Nowadays, when you walk into many restaurants or cafes, you might immediately spot the tablet they will inevitably turn towards you to ask for a tip. However, more shockingly, this practice has started spreading to totally unrelated industries.
TikToker Ina Josipović shared her surprise when, after purchasing a wedding dress, the employees of the bridal store asked for a tip. Readers shared their own stories and debated the slow and steady spread of tipping culture into every single retail experience.
More info: TikTok
Most of us wouldn’t expect to get a request for a tip in a bridal store
Image credits: Kate Andreeshcheva (not the actual photo)
“Can we talk about ‘tipping culture and the weirdest place that you’ve ever been asked to tip’ really quick? I went shopping for my wedding dress a week and a half ago, and I ended up finding my dress at the first store that I went to. And I’m not joking, when I went to go pay, they flipped their little iPad around and asked for a tip. When I tell you I full on froze, I just… I stood there and I think they saw the blood leave my body. I did not expect to have to tip buying a wedding dress. And mind you, the store was empty. It was me, my best friend, and then the three people that work there. I think one was the owner and then just two stylists or something. So it was just empty. It was just them three at the front and then me just paying, and I think my best friend was to the side looking at more dresses.”
Image credits: inajosipovic
“So I just kind of stood there. And luckily, I speak a different language, and my best friend bought a wedding dress at a different store sometime last year, so in a different language I looked at her and I said, ‘Hey, did you tip when you bought your wedding dress?’ And she was like, ‘No’. And then I was like, ‘Did they ask you to tip?’ And she said no. So then I was like, oh my god, I really don’t think I need to be tipping when you buy a wedding dress. So I’m just standing there trying to do the math in my head because the dress is already expensive, right. And then a 10% tip on a $1500, $2,000 dress is like another $200. And if the dress is even more, you’re paying a couple $100. Which I guess if you can afford a $10,000 dress, maybe a tip isn’t that big of a problem. But most people really can’t, right?”
Image credits: inajosipovic
“My mom’s the one who paid for my dress. I was just the one that was paying for it on my Amex trying to get those points. Anyway, I just stood there. And so I was like, okay, I’m not going to tip a couple $100 because that’s a lot. And again, why am I tipping at a bridal store? So then I’m doing the math and I’m like, maybe I’ll just press custom and just do like a $50 tip which I think ends up being like 1.5% which is almost embarrassing. But if you guys think your stylist deserves a tip, why don’t you just give her commission instead of asking me to tip? Or maybe I’m wrong. Have any other brides ever tipped when they bought their wedding dress? I don’t know, maybe I’m being weird but I just don’t feel like that was a service that… I guess she brought dresses out to me but I did that when I worked at stores. I just got commission off selling clothes to people, it wasn’t… Nobody was tipping me at a retail store. I don’t know. Tipping is kind of weird lately.”
Image credits: inajosipovic
You can watch the full video here
@inajosipovic the bosnian in me really shows with all that hand movement lol #foryou #fyp #viral #tips #tippingculture #bride #bridetobe #2024bride #wedding #weddingtiktok #weddingdress #utah ♬ original sound – inajosipovic
Slowly and steadily, more and more places have started suggesting tips
Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
Debates over tipping these days tend to focus on two different aspects. Do you tip in your area in general and what is considered a “normal” tip? After all, while tipping is quite normal and even expected in the US, in most places, it’s a reward for particularly good service. On the other hand, in some places giving a tip is considered downright rude and disrespectful.
Of course, even in the US, tipping is hardly universal. However, as the commenters indicated (you can find other examples below) certain businesses are trying to make this entire idea more normal. While some of us might tip our regular barber or a trusted mechanic (who no doubt pays for themselves by not inventing issues for your car) the idea of tipping the cashier at a store or the attendant at a car wash seems deeply alien.
All this noise obscures the real and somewhat legitimate, original reasons why tipping existed in the first place. Particularly in the US, many restaurants had very low wages and it was assumed that tips would make up the difference. In other words, servers and wait staff absolutely needed tips to survive. However, the price of labor is factored into the price of something in any reasonable business. So it’s hard to see how a store can justify a tip on something they are already profiting from.
Not every business actually needs some sort of gratuity
Image credits: Pixabay (not the actual photo)
Even worse, sometimes folks will be asked to give a tip by the literal owner of the business. The same owner that can, freely, pocket every last cent of profit they make that day. Supporting small businesses is always good, but this doesn’t mean you should be expected to fork over an additional 20% of your costs to someone who is already pocketing the marginal value of the product.
In general, tipping culture can be hard to discuss, because taking a hardline stance against it can make one seem heartless and cheap. On the other hand, embracing it means paying an extra 10 to 30% for someone to ring up your to-go sandwich and soda at the counter. While you can always press no, many businesses are well aware that social pressure will get enough people to still comply.
