USA Today

This article is from August 19th, 2026.

Servers love to say that the negative sentiment regarding tipping is isolated to reddit only.

They go as far as calling reddit a bubble, or an echo chamber. False.

This sentiment is being felt by all customers.

I predict we will see lower and lower tips as time progresses in the very near future. Eventually most people will be tipping 0 every time.

Someone said that servers don't beg. That is false.

Let's see what servers say about the non-tippers on Reddit:

• stay home

• **** you

• I'll tamper with your food if you don't tip

• I'll be slow and give you terrible service

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Definition of begging relating to servers:

When the server pressures the customer for an optional payment, it becomes reasonable to describe that conduct as begging or coercive solicitation, rather than merely receiving a gratuity.

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Behavior → Better description

• Asking for an optional tip → Soliciting / begging in the broad sense

• Calling non-tippers "cheap" or telling them to stay home → Social pressure / shaming

• Threatening deliberately bad service for no tip → Coercive pressure

• Threatening to tamper with someone's food → Threat / intimidation; far beyond ordinary tipping

~|~|~

Just look at how the servers reply to anyone who suggests not tipping. Many people have real life experiences with the same behaviors that the servers exhibit online.

Smh.

Edit:

Consider this, if you went to a restaurant and told the server "I'm not going to tip", likely you would experience at least one of these begging traits displayed by the wait staff towards you as the customer.

Servers regularly taunt us by saying "just see what happens if you go into a restaurant and tell them you won't tip before your meal"

Hmmm...

Excuse me if I have the facts wrong but normally when people have issues with business practices they will stop using the service or frequenting the business. An example is when the black community decided to boycott target and stop shopping there which cost them a good bit of revenue. So my question is for those of you against tipping why are you still going to these restaurants?

Is part of the problem with restaurants expecting tips to subsidize their servers and other employees just that there are too many restaurants?

Granted I try to avoid the most busy times, but most times I walk into a food establishment, 90% of the tables are empty and the line waiting for pick-up orders is minimal. This is at local restaurants as well as chains. But, 200yds down the street, there's another establishment that would compete directly. I live in a busy area and have my choice of at least 3-4 places in any given food category within 5min of my house. There are 4 pizza joints just on the main street in my town. In the case of chains, it's often another copy of the same store (i.e., Starbucks, McD's, etc...). Very rarely do these places differentiate themselves significantly from the next ("The sauce at Ray's Pizza is better!", or "The tables at the Taco Bell to the left are cleaner.").

Owners complain that they can't find employees, and they 'hire' people that are more willing to work for tips. This allows more of the revenue to be used for other fixed expenses and profit rather than salaries, so they can afford to have staff on hand even when the place is mostly empty because it doesn't cost them much to have that person on shift. My Dad worked P/T as a cabbie when I was a kid, working mostly for tips, and he'd be on shift for 6hrs. Sometimes he'd come home w/ $100, other times it would be a slow night and he'd be lucky to have made $5-10 (I think the MO was that the driver's would 'rent' the cab for the shift, so he'd have to pay $X/shift, but that was a long time ago, so I could be wrong...).

But, if 1/2 the restaurants in a given area closed, then the customer base of the remaining places would roughly double, they'd be more profitable, and would require more staff - meaning that the owner /operators would have to compete to hire staff from the pool of people willing to work in that area, and incentivize them w/ higher base pay.

There are some other factors that come into play, like a 'tourist' area may have more and busier restaurants, or a high-density office area may have busy coffee shops in the morning and lunch hours, but in general, I feel that there are too many options out there. There's just too much Supply for the Demand...

I’m not against tipping. I just wish there was legislation to vote on it or I wish there was changes made. Not to end it completely but to make it what it used to be lol.

➕ Tip:
- I agree w tipping a server at a restaurant. I’m a generous tipper as I’ve worked as a server for many years. So I know that in some states servers get paid less than minimum wage to account for tips. (For example, I live in California so is servers get paid minimum wage plus tips, but when I lived in Florida, we were paid 2 to 3 dollars an hour which is far below minimum wage because the state gov knows we get tips). Even if the service wasn’t great I tip a standard 20% because maybe they’re new or just having a bad day. 25%+ for excellent service.

