NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tipping can be a touchy topic. Everyone has a personal belief what they think is a fair amount. But there is one topic many Americans agree on: They are being asked to tip more than ever before.
Like a lot of hardworking Americans, Levi Vest from Murfreesboro grabs a quick bite to eat at Country Cafe while he’s on the road.
“You kinda have to eat out when you’re working on the road. So, if I can eat some home-cooked food, I would rather have that,” said Vest.
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He said it’s important the workers prepping his meal get a fair tip.
“You come for take-out, that person has to put the take-out together. You should definitely tip,” said Vest. “I usually just do a few bucks – $5, $10, just depends.”
Pew research investigated tipping. Turns out, 40% of Americans don’t like the restaurant suggesting a certain tip, whether it be on a bill or a checkout screen; 24% like the suggestion; and 32% don’t care either way.
Kenny Jordan teaches hospitality and tourism management at Belmont University, and studies tipping trends.
“It’s just easier to push that button because you feel that pressure. And that leads right into what consumers are feeling, which is known as tipping fatigue,” said Jordan.
Jordan calls tipping fatigue a phenomenon that has taken hold as tipping is seemingly all around us: Drive-thru windows, take-out counters, grocery delivery, and retail to name a few.
WalletHub found three out of four Americans said tipping is out of control. With rideshares, some send a reminder days later to tip your driver.
“If you use a rideshare, it asks you if you want them to give you a tip. And you can give them a tip right then. However, you open it up a couple days later because you want to use the service again, some of the apps will actually ask you, ‘would you like to give your last driver a tip?’ So it’s not just the pressure from the counter-pressure, but it’s pressure from these promps,” said Jordan.
Data shows the number one place to tip is a sit-down restaurant. An estimated 92% of customers tip there; 76% tip for delivery; 70% at a bar; 25% tip when buying a coffee; and 12% tip at fast food.
Most agree they are expected to tip more today than five years ago. But, Jordan said as our economy has become more service-oriented, more Americans have experienced relying on tips.
“Culturally, we have younger generations – Gen Z, Gen X – have grown up in this service culture and a lot of them have worked in the service culture, so because of that, it is ingrained in our culture as a basic norm, so it’s going to be really hard to reverse that trend.”
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Vest said everything is over-priced these days, but when he was in school, he also worked at some fast food chains, and has experienced the gratitude that comes from a nice tip.
“If I’ve got money to share, ya know, why not? That person is loving their job, doing it the way they should, that means a lot, you know,” said Vest.
WalletHub found half of consumers leave a tip because of social pressure rather than good service.
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