Now people have started to demand tips, instead of it just being an offer
Image credits: Adrien Olichon (not the actual photo)
The other issue is the assumption that the service providers, from a bridal salon employee to a server are entitled to a tip. Even if it’s a norm in the country, the switch from the tip being initiated by the customer to the employee setting it as the first or default option just feels wrong. While it’s nice that many, many people, deep down are people pleasers, this allows greedy business owners to hijack this emotion for their own profit.
Overall, tips tend to persist because people in service positions are simply not paid enough. From the other side, people do like to reward good work, so if you truly enjoyed a server’s hospitality, giving them a little (or a lot) extra feels great for both parties. By attempting to squeeze out a bit more cash, these businesses might tank the entire idea of tipping. Perhaps it’s for the best.
Viewers shared similar stories
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This is sad. All the workers need better payment and tipping isn't the solution.
Why are we asking the customers to pay their employees??
Load More Replies...I don't mind tipping for service jobs like waiters, hairdressers and hotel services. Last summer I left a $10 tip for housekeeping and when we got back in the evening she had left a thank you note and a baggie of candies! I figure if they have to clean up after us I can afford the cost of a beer at a ball game or concert to make their day a little brighter.
The housekeepers at hotels are not paid a living wage and the owners, and entire industry, assume that they will be tipped so they base their pay extremely low. I believe their pay is based on the number of rooms they clean. It’s an epidemic of companies NOT paying a livable wage who are taking advantage of the supposed tips to compensate the employee. If I remember correctly it was during the pandemic that people started tipping for those who were not considered essential workers that we as society started to tip those who we’re working simply to allow us the ability to live our lives as normal and undisturbed as possible. Except now that we are not facing the same challenges in everyday life, the companies do not want to give up this golden goose of gold!!! The mere fact that they are still showing a prompt of a tip at the POS is pure greed and nonsense.
Load More Replies...So very glad I don't live in the USA and the tipping culture would cause me so much anxiety. Only time I'll tip in the UK is for a meal and IF they've provided amazing service. If I've popped to Wagamama and they've literally just brought me my food over and then the bill for a quick lunch- no tip. If I've gone to a nice restaurant for an evening meal and the waiter/ waitress has taken then time to go over everything, served us many items and checked on the table etc and we've been there 90 minutes- 2 hours etc I'll tip between 10-15% depending on what I round it up to. I also kind of tip airline crew as I'm in a wheelchair and so they have to do more for me than most passengers and often have to wait a while after everyone else has left, for the ground crew to get me off. So I'll either buy them some nice sweets that are easily shared or vouchers if I know how many staff they'll be. Neither of these things are expected in the Uk though
In America they expect you to tip on a take away order that you paid foe over the phone , theat you drove to pick up, theat you went in to get. The hand out never closes.
Load More Replies...I'm an Aussie and tipping is not part of our culture. Being asked or expected to tip for something I'm paying for anyway is weird.
I wish Canada followed the norm in UK and Australia rather than America. Canada is way more like you guys than America in so many ways, but when it comes to a lot of things like corporate and industry related, we follow America, unfortunately.
Load More Replies...I am usually one that defends tipping culture, but yeah this s**t has gotten out of control. Time to abolish tipping and just pay your employees a fair wage.
Tipping in America is not what it used to be. It has totally gotten out of control! I like Japan, where people in service work are paid a fair, living wage. Tips are absolutely not expected and can even cause offense, since tipping indicates that you think the employer is not paying the server sufficiently.
Load More Replies...Uber also asks for tips, but I don't mind that because Uber pockets 25% of the money for each trip. So I calculate how much Uber will be taking and tip that amount. So if the trip costs R66, the tip would be R16.50. So that's how much I tip - usually I just round off, so I'm tipping R17. That's fine.
When we went on vacation this past summer we took a lot of Uber rides. We tipped the minimum on the app and handed cash to the driver. We looked at it as cheaper than a DUI since we had a couple beers at a ballgame and some wine on another night at dinner.
Load More Replies...Tipping has gotten out of control. Some workers think their entitle to a tip just for showing up at the JOBS.
Most -companies- that do this are doing it because they want to pay their employees less....and they make their customers absorb that cost.
Load More Replies...I would walk out of a bridal shop if asked to tip. I tip only at restaurants where I am seated and served a meal. Then, I tip appropriately for the service. A friend and I had breakfast at a busy family-type place and we received fabulous service from a very harried waitress. We tipped her a lot, and she came up and hugged us at the cashier station. My friend and I are easy customers, just keep our coffee cups filled and we're happy.
Just don't give anything. You pay for a service, they do it, full stop. I for one would have asked jokingly what the tip is for since I already pay for the dress a rather expensive price. As for when the tip is deserved, I don't use a percentage but check the value for the service. if you hang me an item or meal, its price doesn't change the value of your work.
