New touch screen cash registers in coffee shops are forcing customers to pick a tipping percentage as employees look on, being guilt-tripped into tipping, even for tasks that didn't require much effort. But Justin Brady has four methods to help you escape this "guilt tipping" awkwardness.
An article in the Wall Street Journal puts it bluntly. You Want 20% for Handing Me a Muffin? What I call "guilt tipping" is an all too familiar experience in this new touch screen cash register era and you know exactly how awkward this experience can be.
Traversing your city block to your favorite local Iowa coffee shop, you take in the intoxicating aroma, pick your pleasures, but just when you circulate your credit card, the moment of dread is unwillingly thrust upon you: the tipping screen.
The employee pivots their fancy iPad-esque cash register screen around where you are now asked to "complete the transaction" or "answer a few questions" which is code for "how much of a tip do I get." It's awkward, especially if the employee did nothing more than retrieve the item for you.
Don't get me wrong. I always tip for good service, heck, I worked in retail during my college years. If an employee puts in above average effort, which in this day and age isn't actually that hard, I certainly tip. Even at restaurants I typically tip over 20% (servers deal with a lot of crap.) But guilt tipping is different.
When it comes time for the tablet cash register moment, often created by the electronic transaction companies Square or Clover, I find that I can't escape the transaction without being a bit miffed. I'm either miffed at the awkward experience of not tipping or miffed I was guilt tripped into unfairly tipping. It's a lose/lose for me. But in this age is there an escape to the awkwardness? I think so.
Many employees avert their eyes or do something else to give you a bit of privacy, but for those that don't, I have two effective methods for escaping that awkward guilt tipping moment, and also two bonus methods, and I'm sharing these just for you.
Guilt Tipping Escape Methods:
The Tech-Savvy Method:
On some systems, when you are presented with the presumptuous guilt tipping screen, there is a not-so-obvious option after you hit your tipping amount. After you select your tip (or no tip) you can then hit the button "New Sale." This will complete the transaction and the employee won't be able to see your tipping amount unless they go into their previous transactions.
The Mentalist Method:
Simply ask the cashier, "to patrons typically tip for this?" If they say no, you can select "no tip" without feeling guilty. If they say "yes" you can then ask, "ok, how much?" This deflects the awkwardness off you, and also makes you look courteous at the same time.
Bonus #1: The Avoidance Method:
Simply avoid places that make an awkward experience for you. Coffee shops like Starbucks have found clever ways to encourage tipping without the awkwardness. In lieu of the old tip jar, which was also a bit awkward, they built it into their app a retroactive tipping feature. The app will ask you later if you want to tip for good service, and when I get good service I certainly tip!
Of course, you can also just hit the tipping method you feel is appropriate and avoid eye contact, but for those who really have the cojones, feel free to stare down the cashier in the process to let them know you mean business. Perhaps
What Should You Do With The Cash You're Saving?
And what should you do with all this cash I'm saving you? That's right, use it all to tip generously to those who deserve it. Perhaps even to employees or workers not accustomed to getting tips. Be generous!