Are You Frustrated With The Tipping Culture?

Did you know that the size of tips left by Americans has shrunk in recent years?

How often do you go to a restaurant or barista and there is a place at the bottom of the receipt that states you can give an 18%, 20%, or 22% tip? Sometimes it is 20%, 25%, or 30%. I don't know about you, but I would have to get an ABOVE AND BEYOND service to give 30%, which is pretty rare these days. Also, the ASSUMPTION of tips and large tips is now EXPECTED instead of being EARNED. Tipping is provided for good service and depends on the service given, not just for providing the service, but for delivering better than average service.?

I read an article today that mentioned the overall tipping average for restaurants came in at 18.8% in the last quarter of 2024. It also said that full-service restaurants' average rate for tips was 19.3% lower than the 19.6% rate seen in the third quarter of 2022 and 19.8% the year before. It looks like consumers have reached "tipping fatigue."

In a June 2024 survey by Bankrate, 67% of U.S. adults who ate at full-service restaurants said they always left a tip for servers, an 8% drop from three years ago. Many people are becoming annoyed with the tipping culture so much so that it's affecting tipping in many areas of the industry.

I recently was told by a friend that she had a bad experience in a restaurant and that a 22% tip was added automatically to the check because they had a party of 7. She stated the food took over 45 minutes and drinks took 30 minutes (non-alcoholic) to reach their table. She was extremely upset but the staff told her it stated the tipping policy on the website for parties over 6. This friend is a great tipper because she is a small business owner. Should they get an automatic 22% tip if the service is not excellent? Does that mean servers should be allowed to give subpar service because they know they are getting 22%??

I know that a lot of baristas have a tip choice at the bottom of their checks now too. I don't mind dropping a buck in a tip jar at one of these locations but I am not giving 20% for pouring a drink or for someone standing at a register collecting payment. If I am picking up my food or drink at a counter, what service am I tipping for? Most times they aren't even delivering it to the table.?We should not feel obligated to tip someone for just doing the job they are being paid to do.

As a former restaurant server, manager, and hospitality industry professional, I understand the importance of tipping however I understand that giving great service is the key to receiving better tips. We at The Hart Experience work with many restaurants to educate managers and teams on the importance of giving great customer experience to increase revenue and return customers. If your servers/ hospitality staff want to make better tips they need to know what areas to improve in. We at The Hart Experience offer customized business evaluations for restaurants and other businesses that want to move their customer experience in a more profitable direction for everyone. For more information Contact Debbie at 602.717-3271 or [email protected]

https://www.thehartexperience.com

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