The problem with tipping is the more people do it the more employers rely on the fact they don't have to pay living wage and it leads to the point where that culture spreads. If people had a choice not to work in those kind of places it would be the best because when there's enough people willing to work with those conditions there's always sleazebags willing to exploit them.
Don't sweat it. If there's no service provided (no one brought your food to your table, or did anything other than take your order & ring you up) do not tip.
Yes, the tipping for an online purchase happened to me too. I noticed it said that the warehouse wait time delivery was from 1to 6 weeks. I shrugged and proceeded with the order as that is standard sometimes, then the next page asked for a tip... I'm like, let me get this straight, the reason your deliver time is from 1 - 6 weeks, is because if I don't tip you, you sill sit on my order for 5 weeks?!? I canceled the sale, wrote them to tell them why I cancelled the sale, then found the product I needed elsewhere. The audacity!!!
Tipping is outrageous. Thanks goodness Australia hasn't become " infected " too much. It's a shocking method of the customer making up the employees wage which the employer should do in the first place. The tipping customer is literally paying part of the employees wage, which results in the employer making a bigger profit. Ha, what nonsense ! I won't be a party to it at all.
In such cases, look them straight in the eye and ask "A tip? For what, exactly?"
"All this noise obscures the real and somewhat legitimate, original reasons why tipping existed in the first place. Particularly in the US, many restaurants had very low wages and it was assumed that tips would make up the difference. " Tipping actually originated with the English aristocracy. A serf would receive a gratuity for having performed superbly well for their master. Time Magazine has a very disturbing reason for tipping being so prevalent in the US (second link below). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#:~:text=The%20practice%20of%20tipping%20began,for%20having%20performed%20superbly%20well. https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/
https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/
Load More Replies...The nice people who bring me pizza, Walmart, Target + Instacart orders get tips. If you are not *actively* helping me or doing things for me, I don't tip.
I've been married 3 times. The first time was in a gorgeous antique white brocade dress that was a hand-me-down from one of my cousins. The second time my BFF and I swapped gowns, so now I had her wedding dress and she had the one I'd worn when I was her Matron of Honor. The third time I bought a long antique white gown online and on sale. My mother was a custom dressmaker. I watched young women's mothers pay a ridiculous amount of money for a dress they were going to wear one time. I do not understand paying $10,000 for a dress. But, if the gown has to be altered to fit the bride, and the dressmaker has spent an hour getting the pins just right, her whole body hurts by now and you should probably tip her. Unless she owns the shop, and then decide what's right.
Yes. Absolutely tip the seamstress for the incredible alterations and attention to details. But, not the clerk that brought out your selections and helped you try them on: that is their job and they probably get commission. One can argue that the seamstress's job is to make sure your gown fits exactly as it should; but, sewing is an art and she has worked hard to make sure you look your best. Of course, if the seamstress does a crappy job, that's a whole other post. 😂
Load More Replies...Tipping is just out of effing hand anymore. My understanding, as a waitress in the early days, is that “a tip” is a basic gratuity for good service, amount determined by the quality of the service, usually a “standard”, like 10% - 15% - 20% is generally expected. It is NOT a mandatory thing. I felt that in waiting tables, that tips were given because waiters and waitresses were given less in hourly wages BECAUSE they received tips! It is totally out of hand but the US wages are ridiculous and should be addressed.
Need to pay workers a living wage. Tips should be given only for excellent service. If its compulsory fee it should be added on the price tag as should all taxes. Give customers the real cost of items
Employers ripping off employees by not paying them a liveable wage is criminal, then expecting the customer to tip to bring up their income to a level that they can afford the basics in life is even worse. Tipping should be an added reward for good service and is at the discretion of the customer (at least those customers who are not complete A-holes). I'm actually surprised the US government isn't leading a charge on this because all that tip $$ is essentially untaxed income.
I’m a doctor, and I was going to make a joke here about patients eventually being asked to tip their doctors, but then I saw there were two comments about tipping in the medical field. Absolutely not. That should not be done, it seems somehow unethical to me to ask your patient to tip, as they might feel obliged to tip out of fear of receiving less than stellar treatment the next time they need to visit me.
This is crazy. I work in Las Vegas as a cocktail waitress, making a decent hourly, however the IRS has started taxing us on a perceived amount of cash tips that we are getting per night so basically we get zero dollars on our paychecks. What I don’t understand is why the employer expects us to make our living wage from a customer instead of them just paying our living wages. The other non-service industries do not get taxed at all on tips because the IRS is not aware that they are making them. So I’m pretty sure the compensation for selling a wedding dress is already fair, no shade on them at all, though, but it should not be suggested on top of the payment form at the register. If I wanted to give my stylist a tip, I would’ve handed her cash for her service. Maybe they feel that they aren’t being compensated enough from the employer? That’s probably why they suggested it being there, because the employer does not want to give them an appropriate hourly or commission for their work.