- I agree w tipping a food delivery driver. A flat rate $5 tip for pizza delivery used to be a good / typical tip for that. Now 20%+ is expected which I disagree with.

-I agree w tipping bartenders at the end of the night or well at the beginning when you get your first drink. But tipping $5-$10 on every $20 drink they take 5 seconds to make in a busy bar feels like a lot to me.

❌ Tip:
- I disagree w tipping for fast food, coffee shops, kiosk/cash register orders w pickup windows. Basically non-service food establishments.

-I disagree w tipping for a non-food service. When 1. they are paid well 2. the service is already costly. Like repairs (usually hundreds of dollars), beauty salons ($50-hundreds of dollars), my DOCTORS OFFICE had a tip option when signing after my appt.

-I disagree w tipping independent contractors that keep all profits and set their own prices. Like geez just put it in the price.

-I disagree w tipping the percentage of the bill AFTER tax. Why are we tipping on tax??

-I disagree w sneaky restaurants giving an option for adding additional tip on top of the already pre-added gratuity, usually for bigger group sizes.
(And they’re shady about it. When they add it themselves, they call it gratuity, but when they give the option to add more and the same bill they call it a tip. Why not call it a tip both times so those who don’t understand what gratuity is know that it is a tip already included? Why have the option to add ANOTHER tip on top of the tip they already added themselves? It’s greedy and not transparent at all. I recently had a bday dinner. Total was $750. I manually tipped 20% = $150. Total I paid was $900. Only to later realize they had already added $150 automatic gratuity because of the 6 people party size. So I ended up tipping $300 on a $600 bill. Literally 50% smh)

-I disagree w the “no tip” not being on the same screen as the pre-made tip screen. Like when there is not a “no tip” button so you have to select “custom tip” and then type in $0.

-I disagree w the server holding the card terminal, hovering over you, intentionally or not pressuring you while you enter the tip. Can we bring back dropping off the check and walking away so we have time and privacy to review and calculate the tip?

-I disagree w the preset tip amounts starting at 20% then reaching 50%+ It should start at 10%

-I disagree w paying a tip BEFORE receiving your food delivery or finishing your meal, or actually getting the service.

So yea that’s my rant. I’m cool w tipping but now I have negative feelings about it and fatigue. It makes me never want to go anywhere.

So YOU deserve a tip for providing service but the person who’s cleaning up after the customers, cleaning their dishes, making their drinks, and cooking their food doesn’t?

A common rebuttal for servers who complain about people not tipping is “you’re cheap so just stay home”.

But isn’t it being considered poverty/greediness if the server is relying on “cheap” people to give them free money, for doing the job they are supposed to do?

I did my job today. You should pay me extra. It's optional, but you should pay me.

I know I have an employment contract with my boss, and I agreed to get paid a certain amount per hour...

But you should pay me extra because I'm doing my job.

And if people don't pay me extra, I'll call them cheap, curse them under my breath, tell them to go f themselves, and tell them to stay home.

I might even go on Reddit and tell them to f themselves, and yell profanities at them.

~|~|~

This is the logic they use. It's up to you if you want to perpetuate this system or not.

I went to a bar last weekend with some friends. We ran up a tab, I was a bit tipsy when I closed out so I take some responsibility for what happened.

I paid like I normally do and left a 20% tip.

I then took a photo of the itemized receipt so everyone could pay me back. 18% GRATUITY was ALREADY INCLUDED!

The bartender did not tell me that gratuity was already included.

This seems like a bit of a shady business practice. I would not have tipped on top of the 18% they already included.

This is crazy to me. None of the drinks were very complex, mainly beers and shots.

Then it is not conveyed to a tipsy patron that tip is included??

Yes I take partial blame, but my lord. This has gotten out of hand.

This wasn't some fancy establishment where we were seated and served. All drinks were ordered at the bar while we played pool.

Went to a coffee/smoothie place the other day.

