Navigating Tipping Fatigue

Picture this: You’re at self-checkout where you just scanned, bagged and paid for your own groceries when the screen asks, “Would you like to leave a tip?” Wait… for who? If that scenario feels all too familiar, you're not alone. Tipping expectations have skyrocketed, and consumers are pushing back. According to a recent Bankrate survey, nearly one in three Americans think tipping has gone too far. The data tells the same story: 72 percent of people now tip in more places than before, but two-thirds dislike how tipping has evolved.

Once a token of appreciation, tipping now feels more like an expectation — at fast food counters, coffee shops and even self-checkouts. This “tipflation” phenomenon is leading to lower gratuity rates, even at full-service restaurants. The Bankrate survey also found that only 65 percent of diners at sit-down restaurants leave a tip now, down from 77 percent just four years ago. Gen Z, in particular, is rejecting tipping culture…