I've never gotten married and due to small family, never been part of a wedding. But I have the impression that shopping for a dress is a multi-day affair in which you send the employee off to fit your every whim. It seems like a personalized service and you tip service industry, so it makes sense to me. Maybe not if it was choosing a dress off the rack and checkout, but all of the "is there another size" or "it's not princess enough" and "I want beads but not too many beads but enough" and having the associate hold their hands throughout the whole ordeal... I'd tip for that level of service.
I've never bought a wedding gown, (I hired my gown) But I agree with Sunny Skies, if the assistant goes above and beyond, she (or he) deserves a tip, especially if there is a "bridezilla" involved 🤣 🙄but it needs to be put straight into their hand, not added to the bill, so you know they received it, not the shop owner.
Load More Replies...Not everyone who buys an expensive wedding dress can afford an expensive wedding dress and weddings have brought far too many people to the brink of financial ruin just because of some weird expectations by family, friends and society. Finding a good wedding dress can take time but expecting a 10% tip on a dress costing thousands for a couple of hours work is far too much.
The wait staff at a restaurant is paid less than $2.50 an hour. If they don't receive tips then that $2.50/hr is all they make. In addition the IRS assumes that they get 15% - 20% in tips on all meals served and charges them tax on that amount. How would you like it if your boss told you to get your living wage from his customers?
That is insane! It’s like all the comments when someone does their job, that say “give this person a raise & a promotion”. Shouldn’t people be expected to do their job well as a basic standard? If they do something extra well, or out of the ordinary, then sure, a tip/raise or whatever. But not for just doing your job. Mind you, I’m from a culture where we tend to only tip for extra good service. People should get a decent wage to start with & we have a decent minimum wage hourly rate. Of course it could be better, but paying a decent wage & having expectations of your staff doing their job to a good standard should be the bare minimum expected on both sides.
Tipping adds so much insecurity to everything, I'd expect americans to be against it. It's like a stereotypical failed state where you have to tip/bribe the police and any civil servant into doing their job --- how much does it cost to transport my cargo from here to there? I don't know it depends on the number of roadblocks, etc... It make all business figures insecure and means you have to add arbitrary extra costs 'just in case', so everything ends up less competitive.
Of course the exception is 'service' jobs like restaurants and hospitality, where the company gets the benefit of the lower wages and the employee takes the risks of missing tips and hence making less than minimum wage.
Load More Replies...Her boss charges $10k for a dress that costs less than $1k, i think it’s her boss’s reponsibility to provide a fair share for their employees, not the clients have to pay on the side for the staff. If I see a price that should cover everything(taxes, wages, packaging, warehouse cost,profit, etc)that’s what i’m paying, i may tip if i feel like. Tip is not the employee’s salary, that is built-in to the price of the products/services.
My bridal gown and veil and my mother's gown (like an evening gown- long, chiffon, she was absolutely gorgeous) were from one of those teeny independent shops where the owner runs the show, does the fittings and alterations and everything. She had one helper. I was really nervous about the search for a gown because I didn't know what would look good, I'm plus sized, and I didn't have a ton of time (was getting married in three months). Going independent made what could have been an awful experience absolutely magical. I felt like a princess. The owner of the shop made sure my gown was perfect, cried with my mom, and even made some changes to my mom's gown to accommodate her taste. She was cheerful and kind and extremely knowledgeable. And we spent somewhere in the neighborhood of 10k there- which all went to the owner. I didn't feel like we needed to give her a tip.
I would not have even given a $50 tip. I actually assume their percentages were a highball request to guilt patrons into giving a $50 "at least"
Why is tipping still common in the US? My guess is excessive taxes. There is no way to check on tips, so it becomes undeclared income. Abolish income tax and the problem would be solved.
Could the word "like" be stricken from the English language! I'm like.....Thank you!
The act of tipping has gotten completely obscured from what it was meant for which was a way to say thank you to the person going above and beyond service that their job called them to do. This does not include showing up for your job or doing anything you were hired to do. Companies need to pay their people instead of making customers pay for their item or service and then the employee as well. Too many people need classes on how to price items and do business successfully. If you can't afford to pay people to work you do not need employees.
I've said it before and I'll say it again- in the US, tipped-wage employees still make minimum wage regardless of whether they receive tips or not !!
Tipping has gotten out of hand, if you paid the staff a decent wage, customers wouldn't feel the need to tip. I tip when I feel it's good service, if it's shite then they don't get a penny.
if it was a place that did custom dresses, then i would likely tip, just as i would for an art commission, or a tattoo, or any other custom service. if it's something being bought off a rack, then tipping shouldn't come into it.
