Tipping culture in North America is spinning out of control. What was once viewed as a special reward for service received that was over and above the call of duty has now become an industry standard — and a greedy one at that.
These days, servers who receive anything less than 20% consider themselves cheated. What’s worse is that other companies in different industries have seemingly caught on and are now starting to do the same thing. Companies like, for example, Starbucks — which recently announced that they’re now accepting debit/credit card tips.
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Starbucks First Made the Announcement Regarding Its New Tipping System in the Spring of 2022
Until then, a customer could only tip with their Starbucks card or if they were carrying cash. Starbucks employees themselves actually requested the new tipping method. So to appease its workers’ demand s, the company decided to implement tipping via debit/credit terminals to help prevent mass unionization across its stores.
The Rollout of Starbucks’ New Tipping Method Is Officially Underway and the Internet Is Divided
A virl TikTok video posted by @puropinchepartymari shows her working at her local Starbucks, chatting it up with customers and performing her duties to the very best of her ability. Then, with a wide-mouthed grin, she shoves a debit terminal with an illuminated “Add Tip?” option toward the direction of a customer. So far, the video has amassed more than 330K plays with nearly 75K “likes.”
Some People Are More Than Happy To Hear the News That They’ll Now Be Able To Tip Their Barista
“I’d always tip you guys if i[sic] could,” a fellow TikTok user wrote, “but i[sic] rarely have cash on me.”
“About time!!” another echoed. “I tell the baristas every time i[sic] go they need it cause sometimes i[sic] don’t have cash .”
On the one hand, it doesn’t seem like such a big deal to give people the option to tip. Starbucks still maintains that tips are by no means required and customers shouldn’t be made to feel otherwise.
However, There Are Those Who Are Questioning Whether or Not Tipping Culture Has Gotten Out of Control and Wonder Where We Draw the Line
If it’s suggested or even expected that I tip at Starbucks, should I also have to tip when I go to McDonald’s? I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know there’s something wrong when my server makes two times my annual income and still expects me to tip 20% out of some misplaced sense of guilt and socioeconomic shame.
