The iPad… 

The tap, the turn and the awkward moment as the employee looks on, waiting to see your decision: how much should you tip? 

Today, digital tipping has become a common practice in small cafes, eateries, dessert/ice cream shops and quick takeout chains. But what has become noticeable is that these systems often don’t provide the option to choose “$0” and require multiple clicks before allowing you to opt out of a tip. I can’t help but recall that tipping was once primarily associated with traditional restaurants and sit-down eateries, not places like coffee shops or boba shops, and certainly not self-serve kiosks where you create your order yourself. In the past, tipping made sense when you received service from waitstaff, who worked tirelessly to create a great dining experience. But today, when you’re merely pressing a button for coffee or grabbing a muffin yourself, the question arises: should you still feel obliged to tip, and if so, how much? 

Many people feel the weight of a moral obligation to tip, especially when an employee is watching you make your decision. This can sometimes lead to begrudgingly choosing the lowest amount, often $1. The pervasive nature of tipping, often referred to as “tipflation,” raises a legitimate concern: should we constantly tip for tasks that are far from extraordinary or above and beyond? This concern extends to cases where service workers express entitlement and dissatisfaction with the tips they receive. 

Consider the example of a DoorDash delivery person who, despite receiving a 25 percent tip, responded with a lack of gratitude, saying: “I just want to say… nice house for a $5 tip.” The incident went viral, highlighting the evolving dynamics of tipping and the need for clarity regarding when and how to tip. This display of entitlement is not uncommon these days, as workers expect to be compensated but do not want to put in the effort or undertake “star quality” service.

The concept of tipping continues to evolve in our ever-changing digital landscape, prompting us to reconsider when and why we tip in today’s world. Thus, in a few years, or even months down the line, it would certainly not be a surprise to see the option to tip a vending machine!