In such cases, look hem straight in the eye and ask "A tip? For what, exactly?"
I'm on holiday in the Philippines. A haircut and shave costs US$2 so I give a 100% tip. My wife tips the doctor's receptionist to get to the front of the queue but that might be regarded as a bribe rather than a tip. In Scotland the Scottish government is trying to get employers to pay the real living wage so there would be no need to rely on tips. When I was a Mental Health Nurse we never ever received tips, not even a packet of candies.
"All this noise obscures the real and somewhat legitimate, original reasons why tipping existed in the first place. Particularly in the US, many restaurants had very low wages and it was assumed that tips would make up the difference. " This is not, in fact, where tipping comes from. The English aristocracy started tipping their servants for superb service and the custom spread. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#:~:text=The%20practice%20of%20tipping%20began,for%20having%20performed%20superbly%20well. https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/
This is my eff you doordash: Your driver's are underpaid, and rely on tips. Many of the restaurant workers rely on tips. It's sad, but true. After adding the option to be your own 'dasher', you've screwed everyone. My workplace generally had two people working at any given time. We prepped the line, took your order, made your food, packaged it, then cashed you out. All this while being stared at by actual drivers who hate us for being behind what their employer said when it would be ready. We do the dishes ourselves, too. Would you tip your server? They also have to tip out the busser, the host, the bartender, and sometimes the cook. It's a terrible culture, but please don't take it out on small business. Id love to end this system, but unfortunately don't have the time or money to rally. (Obviously US)
I think my main issue with Doordash is the time limit for tipping in Aus. I normally wait until all my order gets here to tip, if it lets me. But with how short the time limit is it doesn't always let me. I had a thing go wrong the other day where they forgot my drinks (no one's fault, I think. Either human or computer error). So I told the Dasher and they went to get them. Tipping isnt reallt a thing here but with how above and beyond the worker went to get the drinks I'm very frustrated it didn't let me tip bc of the time limit. And bc I like to check to make sure the order is right before tipping I couldn't tip before (bc lots of things go into a tip; food, care, etc.). I'm not sure how the drivers are treated here. Anyway, this tiktok isn't DD or a restraunant. It's a bridal shop in a thousands of dollar industry. One that is known for exploiting people and marking up everything bc it mentions a wedding.
Load More Replies...Maybe the bridal shop is using the word tip for commission? That's all I can think of. But I'm not tipping (if it's purely for them doing their job in helping me find a dress and nothing more) for me doing all the work.
But a commission is paid by the store to the employee, not by the customer
Load More Replies...Press no. It's not hard. Like everything else in a capitalist society, vote with your wallet
@Rostit....It's not always that easy to just press no on a screen. Sometimes you, the customer, aren't given a way NOT to tip.
Load More Replies...This is sad. All the workers need better payment and tipping isn't the solution.
Why are we asking the customers to pay their employees??
Load More Replies...I don't mind tipping for service jobs like waiters, hairdressers and hotel services. Last summer I left a $10 tip for housekeeping and when we got back in the evening she had left a thank you note and a baggie of candies! I figure if they have to clean up after us I can afford the cost of a beer at a ball game or concert to make their day a little brighter.
The housekeepers at hotels are not paid a living wage and the owners, and entire industry, assume that they will be tipped so they base their pay extremely low. I believe their pay is based on the number of rooms they clean. It’s an epidemic of companies NOT paying a livable wage who are taking advantage of the supposed tips to compensate the employee. If I remember correctly it was during the pandemic that people started tipping for those who were not considered essential workers that we as society started to tip those who we’re working simply to allow us the ability to live our lives as normal and undisturbed as possible. Except now that we are not facing the same challenges in everyday life, the companies do not want to give up this golden goose of gold!!! The mere fact that they are still showing a prompt of a tip at the POS is pure greed and nonsense.
Load More Replies...So very glad I don't live in the USA and the tipping culture would cause me so much anxiety. Only time I'll tip in the UK is for a meal and IF they've provided amazing service. If I've popped to Wagamama and they've literally just brought me my food over and then the bill for a quick lunch- no tip. If I've gone to a nice restaurant for an evening meal and the waiter/ waitress has taken then time to go over everything, served us many items and checked on the table etc and we've been there 90 minutes- 2 hours etc I'll tip between 10-15% depending on what I round it up to. I also kind of tip airline crew as I'm in a wheelchair and so they have to do more for me than most passengers and often have to wait a while after everyone else has left, for the ground crew to get me off. So I'll either buy them some nice sweets that are easily shared or vouchers if I know how many staff they'll be. Neither of these things are expected in the Uk though
In America they expect you to tip on a take away order that you paid foe over the phone , theat you drove to pick up, theat you went in to get. The hand out never closes.
