Café With Self-Order Kiosks And Self-Serve Coffee Asks If You Want To Leave A Tip

[Richard Cranium]

Oct 7, 2022

ALEXANDRIA, VA — According to sources, a local self-ordering kiosk at an overpriced cafe that sells self-serve coffee just asked if you would like to add a tip to a $12 coffee order.

"WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE A TIP? 15%? 20%? 25%? A CUSTOM TIP AMOUNT?" says the presumptuous screen as a worker who apparently doesn't do anything peers over at you from behind a plexiglass COVID shield.

What on earth am I tipping these people for, you think to yourself as you press the "NO TIP" button on the screen.

"NO TIP? PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR TIP OF $0.00 FOR THIS HARD-WORKING ESTABLISHMENT BY CLICKING 'CONFIRM NO TIP'," reads the kiosk as you sense the eyes of the do-nothing barista boring into your skull. "NO TIP CONFIRMED," says the screen.

As you remove your card, all activity in the cafe stops as the workers look over at you and shake their heads over how pathetically cheap you are.
You take a sip of your coffee. It's cold.

 

[GetX'd]

One of my top pet peeves - The growing trend of food service places asking for a tip when they did nothing but overcharge you for their products. Even worse now that prices of everything is beyond ridiculous! I very rarely leave a tip for pick up or cafes such as you've noted above. And yes they expect you to. Even worse now that prices are thru the roof they're looking for the "increased tip" amount that the high prices generate. Not me......

 

[65Bel]

I tip based on the quality of goods & services received . . .

 

[beanhead]

I see that a lot too. I always leave the kids a little sumpin' anyway. But cash, not extra added onto my card they may never see...just how we roll.

 

[Cranky]

There are two restaurants near me where I get 50% off (vets and first responders) but will tip based on the full price and a little more if the service and food was great.

 

[Cranky]

I see that a lot too. I always leave the kids a little sumpin' anyway. But cash, not extra added onto my card they may never see...just how we roll.

I use cash at restaurants if I have it.....and it's not often that I don't have enough to buy lunch someplace.

 

[khryslerkid]

The whole country is going to self service.

The one grocery store that I frequent has changed all but one checkout to self checkout. Of course the one that has a teller is always backed up so you're forced to use a self checkout. The one thing that I don't get is that there is an employee standing close by incase there's a problem (or a thief) at every self checkout.

One day I happened to see the manager hanging around up front overseeing their new changes and I asked him why are they taking the "personal touch" out of grocery shopping. No comment. Then I asked him why are you paying employees to stand around when they could be ringing up the customers? No comment again. Such a pathetic way to distance people from a social experience.

 

[kiwigtx]

I hate the self-serve checkouts at our supermarkets .....I always seem to get ripped off when the items are weighed or added.

 

[beanhead]

The whole country is going to self service.

The one grocery store that I frequent has changed all but one checkout to self checkout. Of course the one that has a teller is always backed up so you're forced to use a self checkout. The one thing that I don't get is that there is an employee standing close by incase there's a problem (or a thief) at every self checkout.

One day I happened to see the manager hanging around up front overseeing their new changes and I asked him why are they taking the "personal touch" out of grocery shopping. No comment. Then I asked him why are you paying employees to stand around when they could be ringing up the customers? No comment again. Such a pathetic way to distance people from a social experience.

I don't use the self-checkouts....but not because I'm making some principled statement; it's that I've usually got something like the requisite 3-pk of talls and CA law prohibits using self-checkout when purchasing alkyhawl

 

[khryslerkid]

I don't use the self-checkouts....but not because I'm making some principled statement; it's that I've usually got something like the requisite 3-pk of talls and CA law prohibits using self-checkout when purchasing alkyhawl

You have to go to the other side of the store "Beer Garden" for that here in Pa. also. They even swipe the bar code on your driver's license here. I've always wondered what database that info goes to.

 

[stage3]

i only tip if i am sitting at a table and being waited on, otherwise No....

