Consumers are finding more and more tip requests in unusual businesses, such as coffee, deli shops, and even car washes, which has fueled a tipping invasion.
‘Tipflation’ is a relatively new phenomenon. The culprit behind it is the boom in the use of digital kiosks after the pandemic.
While consumers have no issue tipping bartenders, servers, doorman, and all the traditional folks working less than minimum wage, adding 18% or even 20% gratuity for a cup of coffee or a sandwich has infuriated some.
[I wonder whether this really generates a significant amount of tipping where it didn’t exist before. It does change the dynamic, though: it asks for a tip *before* the product or service takes place in many cases now rather than after. That feels a bit extortive, and pretty awkward, at least to me. — Ed]
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