Speaking as an American, this crap is new. It started because of the proliferation of those iPad-based POS systems (like from Square, et al). They’re ostensibly a good thing (low barrier to entry, easy to deploy) but most of them come with an inbuilt tip request.
For my part, I never tip for counter service, unless I’m paying cash, then the change goes in the tip jar because I don’t like jingling when I walk. Nor does anyone I know, really. Same for carryout food. I’m not tipping you to hand me a bag.
American tip culture is baffling
Speaking as an American, this crap is new. It started because of the proliferation of those iPad-based POS systems (like from Square, et al). They’re ostensibly a good thing (low barrier to entry, easy to deploy) but most of them come with an inbuilt tip request.
For my part, I never tip for counter service, unless I’m paying cash, then the change goes in the tip jar because I don’t like jingling when I walk. Nor does anyone I know, really. Same for carryout food. I’m not tipping you to hand me a bag.
Here’s how you can understand it:
American company orders are greedy and they will do whatever they can to not pay workers, including trying to con customers into paying them
As a customer I have a rule for tipping that is easy to follow
You come to me, I tip. I come to you, I don’t
Only exception is if I ever do take out and the servers have to prepare it. I’ll tip them