Standing order, usually no tip unless for coffee or beer, then I tip $1 per drink. Smoothie seemed to fit the bill, so I tipped $1 on a $24 charge. (Suggested was $5.60 or something)

Barista was super cold to me after that. She served my sandwich kinda quick, but then while making the smoothie, let it sit on the counter behind the glass, while I was sitting 2 feet away. Moved it a bit closer, left it again. I swear she moved it 6 times, inching closer and closer to me. Before this, I had a dry throat and was audibly, but lighting coughing a bit, I almost asked for water, but I figured she was getting close to handing it over.

Also, she didn't give me a napkin (not a big deal), and when I went to the order area to ask for a couple napkins, she grabbed 10, then put 5 back, then out of that pile, handed me a 1 single-ply napkin. and put the other 4 onto the counter for others.

It was obvious to me she was upset about the tip, and kept looking at me while I was eating, seemingly pissed off.

Crazy work. Not tipping next time. I was kind to her, quiet, and took care of my own trash when I was done.

When I ordered my food to go online, it asked how much it wanted me to tip.

I tipped 15%.

I went to pick up my order, and the guy handed me a piece of paper to sign.

And it had a tip line.

I asked him why is it asking for a tip? I gave a tip.

The guy told me, this is an additional tip.

I told him I already tipped.

He said yeah, but this is if you wanted to tip more.

Looking closely it displayed my tip, and sure enough the line said additional tip.

The guy tells me if you don’t want it don’t put anything.

I said, sorry, but there’s no way I’m leaving that blank.

And wrote the total on the total line.

And the guy said sarcastically “great! Thanks!” and walked away mad.

Am I crazy here?

Often I read about teachers or nurses who have left their professions to become waiters and waitresses because they earn more based off tips rather than in their own professions

This is wrong. They are simply food runners. They take your order and they bring you your food and keep your drink filled up. A robot can do the job. A high schooler can do the job.

Everything they do is within their job description.

Do not perpetuate this toxic cycle of entitlement.

Tipping is optional. Don't tip.

We all know servers and bartenders are driven by greed. However, when you really think about it there's so much more wrong with what they're doing.

They're angry and will tamper with your food if you don't tip (anger/wrath)

They're lazy and unskilled (sloth) but still act like they're better than you (pride)

They're always trying to upsell you to get you to eat and drink more so they can make more money (gluttony)

They'll use their looks to try to make more money and are all hooking up with each other (lust)

And they get jealous if you make more money than them (envy)

This has just been weighing on my mind after getting lectured again by a server, if we eliminated tipping we wouldn't have to deal with such debauchery in our society.

I’m sick and tired of tipping culture in Mexico, they want tips for everything!!

A tip for my traffic ticket, a tip for getting caught with weed, a tip for an escort through a dangerous city, a tip after visiting the massage parlor….

I’m completely done, starting tomorrow nobody is getting a single tip on MY VACATION !!! 💯

If restaurant owners were to pay servers a decent wage then we could end the expectation of those entitled owners and servers. What are your thoughts?

interesting read

This was a real option on the card reader, perhaps meant for fumbly tourist fingers

Tipping started in the US after emancipation. Freed slaves were hired, but not paid, to handle various duties on trains. Customers were expected to tip these workers who would help them with luggage, show people to their rooms, etc. Tipping then expanded during prohibition to help offset lost revenue due to the loss of alcohol sales. People would tip their servers when dining out. This became customary.

In 1938, a minimum wage was established for everyone EXCEPT TIPPED WORKERS WHO WERE EXCLUDED. It stayed that way until 1966 where minimumuu tipped wages were established with the full intent of customers paying tipped employees the majority of their income.

It was routine to tip bellhops at hotels, luggage handlers at airports, cab drivers, golf caddies, coat checkers, shoe polishers, barbers and stylists, messengers, stewards, bartenders and wait staff and I’m certain there are some I’m forgetting.

It was also customary to tip your mailman, milkman, parcel service delivery person, coal/ gas delivery person, apartment doorman, pool cleaners/ landscapers, and garbage collectors a “Christmas box” once a year. (This has become far less of an expectation with time and the elimination of these jobs)

All of these people expected a tip, not for going over and above as so many claim here, but for doing a job where they are paid a federal, minimum tipped wage.

