12 Things I Never Tip For (And Why You Shouldn’t Either!)
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Tipping can be a maze—when is it necessary? When is it not? How much are you expected to tip? Tipping has become the cultural norm in the U.S., where, for many service jobs, consumers are expected to leave pre-set gratuities of 10% to 20%. In a survey by Statistica, about 41 percent of Americans said they always tip, and most tip at least sometimes. However, debate is growing over whether some services are even worth a tip because the worker is paid a decent wage.
About 63% of people feel there are too many places requiring tips, with 48% saying they’re tired of being asked to do so, USA Today reports. Of course, it’s customary to give something extra to waitstaff and taxi drivers, but there are countless times when it’s not necessary or appropriate to tip. Fortunately, if you understand when not to tip, you can move easily across these gray areas. Here are 12 situations where tipping might not be necessary.
Fast Food or Counter Service
Typically, the service is minimal; all you do is order at the counter at the fast food establishment. Their jobs pay hourly wages, usually above the federal minimum wage.
In 2022, fast food workers earned roughly $12.50 an hour for the median wage, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so there is no need to tip here.
Coffee Shops (Standard Orders)
Most coffee shop workers have customer-facing roles and are paid an hourly wage. The service provided for a standard coffee order does not entail much. Most customers decide to tip often on drinks, especially craft coffee drinks, but it’s not required for the basics, such as a black coffee or latte.
They serve quickly and automatically in most coffee shops, so you don’t have to tip, unless there’s something special (or a personal touch).
Retail Workers
Generally, retail workers are paid a fixed wage and some benefits based on their employer. Tipping is uncommon in retail because it is not part of the service experience.
Retail workers are trained in customer interactions but are not required to provide any added service unless they choose to give you custom fittings or product recommendations—in which case, it would be nice to tip them.
Gas Station Attendants (in Non-Full-Service States)
Many customers in states where full-service gas stations aren’t the norm would be more comfortable tipping attendants for filling up their tanks.
Tipping in these situations is not expected or necessary. Gas station attendants don’t rely on tips — instead, they are paid an hourly wage.
Food Delivery Drivers
Food delivery is such a popular service that tipping is common practice; however, it’s certainly not a requirement.
Most food delivery services have an option of adding a tip, which goes to the driver and the restaurant. An additional cash tip would be really appreciated, but it is not necessary.
Parking Attendants (Self-Parking)
When you park your own car in a garage or parking lot, you don’t need to tip. A self-parking attendant will oversee the lot and maybe guide traffic.
However, he or she certainly doesn’t have the role of a valet attendant, who will park your car for you and, therefore, deserve a tip.
Drive-Thru Windows
Though it might seem polite, you do not have to tip the person working at the drive-thru window.
The vast majority of drive-thru establishments pay their employees by the hour and don’t have a tipping culture in place for this kind of service.
Government Employees
Postal workers, police officers, and firefighters are public servants who rely on dollars from taxpayers for pay, not tips. In some areas, it could be an unethical thing or illegal as it could be seen that you could be bribing government employees.
Many government agencies have strict no-tipping policies to ensure fairness and protect against any perception of favoritism or bribery.
Medical Professionals
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers are paid salaries or hourly wages as compensation for expertise and service they render.
Unsurprisingly, the ethical codes to which healthcare professionals are bound often discourage tipping, because it could create potential conflicts of interest or could be perceived as being unequal.
Grocery Store Baggers
Grocery store baggers effectively obtain an hourly payment, varying from $16 to $18 per hour, depending on the location and grocery store business policies. This service doesn’t merit gratuity, as bagging is just part of their job.
Most grocery stores have added no-tipping policies so customers don’t make awkward interactions, and the workers do not rely on tips for survival.
Airline Staff
Flight attendants and other airline staff are paid salaries and hourly wages together with different allowances or other perks such as free travel. According to the BLS, flight attendants in the U.S. made an average annual income of about $68,370 as of 2023.
Tipping airline staff is typically uncommon; in many areas, it’s downright inappropriate and sometimes even against airline policy.
Self-Service Restaurants
Customers in self-service restaurants order their food at a counter and get their own utensils, drinks, and condiments. For this reason, there is no need for table service or individual diner attention by servers.
At these establishments, there is no expectation of a tip because the customer is performing the vast majority of the tasks a server would be expected to do in a full-service restaurant.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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