Across social media, you will stumble across people venting their frustrations about tipping culture. A Food & Wine survey revealed that nine out of 10 Americans feel that it has gone too far. From adding automatic gratuity for large parties to suggested tips to cover taxes, companies are trying to create ways to encourage their customers to tip. A San Francisco-based woman issued a public service announcement about a new sneaky method a bar implemented to deceive its customers into leaving a higher tip.
How a Bay Area bar tried to swindle her
In a clip with more than 4,100 views, TikTok creator Steffanie Tran (@thesteffanietran) recalls how she discovered this trick.
“Went to a bar on Friday and you know those tipping iPads? Ot usually starts from lowest to highest,” she says.
On screen, she pulls up a virtual iPad as an example, following the 15%, 20%, and 25% tipping percentage order. However, she says the bar she visited didn’t have that format.
“This bar had it switched around and it was highest to lowest,” the content creator explains. Because of this, Tran nearly fell into the trap of tipping more.
“So, my muscle memory was to the 15% because all you did was pour me a glass of beer,” she says. “Everyone, double-check out in SF to see if they’re changing things up on you.”
Tran calls out this devious practice in the caption, writing, “I’m totally fine with tipping, but i hate when businesses try to become sneaky and change the order of the tips. I pressed 25% at first, and i was like wait. why is the dollar amount so much. it’s just a glass of beer. then i looked again, and it was HIGHEST TO LOWEST from left to right! why would you do that!! sneaky sneakyyy.”
Viewers have noticed this growing trend on tips
Some shared that they have also seen the same tipping options order at several different businesses.
“This literally JUST happened to me at the hair salon! I wasn’t sure if I was going crazy but then your video came up lol,” one viewer shared.
“Def noticed this at a few spots here in the bay but can’t even remember anymore but I’m gonna start taking note lol,” another commented.
“I was recently at Mendocino Farms and they did the same. That ended up being one overly expensive salad,” a third said.
However, others claimed that they carry cash to prevent this.
“I usually try to carry small bills so I just alway tip the bartender a dollar a drink. They are just getting me a bottle or pouring from the tap,” one commenter wrote.
“Just pay cash, prevents these kind of awkward encounters,” a second echoed.
@thesteffanietran i’m totally fine with tipping, but i hate when businesses try to become sneaky and change the order of the tips. i pressed 25% at first, and i was like wait. why is the dollar amount so much. it’s just a glass of beer. then i looked again, and it was HIGHEST TO LOWEST from left to right! why would you do that!! sneaky sneakyyy #tipping #tippingculture ♬ original sound – steffanie
Can businesses do this?
Through the 2010s, companies were moving in this direction, but the pandemic solidified this. Now, it seems everywhere you go, whether you’re buying coffee, ordering DoorDash, or getting your hair done, you’re met with a screen asking for a tip.
As a result, customers are pressured to leave a bigger tip. A New York Post survey revealed that 75% of Americans have given larger tips on the POS system because they felt coerced. However, there isn’t a law that states what the San Francisco bar is doing is illegal. Although companies can set their suggested tip amounts, the POS system Square warns against making it too high, or else it “can alienate customers and make it less likely that they’ll come back,” per NerdWallet.
The Mary Sue reached out to Tran via TikTok comment and direct message.
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