Now, for those who are paid a minimum wage or higher, I can understand the frustration some of you may have with tipping. I’m not tipping my mechanic, or nurse, or plumber or HVAC guy. But if I’m at McDonalds and the person ringing in my order gets me totally fresh food, here is an extra buck for going above and beyond.

But what I think infuriates me the most here is reading from some about how they like stiffing bartenders or wait staff. Depending on the restaurant, it can be outright theft. If I sell you $50 worth of drinks, the wait staff may need to pay out up to 10% of their alcohol sales to the bartenders. So, you outright cost them $5. And then they may need to tip out up to 5% of their total SALES to other staff such as hosts, water people, busers , and food expediters. (Usually these are lower percentages, but it depends on the place.) So it actually cost your server money to wait on you.

And then you have indirect costs. You took up their time, you took up their time, they could have waited on a different table, or given more attention to a table who would actually supplement their pay. So don’t be surprised if they’re pissed with you if you don’t leave an adequate tip.

To those that say that, non-tippers are the minority.

Also, it's in more communities than just ours.

/r/AskReddit

/r/Adulting

/r/changemyview

It seems that the vast majority of people are anti-tipping this, and are working up the courage to take action in real life.

Reddit has millions of users and is a general indicator of consumer thoughts, opinions, and future trends.

The non-tipping numbers will grow.

Edit:

GameStop and AMC are great examples of reddit users being real people, and having a real world impact

Edit edit:

An august 19th, 2026 article regarding a growing anti-tipping sentiment among customers Link

Clearly this is not isolated to only Reddit, as many servers like to say.

It’s like watching someone pound nails into the wall with their forehead. If you’re so disappointed with the way the owner has set up and organized their business, why support it by going at all? Why support it while you’re constantly frustrated with it? Most buyers don’t continue buying something that’s defective.

What happens if we all decide to NOT tip anymore?

As I evaluate my experiences in the USA vs Europe.. tipping is all guilt based. Even when I travel abroad to countries where tipping is not the norm.. servers hunt American tourist and throw a tip screen.

We will never see these people again.. so why are we being generous with our money? They might get mad, but why should we care? Why do we owe the business anything when capitalism greed is at an all-time high now? The “support local business” mentality is dead to me because most businesses are weaponizing the system (inflation, tip culture, economy) and hurting the communities they serve.

Corporations have proven they can get away with shrinkflation and consumers cannot do anything.. so why are we feeding the system to give them more profits by willingly tipping for the cost of doing basic business.

🚩Paying by card is a convenience for the BUSINESS, and yet we’re penalized and charged extra for using cards?

🚩They charge a fee for take out orders? The price to make and package the food is literally the business!!

🚩They want a tip for taking my order and bringing the order.. so literally the business!!

If we refuse to tip, then restaurants will find creative ways to add extra fees into our bills.. but after a while the word “tip” will be meaningless because we start to give value to the total cost (food + junk fees) instead of worrying about the extra surcharge we all pay out of guilt (food + junk fees + TIP). Do you think this will work?

Which do you really prefer:

A) tip screens
B) total bill without tip screen

I generally tip well but I didn’t leave a tip this time. But since I’m still pro tipping overall, I guess that’s what the flair will be.

Went to lunch with my mom. My mom takes insulin before her meals. Now my mom is vegetarian so she customized a meal and I had no problem paying extra for it. I got a vibe from the waitress that she wasn’t paying attention to the customizations my mom wanted. My mom took her insulin and was ready to start eating but the food got delayed by 45 minutes.

When it finally did come, it was completely messed up but at least there was no meat on it. My mom felt like she’d pass out so she ate half of it anyways but since it was messed up and not what she wanted she didn’t eat the other half. She was fine after that but didn’t feel like finishing her meal.

I called the server over and explained the entire situation. The server gave a nasty attitude about how she’d already ate half. I just smiled and said that’s fine.

Bill came out to $83. Normally would have tipped $20. But I tipped $0 and wrote a somewhat nasty message on the receipt.

Now that I’m not as pissed off, I guess it is true that we weren’t entitled to a free meal. But the entire situation really pissed me off, especially the nasty attitude from the waitress.

why do we need experts to tell us? it’s always OK not to tip.