Tipping culture is something specific for the entire state, but is it still a thing? 

After the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of things got out of control, and tipping is definitely one of them. You’re not alone if you’re feeling defeated by the enormous amount of locations that now request tips and the increasing popularity of the proposed suggestions on digital kiosks.

The truth is that people are trying to convince you to tip on everything from groceries to internet marketplaces. It makes sense that you would want to find any justification for not leaving a tip and feel good about it because you don’t have to!

However, nowadays, most big restaurants and fast food chains use tipping as a technique to have their consumers support the cost of paying their staff a fair wage. In many areas, waiters receive as little as $2.13 per hour, depending entirely on the kindness of their patrons. And this is plain cruel and not suitable in today’s world.

I know you’re curious, so without further introduction, let’s take a look at all situations and places where tipping is unnecessary.

Your tipping won’t get straight to the employees

Some businesses keep all of the tips their clients provide. And this is so unfair! So, in this case, tipping is unnecessary because it defeats the purpose. Unlike at restaurants, where servers and chefs receive equal tips, this is not the case. When in doubt, just ask your server—or anybody else who is helping you—what the establishment’s policy is and how they would like you to leave a tip. They will be happy to tell you!

Non-sitting restaurants

Generally speaking, waiters in juice bars, bagel shops, and other establishments of a similar nature are not paid less than the minimum wage. Naturally, there will always be a tip jar located beside the register. Tipping is not required, however, it is often appreciated if you want to leave some.

Grocery store self-checkout

Using a self-service kiosk to check in or check out suggests that you can complete your work without help from someone else. It is fair to assume that a tip is not required if a business provides a self-serve option for whatever services they offer. The purpose of tips is to express gratitude to those who assist you. And for now, at least, robots don’t ask you for tips. Yet!

Services in the plane

As an American, you might feel somehow pressured to give tips for a service well done. However, it’s not the case during flights. Why? Well, the flight attendants don’t get tipped no matter what, simply because delivering beverages or serving you with a bag of chips is a part of their job.

Self-service food restaurants

Even though it’s still a restaurant, you don’t get to be served; you just go there pick what you want to eat, and put it on the tray. So why tip the cashier? There is no need to. In the same category are salad bars, ice cream parlors, or poke bar shops that don’t need tipping as well. This makes sense in the same way as grocery store self-checkout.

You are the one who receives the tip if you are the one providing the service. With the tip you were ready to give away, think about treating yourself to something more. You deserve it for sure!

Medical procedures

Another place in which tipping is definitely not needed is at your doctor’s place. Yes, tipping your dentist or your doctor is plain weird! We should be grateful that the healthcare business was spared the poisoning of tipping culture, which would have encouraged doctors to give greater treatment to patients in the hopes of receiving larger tips. Most areas in the US pay medical personnel a salary; they do not require bribes. In America, expensive medical operations will already bankrupt you; there’s no need to add an extra fee of 10%!

When tipping is not required and you’re happy you can spend that small amount on yourself, why not think twice about it and try to save it for rainy days? Even while it might not seem like much, if you add $5 today, $2 tomorrow, and so on, you will be amazed at how much money you have saved at the end of, say, three months.

If you don’t know how to budget more cleverly and don’t want to spend a lot on a financial course, check out this book. Financial Literacy for Young Adults Simplified is available on Amazon for $10.49 for the Kindle format. This guide will help you understand the process of managing saving and investing money to build a secure and independent future for you and your family. 

Coffee shops

Coffee shops have become an iconic example of the tipping culture following the COVID-19 outbreak. No agreement has been reached by those involved in the tipping controversy on either side. Many people are in favor of making tipping more at coffee shops standard procedure. But for the time being, it’s not necessary, usual, or expected. Even when you’re being asked for it, don’t feel obliged to give them a tip. Only if you desire!

Taxis and rideshares with bumpy rides

Your first concern should always be keeping yourself safe. You might feel under some pressure to tip someone in the back seat of a stranger’s vehicle in the hopes that you manage to get back home safe and sound.

Because your driver is unreliable, that pressure builds up. It is wise to wait to decide on a tip until after your ridesharing trip for this reason. While it is slightly more difficult in a taxi, drivers of taxis are also subject to more laws and regulations than drivers of ridesharing services. Withhold a tip and make sure to report the driver in the app’s complaint box if your trip was dangerous or disrespectful.

Takeout

Takeout used to operate on the same principles as fast food: gratuity was not expected if a server was absent. This included, if available, takeout from a sit-down restaurant. However, things became murky when meal delivery apps were introduced. Even if these applications allow you to pick up the meal from the restaurant personally, they will still want a small tip.

The good news is that tipping is not required for this cuisine. The cost of the food was already inflated compared to if you decided to eat in the restaurant, and the price of the service is included. Only the app’s owner’s business will receive this tip, not the ones who bring you the order.

Online services

As previously mentioned, if you don’t have a person to serve you, there is no need for you to tip. Especially for online services! Online tipping is a fraud designed to increase your purchase price. Since the majority of internet retailers operate automatically, your tips directly benefit billionaires and millionaires. You can find out about a seller’s tipping policy whether you are purchasing from a small business or an online artist. And that’s actually a great thing to do to make them feel appreciated and support their work to survive in the future.

Anywhere outside America

Tipping is a custom that is unique to America. That’s why an American citizen might find it hard to believe that tipping is considered useless and occasionally even disrespectful in the majority of nations around the world.
We advise you to find out what the customary tipping amounts are before you travel. Only in America do we generally let employers blatantly mistreat their employees and make them rely on tips to live. Not cool!

Do you prefer tipping or not? Tell us in the comments. 

Related article: Save More Money on Produce With These 7 Smart Tips.