Anyone get embarrassed over tipping eg hairdressers, waiters, taxi drivers?

I don't tip 99% of the time - I find the places where it's expected are the places where I'm left feeling the most socially uncomfortable so why would I pay more than I have to?! On the rare occasion I actually have a pleasant experience and find myself thinking 'hey that person made me feel really good' then I'll tip 10-20% depending on how much money I've got.

Jenni123 said:

also when they bring chip and pin to the table in a cafe

This is a kind of moral blackmail. I don't eat out any more but buy takeaways with some other treats to make it extra special.

It seems a lot of  people find tipping uncomfortable. Hopefull the habit will die out over time.

I get very annoyed about the expectation of tipping. 

For many years I worked in retail (so serving people) earning minimum wage and no one ever tipped me. I really don't know why I should tip workers that earn more than me per hour. Makes absolute no sense. Who decided they deserve better?

If one day I am rich I might change my mind. But taxi drivers earn more than me and I don't even have a car because I can't afford it, so I don't feel guilty for not tipping. I think the world system is all wrong to expect that and it's my opiy

When i was self employed I found it demeaning as a business person, it almost felt like I was doing them a favour and I was given pocket money, rather than money I'd honestly earned for myself.

Yes I had this situations at my hairdressers recently and I ended up saying I am sorry as I find this quite awkward as it’s a grey area for me and I was asking her how much should I tip which she couldn’t say. I do find it really extremely uncomfortable and more so now also when they bring chip and pin to the table in a cafe as before I would leave money on the table and I do not mind this as it can be subtle but I think it might be the whole performance a bit for me that makes me feel so uncomfortable. Thank you for raising this as it has also been in my mind after the hairdresser and I wondered if it was just me! 

Roy said:

often in restaurants a service charge is already added and then I am expected to tip on top of that

I think if a service charge is added you aren't expected to tip more Roy!

I feel uncomfortable with tipping different trades, personally I think the employer should pay their staff correctly, often in restaurants a service charge is already added and then I am expected to tip on top of that.

I very rarely have cash, the total on the card machine is often left open for the customer to add a tip, I wonder if the staff actually receive this. 
The front of house staff receive tips but also the kitchen staff work equally as hard but are never seen by the customer.

Marianne72 said:

I think it ought to be banned

I had thought that too but wondered if the public would think it too controlling.

Also, I don’t like a service charge being added automatically to a restaurant bill. It saves hassle at the till but surely restaurants should be paying their staff adequately rather than over complicating prices for the customer. Why not just charge the price that is quoted on the menu for each dish? Diners are already paying extra for a sit down service, not a carry out. 

TheCatWoman said:

I think tipping was started among the aristocrac

That makes sense. 

TheCatWoman said:

I give my hairdresser a box of eggs as a tip

I would rather do this than give out money. Money has that horrible tang of forelock touching, bowing and curtseying. It is a Victorian concept for sure. It is interesting that you also found it embarrassing as a professional.

ArchaeC said:

It is an outdated practice in today’s society. 

Yes, it is and can become a form of blackmail. I think it ought to be banned.

Oh yes, I hate firstly that's it expected to tip and then the actual tipping, what if it's not what they are expecting, will they judge me, I wish they charge what they need and do away with tips, it's too much pressure 

I'm shocked by the US minimum wage, no wonder some people are struggling!

The UK minimum wage is  currently £12.21 per hour and is going up to £12.71 in April, for people over 21. Even 16 year olds and apprentices get £8 per hour from April.

I think America should pay its staff adaquately and not  rely on peoples generousity, I know this is a big issue across the pond, are food prices 10% lower and what if you get terrible service?

We’ve got a minimum wage but it is horrible. The federal minimum wage in America is $7.25 (£5.43) per hour. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 per hour if tips can make up the rest. To put it into context, some of my coworkers who are struggling financially make double the minimum wage and are still struggling.

I dislike tipping intensely. I feel obliged to tip, especially if it is for a service which I need on an ongoing basis.  I am concerned I will be dealt with badly if I don’t tip when I get bad service and I get anxious over the whole thing. 

I have a sense that many of the people who would have been tipped traditionally are doing better financially than those who are tipping. It is an outdated practice in today’s society. 

I think tipping was started among the aristocracy when staying at each others houses and "borrowing" a maid to help you dress and do your hair, or a valet and tipping the chauffeur for taking you places. These might have all been things on top of the normal duties of these staff, but have hung around.

I'm a hairdresser and I hate tips, they're embaressing to give and recieve, they're also an excuse for poor pay, many salons pay the minimun wage and say you should make it up to a good wage from tips and if you don't get enough tips it proves that you're not good at your work.

I give my hairdresser a box of eggs as a tip, which she loves as eggs are one of her favourite foods, it's a compromise I've reached.

It's hard when so many people pay by card and so tips to staff have to go through the books and are taxed. In restaurants everyone who wasn't a waiter kicked off that they did most of the work, but were never acknowleged, now most restaurants keep tips in a kitty and share them out to all staff.

I don't tip in UK as we have a minimum wage so everyone should be paid sufficient.

Cinnabar_wing said:

the management used to take a cut first

That obviates the reason for a tip. I've never heard of that before. And sharing tips with colleagues also makes it pointless. It's like making then giving someone a cake [I used to do this a lot, to get people to like me!] and then they give it away.

Expecto_Patronum said:

Jobs like waiters and waitresses are very low paid and they rely on tips for their income. This is fair enough.

Yes, I agree. I think we need new guidelines. If tipping is a necessary part of 'wages' that is disgraceful too.

Oh man, it's so stressful, I wish we didn't have to. I was taught to tip at restaurants and hairdressers (when I used to go). But restaurants are difficult as if you pay by card, does it give you the option on the machine, have they added it and you have to opt out, you don't always have enough change to do it in cash, how much to leave, where to leave it, and  as said, some places charge the staff for having been tipped by card reader (Las Igaunas had a news story years ago the management used to take a cut first which was scandelous and they had to stop after the backlash). Arrgh. I wish we could just pay without the hidden tip stress.