Tipping has become a real point of contention for many people in the United States. In my humble opinion, tipping is frankly out of control and I’ve written numerous posts on the subject, like this one that asks: Should You Tip on Takeout? or yesterday’s story on Frontier Flight Attendants Now Requesting Tips: Is This the Future of Air Travel?
There also seems to be a rise in the number of tipping scams as well as strategies that waitstaff have tried on diners, like what happened at Boston’s Logan International Airport when the server crossed out the lowest suggested tip and circled the highest (20%). I’m a regular tipper when both the situation and service warrants it but tricks like this makes me want to leave zero tip, even if the service was good.
Even businesses pull stunts like this, either by trying to pressure diners into tipping more or flat out tricking them and hoping they’re either drunk or not paying enough attention to notice. The first time I noticed this was in a Las Vegas taxi about a decade ago where the suggested tip started at 20% and went up to 30%. Are you serious?
Restaurants and hotel room service are notorious for tricking customers by automatically adding a tip and then suggesting more. A professional photographer recently posted on social media, “the check seems to show a 20% service charge added. But then when the credit card comes back it says gratuity not included and suggests gratuities.”
The latest scam that I just learned about, thanks again to an Instagram post, will really make your blood boil and is the inspiration for this post because I want to make sure you don’t fall for it, too.
Mark Obrien, who goes by @big_beau7 on Instagram, posted a video (embedded below) that has gone viral and for good reason. His caption: “EVERYONE needs to watch this video and share this! This is a pay at the table kiosk. The screen autogenerates the tip percentage options for you in hopes that you won’t look at the dollar amount it’s factoring! Every single choice was way off! Total bill was $27.00. 15% should be $4.05 it autogenerated $6.22! At 18% it should be $4.86 it autogenerated $7.47! At 20% it should be $5.40 it autogenerated $8.30! And at 25% it should be $6.75 and it autogenerated $10.37! So whenever you choose to use kiosk CHECK YOUR MATH!”
View this post on Instagram
In his video, he shows that the math doesn’t add up and if you’re like me and struggled with math class through school, then you might not notice either. I admit I would not have noticed and would have probably just chosen the lowest option. However, if the bill was an even number like $10 or $100 and the 20% suggested tip was more than $2 or $20, I would have caught on. One thing is for sure, thanks to Mark, I will definitely now be on the lookout for this type of scam.
As you can imagine, plenty of Mark’s followers had some choice words:
@Woodsnathan: The tipping culture in the US is crazy!!! Employers need to pay their staff more, not the customers
@liike23: Tipping is such a scam. Employers need to do better.
@Errolwebberus: Just for that, they would get $0. I heard someone say this a few days ago, “I don’t tip if I order standing up.” And it makes so much sense.
@steve.nobile: Funny how every other country in the world has zero to little tipping and the food prices are more affordable that here in the US??!!!!!!!!! Yall need to see the world!
@brendasue_muller: I always select “custom”, do my own calculation, subtract discounts and taxes, and base my tip on the food and service quality. DON’T let these places PRESSURE or SHAME you into when to tip or how much to tip! (Some places should not be requesting tips, like fast food or coffee drive-throughs!) The employer should pay better wages and stop counting on consumers to pick up their slack. Also, you could select $0.00 tip and just give cash directly to your server if they’ve provided excellent service and made your dining experience a pleasant, relaxing one!
KEEP READING:
–Your guide to tipping in the 25 most popular countries around the world
-How much do you tip housekeeping when you stay at a hotel in the United States?
–How much to tip housekeeping and make sure they get it
–Pay it forward: The trick to ensuring the next guest gets clean sheets at a hotel or vacation rental
–Has tipping in the United States gotten out of control?
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
Thank you. Well noted Bruce. This particular citation is very misleading. And a good reminder we should tip on the full service and not any coupon discounted prices. With that said, why is America sooooo far behind the rest of the world with credit card transactions. In much of the world the card is scanned and the full transaction completed at the table. No carrying the card away to be returned again with only a summary balance due and suggestions for a tip and signature. Your card, outa sight, laying about just waiting to be skimmed. I’ve worked in restaurants, you don’t want to know how your credit card is handled at the register out of your sight. We’re supposed to be a digitally advanced country so why are we the last to get tableside payment and receipts. The little digital readers are not THAT expensive. It is common practice in the hinterlands of Mexico. So why can’t we do it in any American city?
Tipping scams can be an issue but there’s another one we learned about in Rome last month. There is an Italian term “Coperto” which means Cover Charge, which can be 1 or 2 Euros per person but not always. At a restaurant in Rome, off the del Corso, called Ristorane Donna Solia dal 1986, my wife, son, granddaughter and I had dinner. Our total bill for the four of us was E160, of which there was a Coperto charge of E12 per person PLUS a service charge of E25. Those “fees” were 45% of the bill. Coperto charges and service fees are supposed to be shown on the menu. I don’t recall seeing either but make sure you know what those fees are before you order, otherwise you going to pay them. By the way, of all the Italian restaurants we went to over a week’s time, none charged us either fee.
Only take out place I tip is one is little family owned Mexican food place I’ve been going to for years – they know me when I walk in and I know them – more about relationship. Other hand two other places we’ve been going to for longtime, started calculating tips on tax included amount – no way will I tip government – easy enough to hit “custom” and remove that amount.
In the 70’s we went to the Bahamas on a mini vacation. Tips of 20% were included on everything! Service was absolutely rotten because of this.
I always back off any tip, do tip in cash to server.
TIPS once meant: TO INSURE PROMPT SERVICE Often doesn’t hold true
On a cruise ship, tips, daily, included now and supposedly distributed to all staff.
Many years ago, on a cruise, the non-functional wine steward became our best friend on the last evening. He did NOT get a tip but we gave it to the hard working waiter and room attendant!
Beware of the added, hard to see, service charge on to your carryout ticket. Beware of the added tip request for the cook. Yes it happens.
I’d be so petty and file a charge back if I notice that the restaurant “calculated wrong” the amount due 😂
Thanks Bruce, for pointing this out. That makes sense (if the restaurant is telling the truth, of course). I was going to check the original post to see if there was something else.
Well said, Jack!
Good observation, Bruce!
I cringe when I hear someone boast about not tipping on the tax. Really?! Have we reduced ourselves to being so petty and frugal!
One should always tip on the total bill pre discount! Fair is fair!
I tip in cash ONLY!!
If I order take out, I’m not tipping. And I also get tired of the ” would you like to make that an even 8 dollars for blah blah blah?” when going through a drive thru..I mean dang, the prices are already sky high.
With rampant inflation, workers in family restaurants (not the high-end ones) are really struggling to make ends meet nowadays. I view tipping as my opportunity to help them out, and to help raise their family. I believe the Lord blesses those who bless others, and I have experienced that in my own life. Don’t pass up the opportunity to bless someone who is less fortunate than you are.
The tip amounts are actually correct and this article needs to be corrected or deleted. See the restaurant’s comment on the original Instagram post, but here’s the gist…
This was mentioned above by Gold River Pete but is critical to repeat: According to the restaurant, there was a large discount (maybe a 2 for 1 deal or similar) which isn’t shown in this video. So the actual bill, before discount, was much higher. The full amount before the discount was $41.46 not $27.00. So, 15% of $41.46 is exactly what is shown on the screen: $6.22.
Now – don’t get me wrong – I agree that tipping has gotten way out of hand, and don’t get me started about calculating the tip after tax – that’s def wrong!