Hi Diane,
I have a question I haven’t seen addressed anywhere yet and am hoping you can shed some light on the topic (tipping when you don’t carry money). I never have cash and have found myself in several different situations lately where I have had to skip a tip because I was caught off guard. My girlfriend says I should download a tipping app, but I don’t even know where to begin. I didn’t even know there was such an option until recently but am wondering how you feel about tipping someone from an app? Is it too impersonal?
I’d love to hear your views. Thanks in advance.
J.S.
Hello J.S.,
I understand your confusion about tipping apps and when to use them. There is no easy answer or “one size fits all” when it comes to the protocol of tipping apps. But, in response to your question, is tipping by app impersonal, I would say that skipping a tip altogether is more impersonal than acknowledging someone for a job well done. Tipping is part of the American way of life and a standard form of payment in certain industries when someone provides a service.
But, as with all aspects of our life, technology has stepped in. There are countless opportunities to pay by app and credit card where a tip is an option for services that may or may not require an additional gratuity. You can look no further than the corner in large cities to see street vendors with signs that provide information on how to leave gratuity via an app (this U.S. News & World Report article details a few of the most popular solutions).
Example: you walk up to the counter and pay for a fast food meal, you swipe your card on an iPad and have the option to leave a tip or to hit “no thank you.” The pressure is on because you know eyes are watching you. Although you may feel uncomfortable, it is in your best interest to get used to a little feeling of angst or you will be tipping unnecessarily for the rest of your life.
On the other hand, for exceptional service when you have no cash, you can download a popular tipping app (they are designed to make tipping easy without carrying cash).
Be aware of potential hiccups. Though you want to express your gratitude, you may not want to stay connected to the other person indefinitely. You can read more about this here, courtesy of NBC News. Another potential issue is knowing how much to tip. The standard is 15% to 20% at restaurants, but 10% is perfectly fine if you are leaving something behind for a smaller service such as a cup of coffee or grabbing a hamburger on the run.
Happy tipping,
Diane
P.S. You may find the following blog posts helpful regarding tipping etiquette:
