Tipflation: When is it OK Not to Tip?

Are you a big tipper? Do you feel pressured to tip, or are you one of those people who can easily hit the “no tip” option on the take-out keypad with a smile? Nowadays, everyone wants a little extra for their services. And while it’s normal to tip in industries where workers rely on tips, it’s questionable if you’re supposed to tip in the self-check-out lane, to-go counter, or when you buy a cookie from a kiosk.

Has tipping gone overboard? Well, it’s practically everywhere you turn, in places where it didn’t used to be. With inflation and the price increase of food and goods, everyone is clutching their wallets these days. So, having to dig even deeper to tip has a lot of people shaking their heads.

Myka Meier, etiquette expert and founder of Beaumont Etiquette, says COVID created a “new expectation of higher tipping and more frequent tipping” because people saw it as a way of thanking workers for putting themselves in higher risk, higher contact service jobs during that time. But now, it’s post-covid, and the trend of tipping lingers. So, we looked into it, and below is what we found on when to tip.

Etiquette experts say it’s standard to leave a 15-20% tip when you’re at a sit-down restaurant, and it’s the same when you tip your hairdresser. When it comes to Doordash, Uber, and your local pizza place, The Emily Post Institute suggests you leave a smaller tip, between 10-15%.

As for when not to tip, well, let’s get into that below as well.

Bad Service: First and foremost, tipping when the service was trash, or you had a rude encounter is understandable. That goes for a bad hairstylist or a terrible taxi driver, etiquette expert Thomas Farley, AKA Mister Manners, says. It’s okay not to tip in these types of situations.

Counter Service: Lately, a lot of workers have a tip jar or an option during checkout to leave a tip, which leaves some people feeling pressured to do so. And while it’s at your own discretion, note that usually, anyone working at a counter is earning a wage. “When they turn that device around, it’s this glaring thing, and people feel shamed into tipping, but you don’t have to,” Elaine Swann, a lifestyle and etiquette expert and founder of the Swann School of Protocol, says.

Professional Services: You don’t need to tip anyone who earns a salary. Therefore, you don’t need to tip a teacher or doctor. The same goes for someone who performs a skilled trade, like an electrician or plumber, because they are usually contracted to do the work at a price that values their skill and time.

Small Business Owners: Business owners operating a business often include a tip in their prices. Not always, but it’s not necessary to provide a tip to someone who is running their own business. But again, this is at your own discretion. If the service or item is great, then you may want to.

Gratuity included: When the tip is already included, feel free to tip no more. For example, some restaurants automatically have gratuities added to the bill, so it’s okay if you don’t tip beyond that. But it’s also ok if you do. “If someone goes above and beyond to give you exceptional service,” Meier says,  like taking time to prepare something special for you or having a great attitude — “you may wish to leave a tip!”

When it all comes down to it, it’s important to keep in mind that tips were originally intended to show appreciation for service, but with the times we are living in, it’s important that you tip within your means.

Use your own judgment.