If you’ve been shopping recently, chances are high that you were asked for a tip.
Back in the day—i.e., less than a decade ago—it feels like you would only be asked to tip at restaurants or, maybe, the barber. Now, however, tipflation has resulted in tipping being an incredibly common occurrence.
Lately, shoppers report being asked to tip in more places and in higher amounts than ever before. Internet users have shared some of the most ridiculous examples of tipping requests online. For example, one user documented a tip prompt at a public water fountain, while another showed that an airport self-checkout was asking shoppers to tip.
Shoppers, it’s fair to say, are getting fed up with this system. Now, they’re letting their frustration be known.
What Happened At This Mall Kiosk?
In a video with over 2.8 million views, TikTok user Leah Danzy (@lovee.leahh_) shows a woman at a mall kiosk. The woman is visibly upset.
“Do you want to tip?” Danzy asks.
“Hell no,” the woman responds. “No tip!”
The worker meekly accepts this response, putting away the handheld POS system.
“OK,” the kiosk worker starts. “I just asked.”
“I know, and I just told you,” the woman answers. After wishing the worker a good day, the woman says, “The f— you talking about? A f—– tip?”
Why Is Everyone Asking For Tips Now?
This woman isn’t the only one complaining about tipping feeling more present than ever. A 2023 Pew survey found that 72% of Americans say tipping is expected in more places than it was five years ago. Americans don’t seem too happy with this arrangement; a 2025 Bankrate survey found that 63% of Americans hold at least one negative view about tipping.
But how did we get here? There are a few answers.
First, there was a rise in digital payment systems. As services like Toast and Square became an easy way for companies to start accepting credit card payments, tipping—a standard feature for these systems—became more normalized. This became so common that “spinning the iPad around,” a direct reference to these systems, is a common internet shorthand for being asked to tip unnecessarily.
Next, some say the pandemic fundamentally changed tipping culture. At a time when many were staying inside, there was immense social pressure to support the businesses that were staying open and the workers within them. This generally manifested in higher tips and tips provided at more places.
There’s More To The Story
Naturally, numerous other factors caused this shift. For example, businesses gladly pushed for the switch to tips as it allowed them to offer another apparent benefit to their workers. If the offered salary is low, the business can complement it by saying it comes with tips.
In fact, if tipped wages become high enough, a business may be able to start advertising itself as eligible for the federal tip credit. In many states, this would allow them to pay their workers just $2.13 per hour, provided that tips make up at least $5.12 per hour.
One of the other reasons that tipping feels like it’s everywhere now is that the social pressure to tip is high. If one is simply asked to write a tip on their receipt after they’ve eaten, they can make a proper assessment of the service and how much they’d like to tip. However, when confronted with a tip prompt before they’ve received the service—and with the person they’re tipping staring right at them—the social pressure to tip is incredibly high.
This, studies show, can lead to negative feelings among consumers, potentially leading to reduced enthusiasm about tipping in general.
Shoppers Are Sick Of Tipping
In the comments section of Danzy’s video, users voiced their view that they were tired of being asked to tip.
“I’m done with tips. Only at restaurants and that’s all,” a user declared.
“Tipping is getting out of control,” echoed another. “I don’t blame her.”
“Everyone getting tips! Can I get one at my corporate job?” asked a third.
@lovee.leahh_ I still can’t get over this😭 Ariel was so embarrassed #fypシ゚viral #fyp #grandmagonewild
BroBible reached out to Danzy via Instagram and TikTok direct message.