Load More Replies...I'm an Aussie and tipping is not part of our culture. Being asked or expected to tip for something I'm paying for anyway is weird.
I wish Canada followed the norm in UK and Australia rather than America. Canada is way more like you guys than America in so many ways, but when it comes to a lot of things like corporate and industry related, we follow America, unfortunately.
Load More Replies...I am usually one that defends tipping culture, but yeah this s**t has gotten out of control. Time to abolish tipping and just pay your employees a fair wage.
Tipping in America is not what it used to be. It has totally gotten out of control! I like Japan, where people in service work are paid a fair, living wage. Tips are absolutely not expected and can even cause offense, since tipping indicates that you think the employer is not paying the server sufficiently.
Load More Replies...Uber also asks for tips, but I don't mind that because Uber pockets 25% of the money for each trip. So I calculate how much Uber will be taking and tip that amount. So if the trip costs R66, the tip would be R16.50. So that's how much I tip - usually I just round off, so I'm tipping R17. That's fine.
When we went on vacation this past summer we took a lot of Uber rides. We tipped the minimum on the app and handed cash to the driver. We looked at it as cheaper than a DUI since we had a couple beers at a ballgame and some wine on another night at dinner.
Load More Replies...Tipping has gotten out of control. Some workers think their entitle to a tip just for showing up at the JOBS.
Most -companies- that do this are doing it because they want to pay their employees less....and they make their customers absorb that cost.
Load More Replies...I would walk out of a bridal shop if asked to tip. I tip only at restaurants where I am seated and served a meal. Then, I tip appropriately for the service. A friend and I had breakfast at a busy family-type place and we received fabulous service from a very harried waitress. We tipped her a lot, and she came up and hugged us at the cashier station. My friend and I are easy customers, just keep our coffee cups filled and we're happy.
Just don't give anything. You pay for a service, they do it, full stop. I for one would have asked jokingly what the tip is for since I already pay for the dress a rather expensive price. As for when the tip is deserved, I don't use a percentage but check the value for the service. if you hang me an item or meal, its price doesn't change the value of your work.
The problem with tipping is the more people do it the more employers rely on the fact they don't have to pay living wage and it leads to the point where that culture spreads. If people had a choice not to work in those kind of places it would be the best because when there's enough people willing to work with those conditions there's always sleazebags willing to exploit them.
Don't sweat it. If there's no service provided (no one brought your food to your table, or did anything other than take your order & ring you up) do not tip.
Yes, the tipping for an online purchase happened to me too. I noticed it said that the warehouse wait time delivery was from 1to 6 weeks. I shrugged and proceeded with the order as that is standard sometimes, then the next page asked for a tip... I'm like, let me get this straight, the reason your deliver time is from 1 - 6 weeks, is because if I don't tip you, you sill sit on my order for 5 weeks?!? I canceled the sale, wrote them to tell them why I cancelled the sale, then found the product I needed elsewhere. The audacity!!!
Tipping is outrageous. Thanks goodness Australia hasn't become " infected " too much. It's a shocking method of the customer making up the employees wage which the employer should do in the first place. The tipping customer is literally paying part of the employees wage, which results in the employer making a bigger profit. Ha, what nonsense ! I won't be a party to it at all.
In such cases, look them straight in the eye and ask "A tip? For what, exactly?"
"All this noise obscures the real and somewhat legitimate, original reasons why tipping existed in the first place. Particularly in the US, many restaurants had very low wages and it was assumed that tips would make up the difference. " Tipping actually originated with the English aristocracy. A serf would receive a gratuity for having performed superbly well for their master. Time Magazine has a very disturbing reason for tipping being so prevalent in the US (second link below). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#:~:text=The%20practice%20of%20tipping%20began,for%20having%20performed%20superbly%20well. https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/
https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/
Load More Replies...The nice people who bring me pizza, Walmart, Target + Instacart orders get tips. If you are not *actively* helping me or doing things for me, I don't tip.
I've been married 3 times. The first time was in a gorgeous antique white brocade dress that was a hand-me-down from one of my cousins. The second time my BFF and I swapped gowns, so now I had her wedding dress and she had the one I'd worn when I was her Matron of Honor. The third time I bought a long antique white gown online and on sale. My mother was a custom dressmaker. I watched young women's mothers pay a ridiculous amount of money for a dress they were going to wear one time. I do not understand paying $10,000 for a dress. But, if the gown has to be altered to fit the bride, and the dressmaker has spent an hour getting the pins just right, her whole body hurts by now and you should probably tip her. Unless she owns the shop, and then decide what's right.
