I’ve read these terminal companies are in cahoots with the businesses they install them at, and both sides get a cut of that. That’s why you’re seeing it everywhere now.
Even places like gas stations ask for it. Next thing you know, the post office will start asking. I read somewhere one of the food delivery services asks for a tip ahead of time and said your food won’t arrive as quick of you do not tip.
Originally posted by Edmond: Even places like gas stations ask for it. Next thing you know, the post office will start asking. I read somewhere one of the food delivery services asks for a tip ahead of time and said your food won’t arrive as quick of you do not tip.
That’s Doordash. All the app based third party delivery services Doordash, Grubhub, UberEats, etc. use Independent Contractors as Delivery Drivers. When you order on those services the Tip you enter when ordering is basically your bid for the services of a delivery driver. The orders are offered to drivers in the area with information about which restaurant, how many miles, location of restaurant and customer and how much the order will pay the driver. The driver then decides whether to accept or decline the order. The services only have a base pay of around $2 per order so it’s easy to tell exactly how much people tip. People that don’t tip well have their orders declined until someone wants to deliver them.
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Posts: 3107 | Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA | Registered: September 04, 2006
The new Rangers stadium is like this. Totally cashless.
I was there last year with a buddy and went to get a bottled water. Went into the place, grabbed the water, scanned it and after it asked for my card it asked for a tip and 18% was where it started.
I looked at the guy and said "Really?"
He shrugged and I tipped zero. Fuck this noise.
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Posts: 1784 | Location: Texas! | Registered: June 13, 2013
I'm seeing this all over the place. Many times it is when the only human doing anything is the cashier ringing up the sale! In NYC the cabs all start at a 20% tip as the lowest option on the screen.
It is out of control.
Posts: 9808 | Location: On the mountain off the grid | Registered: February 25, 2002
The new Rangers stadium is like this. Totally cashless.
You seriously cannot buy a beer in the stands with a $20 bill?
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Posts: 24753 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009
100% chance the company that installed the system has the tip rerouted to some employee that is scamming. I'm willing to bet someone is in on it at the location.
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Posts: 34487 | Location: North, GA | Registered: October 09, 2002
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks: 100% chance the company that installed the system has the tip rerouted to some employee that is scamming. I'm willing to bet someone is in on it at the location.
I mentioned it in my OP but what I'm hearing is the company that makes and installs the terminals is getting a cut of this "tip" money that they are programming the terminals to ask for. It's all a big scam and I predict a backlash that will eventually end it.
Back in February we took the Amtrak Auto Train from VA to FL for a vacation at Disney and Universal. They had a dining car where you could get snacks and drinks and some food which was basically microwaved precooked burgers and hot dogs they nuked for 20 seconds and then handed you. Each time the guy at the dining car counter would make a big show of holding up the handheld terminal and pointing out that it was going to ask for a tip and each time I made a big show of firmly pressing the 0% button as he held it.
Posts: 34990 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007
Here's another thing to look out for. The other day I was at a restaurant with a payment terminal located at the table. If provided the option of 15%, 18%, 20%, or a custom amount. Next to each percentage option was the corresponding dollar amount.
The problem I noticed was that there was actually a 3% difference in their favor across the board. The dollar amount next to the 15% was actually 18%, the 18% was actually 21%, and the 20% was actually 23%.
My favorite restaurant just raised prices and cutback on portions. That seems to be a time honored tradition. Bullying people into tipping just makes people angry. The smart resorts have an all inclusive price with no tipping allowed.
Posts: 17622 | Location: Stuck at home | Registered: January 02, 2015
I tip well for good service, and minimally for poor service. Mrs. Gear waited tables when we first met and she echoes this sentiment. Hard work is rewarded.
As to machines asking for tips? They would get the same reply as I give to any establishment that asks if I’d like to “round up” to support whatever they support.
“Nope”.
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Anybody else noticing a "service fee" now being automatically applied to the bill at restaurants? I just encountered this for the first time recently. It's was $1.50 or $2.50 IIRC and added to the total along with tax. And of course a tip is expected on top of that.
Posts: 2540 | Location: WI | Registered: December 29, 2012
Several local privately owned restaurants and other stores are giving a discount of 3% to 5% for cash. If I want to support them, I pay cash. Tipping is always done with cash even if I use a card to pay for the meal.
A little over a year ago I ran into this at the Newark airport, and it could have been the same exact place. I don't remember if I posted about it here, but I told a lot of people. No employees. Computer asked if I'd like to leave a tip.
