Whether you’re dining at a fancy restaurant or ordering at a self-serve kiosk, these days most commercial transactions end with an invitation to tip. But even though these tipping opportunities are everywhere, Americans are tipping less these days, according to a new Bankrate survey.
They polled more than 24-hundred U.S. adults to find out how people feel about tipping in 2023:
- Two-thirds have a negative view about tipping today.
- The top reasons for that include believing businesses should pay employees better instead of relying so much on tips (41%), being annoyed about pre-entered tip screens (32%), feeling tipping culture has gotten out of control (30%) and being confused about who and how much to tip (15%).
- Despite those annoyances, 65% always tip at sit-down restaurants and 44% tip at least 20%.
- Women tend to tip more often and tip for most services, with 60% of women always tipping their hairstylist, compared to 46% of men. Women are also more likely to tip taxi and rideshare drivers (45% compared to 36% of men.)
- Half of those who use food delivery services say they always tip, but only 13% tip when picking up takeout food.
- Only 10% of adults who use home services and repair people tip, while 17% tip for furniture or appliance deliveries.
- The tendency to tip goes up with age, as baby boomers tip the most frequently for services and Gen Z is the least likely to tip for a service.
- Digital payment apps that invite customers to tip may be having the opposite effect, as 18% of respondents admit they tend to tip less, or not at all, with those prompts.
- Tipping can be a positive experience for the tipper, as 35% say they feel good after leaving a generous tip.
Source: Bankrate