Yes. Absolutely tip the seamstress for the incredible alterations and attention to details. But, not the clerk that brought out your selections and helped you try them on: that is their job and they probably get commission. One can argue that the seamstress's job is to make sure your gown fits exactly as it should; but, sewing is an art and she has worked hard to make sure you look your best. Of course, if the seamstress does a crappy job, that's a whole other post. 😂
Load More Replies...Tipping is just out of effing hand anymore. My understanding, as a waitress in the early days, is that “a tip” is a basic gratuity for good service, amount determined by the quality of the service, usually a “standard”, like 10% - 15% - 20% is generally expected. It is NOT a mandatory thing. I felt that in waiting tables, that tips were given because waiters and waitresses were given less in hourly wages BECAUSE they received tips! It is totally out of hand but the US wages are ridiculous and should be addressed.
Need to pay workers a living wage. Tips should be given only for excellent service. If its compulsory fee it should be added on the price tag as should all taxes. Give customers the real cost of items
Employers ripping off employees by not paying them a liveable wage is criminal, then expecting the customer to tip to bring up their income to a level that they can afford the basics in life is even worse. Tipping should be an added reward for good service and is at the discretion of the customer (at least those customers who are not complete A-holes). I'm actually surprised the US government isn't leading a charge on this because all that tip $$ is essentially untaxed income.
I’m a doctor, and I was going to make a joke here about patients eventually being asked to tip their doctors, but then I saw there were two comments about tipping in the medical field. Absolutely not. That should not be done, it seems somehow unethical to me to ask your patient to tip, as they might feel obliged to tip out of fear of receiving less than stellar treatment the next time they need to visit me.
This is crazy. I work in Las Vegas as a cocktail waitress, making a decent hourly, however the IRS has started taxing us on a perceived amount of cash tips that we are getting per night so basically we get zero dollars on our paychecks. What I don’t understand is why the employer expects us to make our living wage from a customer instead of them just paying our living wages. The other non-service industries do not get taxed at all on tips because the IRS is not aware that they are making them. So I’m pretty sure the compensation for selling a wedding dress is already fair, no shade on them at all, though, but it should not be suggested on top of the payment form at the register. If I wanted to give my stylist a tip, I would’ve handed her cash for her service. Maybe they feel that they aren’t being compensated enough from the employer? That’s probably why they suggested it being there, because the employer does not want to give them an appropriate hourly or commission for their work.
I've never gotten married and due to small family, never been part of a wedding. But I have the impression that shopping for a dress is a multi-day affair in which you send the employee off to fit your every whim. It seems like a personalized service and you tip service industry, so it makes sense to me. Maybe not if it was choosing a dress off the rack and checkout, but all of the "is there another size" or "it's not princess enough" and "I want beads but not too many beads but enough" and having the associate hold their hands throughout the whole ordeal... I'd tip for that level of service.
I've never bought a wedding gown, (I hired my gown) But I agree with Sunny Skies, if the assistant goes above and beyond, she (or he) deserves a tip, especially if there is a "bridezilla" involved 🤣 🙄but it needs to be put straight into their hand, not added to the bill, so you know they received it, not the shop owner.
Load More Replies...Not everyone who buys an expensive wedding dress can afford an expensive wedding dress and weddings have brought far too many people to the brink of financial ruin just because of some weird expectations by family, friends and society. Finding a good wedding dress can take time but expecting a 10% tip on a dress costing thousands for a couple of hours work is far too much.
The wait staff at a restaurant is paid less than $2.50 an hour. If they don't receive tips then that $2.50/hr is all they make. In addition the IRS assumes that they get 15% - 20% in tips on all meals served and charges them tax on that amount. How would you like it if your boss told you to get your living wage from his customers?
That is insane! It’s like all the comments when someone does their job, that say “give this person a raise & a promotion”. Shouldn’t people be expected to do their job well as a basic standard? If they do something extra well, or out of the ordinary, then sure, a tip/raise or whatever. But not for just doing your job. Mind you, I’m from a culture where we tend to only tip for extra good service. People should get a decent wage to start with & we have a decent minimum wage hourly rate. Of course it could be better, but paying a decent wage & having expectations of your staff doing their job to a good standard should be the bare minimum expected on both sides.
Tipping adds so much insecurity to everything, I'd expect americans to be against it. It's like a stereotypical failed state where you have to tip/bribe the police and any civil servant into doing their job --- how much does it cost to transport my cargo from here to there? I don't know it depends on the number of roadblocks, etc... It make all business figures insecure and means you have to add arbitrary extra costs 'just in case', so everything ends up less competitive.
Of course the exception is 'service' jobs like restaurants and hospitality, where the company gets the benefit of the lower wages and the employee takes the risks of missing tips and hence making less than minimum wage.
Load More Replies...Her boss charges $10k for a dress that costs less than $1k, i think it’s her boss’s reponsibility to provide a fair share for their employees, not the clients have to pay on the side for the staff. If I see a price that should cover everything(taxes, wages, packaging, warehouse cost,profit, etc)that’s what i’m paying, i may tip if i feel like. Tip is not the employee’s salary, that is built-in to the price of the products/services.
