Tipping culture in America has reached new heights, with businesses expecting extra money for services that were once included in the price. Many customers feel pressured to tip for things that don’t require additional effort or personalized service. While tipping is essential for some jobs, there are plenty of situations where it feels unnecessary.
Here are the things you’re now expected to tip for that really shouldn’t require it.
Self-Checkout Kiosks
The idea of tipping at a self-checkout machine is baffling to many. These machines require no human interaction, yet some businesses prompt customers to leave a tip at the payment screen. Since there’s no actual service provided, this feels like an unfair expectation.
Instead of rewarding customer service, these tips seem like a way for companies to pass more costs onto customers.
Fast-Food Restaurants
This was traditionally a non-tipping industry because employees are paid at least minimum wage, unlike restaurant servers who rely on tips. But now, many fast-food chains have added tipping options at the register and on digital payment screens.
Since customers already pay for their meals and there’s no table service involved, tipping at a drive-thru or counter-service restaurant feels like an unnecessary extra charge.
Coffee Shop Counter Service
It used to be a simple transaction to order a coffee and pick it up at the counter, but now tip jars and payment screens prompt customers to tip baristas for every purchase. Admittedly, making a complicated espresso drink takes some skill, but a dollar or two on every cup of coffee quickly adds up.
Bakery and Donut Shops
Quickly grabbing a donut or pastry from a display case should not require an extra fee. The cashier rings up the order and hands over a bag, yet many bakeries now ask for a tip at checkout. Unlike restaurant waitstaff, bakery workers do not rely on tips for income, making this request feel excessive.
Takeout Orders
To pick up a takeout order involves no table service, yet many restaurants include a tip prompt when paying. While tipping for delivery makes sense, since someone brings the food to your door, takeout orders are a different story. If all the staff does is hand over a bag, it’s hard to justify an extra charge.
Grocery Store Bagging
Some stores now prompt customers to tip workers who bag their groceries, even though this task was once included in the cost of shopping. Grocery store employees are paid hourly wages.
Tipping for a service that has traditionally been free feels like a sneaky way for businesses to shift labor costs onto customers.
Retail Stores
It’s becoming more common for retail stores to prompt customers to tip when making a purchase, even when no extra service is provided. If a cashier simply scans and bags an item, there’s no reason to add gratuity. Retail jobs do not depend on tips. Asking customers to tip for a routine shopping experience feels like an unnecessary attempt to boost profits.
Hotel Housekeeping
While tipping hotel housekeeping has been customary for decades, many guests now feel it’s expected rather than optional. Some hotels even leave tip envelopes in rooms, putting pressure on guests to leave extra cash.
Room cleaning is already factored into the hotel rate, so tipping shouldn’t be mandatory. While some guests tip for exceptional service, it shouldn’t be expected as standard.
Furniture Delivery
Most furniture stores charge expensive delivery fees, yet customers are still asked to tip the delivery workers. The cost of delivery is already built into the service, so why the additional tip? Tipping for heavy lifting may be a nice gesture, but it should not be required when the delivery fee itself is already significant.
Drive-Thru Windows
Sit-down restaurant service tips makes sense, but now even drive-thru windows feature tip prompts. The workers are paid an hourly wage and do not serve customers at tables, so tipping for a drive-thru order seems unnecessary.
The entire concept of fast food is based on quick service with minimal interaction, so adding gratuity to an already marked-up meal doesn’t sit well with many customers.
Subscription Services
Even some digital services, such as online subscriptions or content platforms, are now requesting tips from users. Many apps and websites ask users to leave a tip for their services despite already charging a monthly or annual fee.
These platforms operate without physical service workers, so an additional tip shouldn’t be necessary.
Ride-Share Apps
It has always been customary to tip taxi drivers, but some ride-share services have introduced tipping prompts that feel more obligatory than optional. Unlike traditional cabs, where the fare is often regulated, ride-share apps already include surge pricing and service fees. Some customers feel frustrated being prompted to tip on top of these extra charges, especially for short rides where the base fare is already high.
Airport Baggage Handling Fees
Many airlines already charge checked bag fees, yet tipping baggage handlers is still expected. Customers are already paying a hefty price to check luggage, so adding another tip on top seems redundant.
Tipping skycaps who go above and beyond with luggage assistance is reasonable, but it shouldn’t feel like a requirement when travelers are already paying for the service.
Car Washes
Many automatic car washes have tipping options, even though the process is fully automated. No personal service is involved, so tipping feels unnecessary. If a worker provides additional hand-drying or detailing, tipping might be justified, but for a standard automatic wash, there’s no reason to leave extra money for a machine’s work.
Event Ticketing Fees
The purchase of tickets for concerts, sporting events, and shows now often includes a tip option, even though the ticket purchase itself involves no personal service. Customers already pay service fees, processing fees, and other hidden charges, so adding a tip request just feels greedy. For a simple online ticket purchase, it’s completely unnecessary.