Self-checkout machines at cafes, sport stadiums, and airports are now requesting tips, but customers are not pleased about giving extra money to machines. According to The Wall Street Journal, digital self-checkout kiosks are on the rise, and customers are responding negatively to tip prompts. The majority of customers who were asked to tip workers they had no interaction with were frustrated by these prompts, as per the Journal. Several customers around the US were interviewed for the report. While some individuals were willing to add on the extra fees, the majority found the tip cues confusing, and many were unsure where the money was going. One customer, for instance, took a beer from a self-service beer fridge at San Diego's Petco Park and was asked to include a tip on his order. "I was confused because it wasn't entirely clear who I was tipping," he told the Journal, although he still tipped 20% anyway. The pandemic has led to an increase in self-checkout machines asking for tips, as more people try to avoid contact with others. Walmart, grocery stores, and other large companies are implementing the same strategy. The purpose of a significant increase in self-checkout kiosks is to reduce labor costs. Therefore, the question arises: who gets the money? There is no cashier to tip, and once a company purchases the machine, they only have to cover the cost of maintaining and running it. Tipping has become an increasingly controversial issue in the United States, with many Americans experiencing "tipping fatigue" as they are asked to tip at more places and face the effects of inflation. Initially, tipping began as a gratuity for exceptional customer service provided by waitresses. The restaurant industry lobbied Congress to allow waiters to be paid a lower wage, with tips covering the difference to bring them up to the minimum wage. The Journal reported that landlords have taken to TikTok to advocate for gratuity to be added to rent, while the first unionized Apple store in Maryland is pushing for the introduction of a tipping system. Have you encountered this situation before, and how did you handle it?
