Fury at latest restaurant tactic to force diners into big tips... but savvy Americans have a solution
To tip or not to tip? Well, it's no longer a question.
When a Reddit user ordered themselves a pizza for pick-up, they were horrified to find that they were being forced to tip.
As the customer reached the payment screen, they were hit with a message saying 'Don't forget a tip!' and given options of 15, 20 or 35 percent.
There was also a 'custom' box, but no option to leave nothing.
However, when the customer attempted to make the custom amount $0, the website wouldn't allow the order to move forward — displaying a bright red message: 'Please enter a valid tip amount'.
'How can it be a tip when I don't have a choice,' the customer asked on Reddit. 'Well I did have a choice and went elsewhere,' they wrote.
Savvy users of the online forum offered advice to others facing this dilemma.
'Try 0.001,' one comment read.
When a customer ordered themselves a pizza for pick-up, they were horrified to find that they were being forced to tip
Just a decade ago, 15 percent was considered the standard tip for average service. Now, that number has spiked to 20 percent — or often more
Another offered a more complex solution: 'If it's just HTML validation, I'll just try to bypass it completely by removing the 'required' attribute on the input.'
'I would ask them to assist you so they could go through the whole awkwardness,' someone else wrote.
'Give them your two cents,' another joked.
'Every response on this comment is far more effort than it deserves: abandon transaction, go elsewhere,' a user suggested.
Americans are growing tired of tipping — an expectation that seems to ask more of customers every day.
Just a decade ago, 15 percent was considered the standard tip for average service. Now, that number has spiked to 20 percent — or often more.
In fact, tipping below 20 percent is seen as a huge cultural taboo, something foreign visitors are baffled by, but certainly a norm in the US.
A survey last year found that three-quarters of Americans believed tipping culture has gone too far.
Customers being served at Union Oyster House in Boston
Tipping below 20 percent is seen as a huge cultural taboo, something foreign visitors are baffled by, but certainly a norm in the US
Customers eating at the World Famous Gus's Fried Chicken restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee
The research also found that two in three Americans often 'guilt tip' — whereby they felt forced into adding gratuity by prompts at check-out machines.
The findings come amid a widespread backlash against 'tipflation' which has seen tipping culture spill out from bars and restaurants and into stores, takeout chains and even self-service machines.
Meanwhile, foreign visitors appear to think that tipping culture in the US is outrageous.
'What the hell is tipping? I don't get it. Tipping here, tipping this, tip tip tip. I've spent two months here and [it's] tip, tip tip. Can I get a tip? Why do I have to pay you?' a man from the UK who moved to America said.
The food industry isn't the only space seeing outrageous tipping asks, hotels are also trying their luck.
Some Marriott and Hyatt properties have started asking for tips at the front desk during check-in - a move many find off-putting.
Traditionally, hotel guests might tip for services like luggage assistance or leave cash for housekeeping.
But now, places like Marriott's LaSalle Hotel in Bryan, Texas, and the Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall in Boston have begun requesting a tip at check-in, View From The Wing reported.
Guests have reported being prompted for tips at hotel check-ins
'Needless to say, we ignored the tip request,' a guest asked to tip using a QR code at the Marriott LaSalle told the publication.
The guest added that they were 'smugly happy we don't stay at Marriott very often anymore.'
Hotel chains have argued that prompting their guests to tip is an effective way to boost staff pay without having to raise wages.
According to travel expert Gary Leff tipping at the front desk is only typical in Las Vegas, because it is an understood custom for requesting a room upgrade.
