I had a server approach me after we tipped 15% and said “was there something wrong? Because I didn’t get the tip I was supposed to get?”
Excuse me? Supposed to get? It’s a TIP, it’s not guaranteed, or (to be totally honest) usually deserved for the quality of service. You refilled our drinks once, and brought our food out. Cool, you did your fucking job. Why am supposed to give you extra money for doing literally the bare minimum that is expected of you in your role as a server?
Just the other day, my husband and I splurged and got takeout. He went to go pick it up, and the front staff was like passively aggressive about him leaving a tip. For a takeout order! It's honestly getting out of hand.
This actually really bothers me every time I go to a bakery to buy bread, or order pick up/takeout/take away food and the option is on the card reader for tipping - with suggested options up to 25% sometimes! Admittedly, I sometimes/usually would tip for take out orders during COVID, but it was in the spirit of "all pulling together" since it was obvious restaurants and wait staff were hit hard during covid. It seems greedy that it's now become automatically expected. In some places, I've heard the tips can be taken by the restaurant owner to be distributed how they see fit rather than the funds all going to the wait staff. I don't know if this is true, but if it is, it makes me even more aggravated about the situation and even less likely to tip when picking up food to eat at home. I just traveled to Australia last month, and the lack of pressure at time of payment in restaurants and shops was remarkably refreshing.
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u/charlsant Aug 28 '24
I remember 10%. DISCRETIONARY!. Now it’s freaking almost mandatory.