 

[64BEL]

I tip based on the quality of goods & services received . . .

View attachment 1354720

I'm a self confessed service Nazi. I demand adequate service when it comes time for the tip calculation. I consider myself a generous tipper. I start at 20% and go up from there if the service is above adequate. I've adjusted my expectations to a certain degree so that anything above adequate service is pretty much wow service, now (used to be that wow was way above adequate). We were recently at our favorite Mexican place and had terrible service. She was inattentive, forgot things - even after multiple reminders, disappeared for long periods of time while we waited for a leftover container and again for the check, and she was just plain lazy. On a $55. bill, I tipped her $2.00. And she was lucky to get that (I considered a penny). We'll still go back, because this was an anomaly. I told the Mrs. that it's the law of averages that if you go somewhere enough times, you'll eventually get burned. I generally don't tip at a carryout place. If I do that, I need to tip the gas station clerk for taking my gas money, too.

 

[Photon440]

Where I get my Chinese food take-out, they give a 10% discount for pick up orders (as opposed to them delivering it). I always pick up, but give them the 10% back.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Where I get my Chinese food take-out, they give a 10% discount for pick up orders (as opposed to them delivering it). I always pick up, but give them the 10% back.

Where I get my Thai food take-out, they give a 10% discount if you use cash.

 

[moparedtn]

Yep, I make it a priority to have cash for the tip on the rare occasions we dine out these days.
It's up to the server if cash actually gets recorded later (despite labor laws, it is); if I add it
to the card instead, I reckon that decision is already made, eh?

It's getting so rare anymore to find young folks who want to work - and further, to actually do
a good job of it when doing so - that I'm all about encouraging them when I come across them.
Example: Wife and I are sort of "regulars" with the local Pizza Hut delivers franchise (I know the
owner/manager) and we often do a Friday night order - and since that one is online ordering and
I know the driver will get the tip, I put it on the card when doing so...

Owner tells me when "Ed's order" comes across their order screen there, the young folk drivers actually
argue over who gets to come up our ridge - not only is the tip good, but they love the view, getting to
play with Sasha (our dog) and the friendly folks up here.

Encourage people who go out of their way to serve you - it's so damn rare to find anymore!

 

[turbine68rt]

i only tip if i am sitting at a table and being waited on, otherwise No....

This, and I like making a small side bet for the dealer when playing blackjack. If things are going well they then get twice the tip if I win.

 

[WileE]

I tip myself

 

[Cranky]

I don't use the self-checkouts....but not because I'm making some principled statement; it's that I've usually got something like the requisite 3-pk of talls and CA law prohibits using self-checkout when purchasing alkyhawl

Funny how different states have the laws they do.....here we can check out at the self check but the 'attendant' has to ok the purchase. They also will check age if you look young but I'm way past looking young anymore!

You have to go to the other side of the store "Beer Garden" for that here in Pa. also. They even swipe the bar code on your driver's license here. I've always wondered what database that info goes to.

Had a guy a few years ago want to see my ID. Granted I looked like 40 back then when I was 55. I gave him a ration for it too. He said he had the 'authority' to 'card' me and I told him I had the authority to go shop elsewhere.

This, and I like making a small side bet for the dealer when playing blackjack. If things are going well they then get twice the tip if I win.

I'm sure you're not the only one that does that.....but do you win often?

 

[Hey-O]

I went to pick up food for 8 at a very nice restaurants. The bill was stupid high and as the young lady came out the door to my car not 10 feet away, I ask the guy I was with how to tip in this situation. He said 20 percent, I said I already paid everyone in the place with an inflated bill and now I'm going to pay her 40 dollars for carrying it ten feet to my car. I don't think so. I'm very generous, but not stupid.

 

[turbine68rt]

I'm sure you're not the only one that does that.....but do you win often?

It seems to come and go in waves. After a good hot streak the bottom starts to fall out. That's when I color out.