My bridal gown and veil and my mother's gown (like an evening gown- long, chiffon, she was absolutely gorgeous) were from one of those teeny independent shops where the owner runs the show, does the fittings and alterations and everything. She had one helper. I was really nervous about the search for a gown because I didn't know what would look good, I'm plus sized, and I didn't have a ton of time (was getting married in three months). Going independent made what could have been an awful experience absolutely magical. I felt like a princess. The owner of the shop made sure my gown was perfect, cried with my mom, and even made some changes to my mom's gown to accommodate her taste. She was cheerful and kind and extremely knowledgeable. And we spent somewhere in the neighborhood of 10k there- which all went to the owner. I didn't feel like we needed to give her a tip.
I would not have even given a $50 tip. I actually assume their percentages were a highball request to guilt patrons into giving a $50 "at least"
Why is tipping still common in the US? My guess is excessive taxes. There is no way to check on tips, so it becomes undeclared income. Abolish income tax and the problem would be solved.
Could the word "like" be stricken from the English language! I'm like.....Thank you!
The act of tipping has gotten completely obscured from what it was meant for which was a way to say thank you to the person going above and beyond service that their job called them to do. This does not include showing up for your job or doing anything you were hired to do. Companies need to pay their people instead of making customers pay for their item or service and then the employee as well. Too many people need classes on how to price items and do business successfully. If you can't afford to pay people to work you do not need employees.
I've said it before and I'll say it again- in the US, tipped-wage employees still make minimum wage regardless of whether they receive tips or not !!
Tipping has gotten out of hand, if you paid the staff a decent wage, customers wouldn't feel the need to tip. I tip when I feel it's good service, if it's shite then they don't get a penny.
if it was a place that did custom dresses, then i would likely tip, just as i would for an art commission, or a tattoo, or any other custom service. if it's something being bought off a rack, then tipping shouldn't come into it.
In such cases, look hem straight in the eye and ask "A tip? For what, exactly?"
I'm on holiday in the Philippines. A haircut and shave costs US$2 so I give a 100% tip. My wife tips the doctor's receptionist to get to the front of the queue but that might be regarded as a bribe rather than a tip. In Scotland the Scottish government is trying to get employers to pay the real living wage so there would be no need to rely on tips. When I was a Mental Health Nurse we never ever received tips, not even a packet of candies.
"All this noise obscures the real and somewhat legitimate, original reasons why tipping existed in the first place. Particularly in the US, many restaurants had very low wages and it was assumed that tips would make up the difference. " This is not, in fact, where tipping comes from. The English aristocracy started tipping their servants for superb service and the custom spread. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#:~:text=The%20practice%20of%20tipping%20began,for%20having%20performed%20superbly%20well. https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/
This is my eff you doordash: Your driver's are underpaid, and rely on tips. Many of the restaurant workers rely on tips. It's sad, but true. After adding the option to be your own 'dasher', you've screwed everyone. My workplace generally had two people working at any given time. We prepped the line, took your order, made your food, packaged it, then cashed you out. All this while being stared at by actual drivers who hate us for being behind what their employer said when it would be ready. We do the dishes ourselves, too. Would you tip your server? They also have to tip out the busser, the host, the bartender, and sometimes the cook. It's a terrible culture, but please don't take it out on small business. Id love to end this system, but unfortunately don't have the time or money to rally. (Obviously US)
I think my main issue with Doordash is the time limit for tipping in Aus. I normally wait until all my order gets here to tip, if it lets me. But with how short the time limit is it doesn't always let me. I had a thing go wrong the other day where they forgot my drinks (no one's fault, I think. Either human or computer error). So I told the Dasher and they went to get them. Tipping isnt reallt a thing here but with how above and beyond the worker went to get the drinks I'm very frustrated it didn't let me tip bc of the time limit. And bc I like to check to make sure the order is right before tipping I couldn't tip before (bc lots of things go into a tip; food, care, etc.). I'm not sure how the drivers are treated here. Anyway, this tiktok isn't DD or a restraunant. It's a bridal shop in a thousands of dollar industry. One that is known for exploiting people and marking up everything bc it mentions a wedding.
Load More Replies...Maybe the bridal shop is using the word tip for commission? That's all I can think of. But I'm not tipping (if it's purely for them doing their job in helping me find a dress and nothing more) for me doing all the work.
But a commission is paid by the store to the employee, not by the customer
Load More Replies...Press no. It's not hard. Like everything else in a capitalist society, vote with your wallet
@Rostit....It's not always that easy to just press no on a screen. Sometimes you, the customer, aren't given a way NOT to tip.
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