Are you unwittingly being rude in-store? Find out this girl's reasoning behind tipping for transactions
In the labyrinth of modern manners, tipping etiquette stands as one of the most perplexing puzzles. It's a social dance that many of us thought we had mastered—until the rules started to change.
At The GrayVine, we understand that keeping up with these shifts can be daunting, especially when new tipping scenarios pop up where they never existed before.
So, let's explore the tipping terrain together and consider why you might want to extend your generosity to retail workers who go the extra mile.
Once upon a time, tipping was a straightforward affair. You dined out, you tipped your server. You enjoyed a cocktail, you tipped the bartender.
Taxi rides, haircuts, hotel stays—all had clear tipping expectations. But as the world evolves, so too does the art of appreciation through gratuity.
Enter the digital age, where checkout screens at coffee shops, fast-food joints, and even grocery stores nudge us with a tipping option.
It's a moment that can catch you off guard, leaving you to make a snap decision under the watchful eye of the cashier.
Tipping culture has become confusing, with more retail and service workers prompting customers to tip at the time of payment. Image source: Chin Onn Ong / Pixabay.
Suddenly, your quick purchase becomes a moral dilemma, and you're left wondering, “Am I being stingy, or is this just too much?”
Kyara, a content creator who sparked a tipping debate with over 1.2 million views, shared her personal tipping guidelines in a viral video.
She doesn't tip for simple transactions, like at a juice bar or self-serve fro-yo. However, she believes in tipping at restaurants, regardless of service quality, citing the low wages many servers earn.
Kyara's tipping scale is as follows:
- 20% for amazing service
- 18% for good service
- 15% for mediocre or bad service
When it comes to drinks, she caps her tip at $1 for an $8 cocktail at a sports bar and doesn't scale her tip with the price of pricier drinks at upscale venues.
Delivery drivers also make her tipping list, with the amount varying based on the convenience of the delivery.
But why stop at food service? Kyara raises an interesting point: Shouldn't retail workers who provide exceptional service—like those who assist with styling and sizing in clothing stores—also be recognized with a tip?
Source: @kyarainla / Tiktok.
The tipping conundrum has been further complicated by the pandemic. During this time, many of us tipped generously to acknowledge the risks essential workers faced.
Additionally, the advent of user-friendly checkout technology has made it easier for businesses to solicit tips, sometimes as a substitute for paying higher wages.
Some live by the motto, “If I don't sit, I don't tip,” while others feel compelled to tip for any service that adds value to their experience. There are those who argue for a 20% baseline for servers, with more for exceptional service.
Also read: Tipping fatigue? Why America's generosity is reaching a breaking point
What are your thoughts on tipping retail workers? Have you had an experience where a tip felt warranted in a non-traditional setting? Share your stories and insights in the comments below!
