No So Jolly: Exploring The Latest Holiday Tip Fatigue In Montana

Tip Fatigue In Montana

The other night, I'm shopping on line and have something delivered by what I THOUGHT was the mail.  About 20 minutes or so later, I get a text from Door Dash that my order will be delivered in x number of minutes.  Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be what I thought was a mail order.  Then I started freaking out a little.  Wait.  There is no tip on that order.  No matter how hard I tried to find a way to add a tip, I couldn't.

(To the person who delivered my Walgreens order, I'm SO SORRY.  I would have never done it if I thought Door Dash would deliver it at 10 at night, and I'm SO SORRY I couldn't add a tip.  Thank you SO MUCH)

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Then I got a little irritated.

First, tips are TOTALLY unique to America.  I'm going to say they were invented so business owners could pay their employees less.  It's such an American thing to do.

Second, I, in good faith, thought this was a mail order delivery.  No place did it say Door Dash would deliver it for no tip.

I use Door Dash quite a bit, and I like to tip for 2 reasons, 1.  common decency 2.  I want them to accept my orders.

(For those of you who like to say I'm lazy and whatever, shut your mouth.  I will spend MY money the way I WANT to spend my money.  If that means I hire someone to bring me crumpets and tell me I'm pretty, it has nothing to do with you Everyone-Is-Lazy-But-Me guy. Just go away.)

These Days, EVERYONE Asks For Tips

Then, I got more irritated because earlier in the week I had been to a place that REALLY should NOT be asking for tips.  I love the standard "The screen is going to ask you a couple of questions" bs.  This is code for "My job isn't generally tipped, but we want tips now so..." I'm tired of it.

I have tip fatigue.  I am actually surprised  by this because I am a tipper.  Probably not the biggest tips ever, but I tip, always.  However, I feel that waitresses, bartenders, hair stylists, and maids may be where my generosity stops.  If your job is to stand at a till and ring up my order, and that's it, why would I tip you for going above and beyond?  Even you ASKING is starting to be annoying, and I'm not alone.

PR Newswire put it beautifully:

Tip fatigue — which refers to consumer weariness of the growing number of tip requests, particularly at establishments that recently started using new touch-screen payment terminals — is a likely driver of this consumer sentiment, along with the ongoing challenge of inflation that's led to higher prices across virtually all consumer goods and services.

The makers of the cashless payment apps that have proliferated since the pandemic typically earn a cut of the total amount charged to consumers, which creates an incentive for them to include digital tipping in their technology, said Achieve Co-Founder and Co-CEO Andrew Housser. Being asked for tips on even the smallest in-person purchases is a presumptuous and annoying trend that's making people less generous this holiday season.

Again, to my Dasher, I'm sorry.  I hope Walgreens compensates you in some way.  To the countless businesses who have NO BUSINESS asking for tips, stop.  Just stop.  I'm done tipping where it is ridiculous.  Stare at me while I hit no on the screen all you want.  It's over for me.