Tipping Fatigue? Most Americans Say They’re Frustrated with Tipping Culture

(KNSI) — If it seems like tipping culture has gotten out of control, it’s not your imagination.

A new study from Bankrate concludes that most Americans now have a negative view of tipping. Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says it may be due to everyone and everything asking for a little extra. “Some of the big pain points are those pre-entered tip screens we encounter at coffee shops, food trucks and elsewhere. Thirty-four percent [of respondents] are annoyed about those.”

The other problem is “We’re seeing a lot of crazy tip prompts,” Rossman says. The craziest I encountered was being asked to tip at a self-checkout at Newark Airport. I didn’t feel bad hitting no on that one.”

There is also a shift in the onus of tipping. “It’s not so much an optional thing anymore where you have to go out of your way to put money in there. It’s really, you have to go out of your way not to tip in some settings when you get prompted in the payment terminal or on the app.”

Rossman says that 59% of Americans are annoyed with tipping, and the percentages increase with younger generations. Rossman adds rising prices and the increased number of gig economy jobs that rely on tips.

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