<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1QQTkU_1GoBv6w500" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1QQTkU_1GoBv6w500" width="800" height="450" >If you feel like you're being asked to tip everywhere you go, you are not alone. Most Americans think tipping has gotten out of control. In 22 Investigates, WSBT22's Leanne Tokars digs into the shift in tipping culture and whether consumers are at their tipping point.The tipping screen is popping up in more places than ever before. Here's what some people had to say:Drew exclaims, "I use Apple Pay, and on those screens, the first thing that comes up is, are you going to tip?"Micki said, "At the airport, I ask for a cup of coffee, and they give me a cup of coffee and hand it to me and then ask for a tip. But it's like, I just wanted a black cup of coffee."Rodolpho said, "I bought some clothes off a guy, and he even had the option on his phone to tip himself."Many people say they've had enough.A WalletHub survey found that 81% of people think tipping has gotten out of control, especially in places where it's not customary."Absolutely out of control," said Anthony. "Ludicrous, in my opinion. It should be like anything else — their employer should pay their extra wage."More than half say they leave a tip due to social pressure rather than good service.Notre Dame marketing professor Mitch Olsen says tipping increased during the pandemic as a way to show support for essential workers, and the technology took off.He said, "So, you know those digital screens that we have at checkout? That's something that, especially small and medium-sized businesses, are working with companies like Square, Clover, and Toast on. The default for those point-of-sale systems is to ask for a tip."But consumers are pulling back.Restaurant technology platform Popmenu says 40% of consumers are tipping less in 2026 compared to last year. This is due to higher prices, tighter budgets, and tipping fatigue.A growing number of people are feeling more comfortable skipping tips for certain services.The platform says more than half of customers don't tip at fast-food restaurants (57%), and 44% skip the tip at fast-casual restaurants.Olsen explained, "I think the irony of tip culture is that the more often we ask for tips, the greater the chance that customers won't even tip at all. And so, we're seeing that in a variety of contexts. First of all, through inflation, we have higher bill prices anyway. And then, even if we're applying the same percentage that we normally did before, that dollar amount is much higher than it was. So, there is this sticker shock overall on the consumer side. But then, on the other side, businesses are also dealing with rising costs as well."At Curve Cafe on Lincolnway East in Mishawaka, the servers rely on their tips to make a living.Owner Alex Dumas said, "As a small business, if we have to pay people $15, $20, or $25 an hour, then we have to raise our food prices. We have an older clientele. We are in a low- to middle-class neighborhood. You can only go so far in raising your food prices."They focus instead on providing a service to their customers.She explained, "They provide companionship if they're by themselves. They provide entertainment. If they're having a bad day, they cheer them up. They work hard for that money."In a place that's become a family.Everyone we talked to as part of this report said they have no problem tipping for good service.So, what should you tip?Etiquette experts say you'll want to tip if it's part of their pay.15% to 20% is still standard for sit-down restaurants.It's optional and often smaller for other places.Consider the level of service or how complicated your order is.If there's no labor involved, like at a kiosk, they say don't feel obligated to tip.The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits managers and supervisors from keeping any portion of employees' tips.We reached out to Starbucks to find out how its coffee shops handle their tips - whether digital or cash. A spokesperson tells us tips are distributed to employees on a weekly basis. The amount each worker gets depends on the hours worked that week.</div></body>

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If you feel like you're being asked to tip everywhere you go, you are not alone. Most Americans think tipping has gotten out of control. In 22 Investigates, WSBT22's Leanne Tokars digs into the shift in tipping culture and whether consumers are at their tipping point. The tipping screen is...

22 Investigates: Customers at the Tipping Point

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If you feel like you're being asked to tip everywhere you go, you are not alone. Most Americans think tipping has gotten out of control. In 22 Investigates

22 Investigates: Customers at the Tipping Point

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