Tipping in the touchscreen era: What you need to know
Touchscreen tipping prompts are everywhere. Here's when and how much to tip in various situations.
Touchscreen tipping prompts are everywhere. Here's when and how much to tip in various situations.
Touchscreen tipping prompts are everywhere. Here's when and how much to tip in various situations.
Touch-screen tipping prompts are popping up everywhere, from restaurants to coffee shops to self-service kiosks.
A new survey from reveals that 63% of Americans have a negative view of tipping, with 41% saying tipping culture has spiraled out of control.
"It鈥檚 easier than ever for companies to offer these tip prompts," says Ted Rossman, Senior Industry Analyst for Bankrate. "It鈥檚 not like the old-fashioned tip jar, where you had to go out of your way to put bills or coins in there. Now it鈥檚 the other way around. You have to go out of your way not to tip when you鈥檙e paying with a card, which most people are doing."
The survey also found that the likelihood of tipping generally increases with age, with Gen Zers and Millennials tipping less frequently than Gen Xers and Baby Boomers.
So 鈥� when is it appropriate to tip, and how much should you give?
For sit-down restaurants, salon services, and rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, tipping 20% is recommended, with 15% as the minimum.
For food delivery, tip 20% of the meal price or $5, whichever is higher. Consider the total amount of food you are ordering.
If you're picking up food at a counter, tipping isn't required, but it is a thoughtful gesture if you'd like to go above and beyond.
What if you're dissatisfied with your service? Tipping is never mandatory, but use good judgment. Depending on the situation, it may still be appropriate to leave a smaller tip rather than no tip at all.