Buzz
Tipping practices vary across cultures, but in the United States, it's a standard custom. We recognize it, we accept it, and we've seen the suggested tip percentages rise over the years. What was once considered a generous 15% is now viewed as the minimum, with 20% or 25% tips becoming the new norm.
There's a generational divide—millennials typically leave around 22% at restaurants, while baby boomers tend to tip around 17%, according to a CreditCards.com survey. But just as no two snowflakes are alike, each person has their own unique approach to tipping.
In any case, service workers absolutely deserve your tips! They endure tough jobs for wages often below the minimum, handling tasks that many of us would rather avoid. Additionally, they are required to tip out coworkers who may not interact with customers directly but are essential in ensuring the quality of service. With this in mind, giving a minimal or no tip should be reserved for rare and extreme situations.
But we're not here to play nice this week, are we? While we all appreciate top-notch service from the businesses we support with our hard-earned cash, we've all encountered our fair share of disappointing experiences (I’m sure you don’t need much prompting to share your perfectly valid reasons for tipping poorly in the comments, so I look forward to seeing all of you down there).
Here are a few instances when giving a bad tip—or even no tip at all—is completely justified.
Your coffee order is simple or pre-packaged
This one’s pretty straightforward, but when you pay by card at a coffee shop or quick-service restaurant, you’ve likely been guilted into tipping—or tipping more—by digital registers that suggest a tip amount.
However, if you simply grabbed something quick and paid at the counter, there’s no obligation to leave a tip.
In many cases, it’s deserved. You’re spending the afternoon working on your laptop at the cafe, or the staff brings your meal to your table and clears your dishes once you’re finished.
But if all you’re doing is grabbing a salad from the cooler or picking up a cup of drip coffee to-go, there’s no need to tip.
You had to wait an absurdly long time
You can't even recall the last time you saw your server. Your water glass has been empty for half an hour. Your meal is nowhere in sight, while every other table that came in after you has already eaten and left.
Mistakes do happen, and orders sometimes get mixed up, but if you’ve had to wait an unusually long time for your food, don’t feel guilty about leaving a smaller tip. And if your order finally arrives cold, don’t stay silent just because you’re frustrated and almost considered eating your napkin for sustenance. Send it back. Demand hot food.
The server disregarded your allergy concerns
Being inconsiderate about someone’s food allergy is a major offense, in my opinion and likely in the eyes of every other compassionate person on Earth.
A colleague once shared a horrifying experience about a restaurant that gives free dessert for birthdays. Her boyfriend dug into the cake, only to find it was made with peanut butter, leading to a trip to the hospital due to his common peanut allergy. On their next visit, she asked, “Does this contain peanuts?” when the cake arrived. The server assured her it didn’t, but after tasting a small bite before her boyfriend, it turned out to be peanut butter once again.
Yes, it's your responsibility to speak up about allergies or ingredient concerns, and yes, mistakes can happen. However, if your allergy warning is ignored, questioned, or the staff refuses to provide the necessary information for making a safe decision, it’s totally reasonable to leave a poor tip.
It’s just a guy handing you a t-shirt
I recently attended a concert at a relatively small venue, and as I walked past the merchandise table, I saw a hand-written note taped to the t-shirt rack. It said, “I’m just like a bartender,” it read. “Except instead of mixing drinks, I hand out shirts.”
No.
The employee outright insulted you
There are plenty of people in the world who will just rub you the wrong way. They might stumble over their words, drop your plates, or mess up your transaction, but you can tell they mean no harm.
However, remarks that are racist, sexist, homophobic, or xenophobic are absolutely unacceptable. If you feel you’re being targeted or stereotyped, you’re the one who gets to decide how to handle the tip line on your receipt.
If you're thinking about leaving a bad tip, speak up first
If the service is so poor that you're considering tipping poorly or not tipping at all, it’s worth addressing the issue with the person serving you or their supervisor. Sometimes poor service is due to circumstances beyond the server's control, or they might just be having a rough day. Give the establishment a chance to correct the situation before deciding on a poor tip.
And the worse the service, the more important it is to inform a manager about your experience. If you’ve been treated poorly, someone needs to hear about it. It can be difficult to express your frustration in the heat of the moment, but take a deep breath and channel the anger you feel inside. Use it wisely.
