• United States
31 Dec
@noni1959 I can understand for big groups; but not for individual diners. Sometimes the service doesn't warrant what they add to the bill...
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3855)
• India
29 Dec
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!
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
30 Dec
Absolutely! Well said. There are so many that do service and we don't tip and they can't take them anyway. The argument someone is doing us a service is not a good one. Nurses, doctors, firefighters, policemen....they do us a service and we don't tip. Can you imagine the service we would get if it was mandatory or expected? The higher the tip, the better service?
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
2 Jan
@RevivedWarrior They need to remove the law where they can pay their employees less than minimum to make it up with tips.
@RevivedWarrior (3855)
• India
31 Dec
@noni1959 There should be laws governing tipping and a cap on the tip amount as well.
1 person likes this
