Perspective: The Excessive Tip Expectations Under The Big Sky

Almost every day anymore, I see something on social media or the news about the tipping culture getting BS CRAZY in America.

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I ran across this story on TikTok:

@inajosipovic the bosnian in me really shows with all that hand movement lol #foryou#fyp#viral#tips#tippingculture#bride#bridetobe#2024bride#wedding#weddingtiktok#weddingdress#utah♬ original sound - inajosipovic

Tipping Is COMPLETELY Out Of Control

Tipping the clerk AT A WEDDING DRESS STORE? I'm with the girl in the video, depending on your budget, that tip is in the HUNDREDS of dollars.  NO.

The other day, a screen asked for a tip when I did one hundred percent of the work fulfilling my needs.  It wasn't in the hundreds of dollars, but WHY would I give the store 5 bucks more to do all the work for them?  GET A HOLD OF YOURSELVES.

I've had friends and acquaintances asked for tips by relators, appraisers, SELF CHECK OUT, convenience stores, ON-LINE ORDERS, donating to a political candidate, doctors and nurses (a one percent tip to a doctor or nurse could be over a thousand dollars), mechanics, the list could go on and on.

Tipping Is Not Expected or WANTED In Some Parts Of The World

The Americas, parts of Africa and the middle east have a tipping culture.  In Europe, it's actually frowned upon and they feel it makes the tipper look ignorant.  

Tipping Is Part Of A Bigger Wage Problem In America

The real problem with tipping in America, is it's a way for a business owner to pay their employees less.  Look at it like this, with tipping, it's another way for a business to make a bigger profit because they pay their employees a LESS than livable wage, but still look ok to you because "their prices are lower".  But are they though?

When I go shopping and the original bill is say $20.  Leaving a 20% tip makes that bill $24.  In reality, it's a $24 item, no matter what kind of math you do.

How Do You Think We Fix This?

Honestly, I think about this a lot.  When I'm not on the radio, I usually wait tables, bartend or clean hotel rooms.  All jobs that get tips.  I truly do know what it's like to work for tips.

The Time Has Come For A Tip Revolt

I'm serious.  For awhile now, I'm only tipping waiters, bartenders, hair stylists, hotel room maids, and people who deliver my food or groceries. I am SO OVER helping people get wealthy off of the backs of people who work for them.

If you can't cover a decent wage and must rely on tipping culture to pay your employees, MAKE A BETTER BUSINESS PLAN.  The plan to live a wonderful life while expecting others to give you theirs, needs to end.  The only way they'll stop doing it is if we stop standing for it.