You order a coffee, grab a sandwich, or pick up some takeout. When it’s time to pay, the employee turns the screen around, and suddenly you’re being asked how much you’d like to tip.
It’s become a familiar part of checking out at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, and other businesses. While some customers don’t mind leaving a little extra, others are tired of being asked to tip before they’ve even received their order.
A recent Reddit discussion shows how frustrated some shoppers have become. Several people say they’ve stopped visiting businesses they once enjoyed because they no longer want to deal with the pressure to tip at checkout.
Some Customers Are Taking Their Business Elsewhere
The conversation started on Reddit when one user explained that they’d stopped going to certain businesses because of their tip screens.
The customer said the decision had nothing to do with the quality of the food or service. They simply didn’t like being asked to leave a tip every time they paid, especially when ordering at a counter.
Others responded to the discussion, with several sharing similar experiences.
One commenter said they stopped visiting their favorite local coffee shop after the tipping requests became increasingly aggressive. Another described visiting a counter-service burger restaurant where the payment screen requested a tip before the food had even been prepared.
Others mentioned drive-through coffee shops, bakeries, and takeout restaurants where they felt uncomfortable being asked to leave additional money for what they considered a basic transaction.
For some customers, the frustration has reached the point where they’d rather stop going altogether than deal with the same checkout experience again.
It’s the Pressure That Bothers Customers
A recurring complaint throughout the discussion was the awkwardness of choosing a tip amount while an employee is standing nearby.
Some customers said the suggested percentages make the situation even more uncomfortable, particularly when the options start at 18%, 20%, or higher.
One commenter described a coffee shop where the screen defaulted to a 25% tip while the employee watched them make their selection. Another mentioned a taco truck that showed customers a large payment screen with suggested tips starting at 18%.
For many, the issue wasn’t tipping itself. It was being asked to decide before receiving any service beyond placing an order.
Several commenters said they’re happy to tip servers at sit-down restaurants or reward particularly good service. They just don’t believe every purchase should come with an additional request for money.
Some Shoppers Are Changing How They Pay
Rather than avoiding every business with a tip screen, some users have found other ways to handle it.
Several said they’ve started paying with cash whenever possible to avoid the digital tipping prompts. Others prefer ordering through restaurant apps or using self-service kiosks.
One commenter said they stopped going to a coffee shop and started making their coffee at home instead. Another explained that they now eat out far less often because rising menu prices, combined with tipping expectations, have made dining out less appealing.
Not everyone agreed that tip screens were worth getting upset about, though.
Some commenters pointed out that customers can simply select the no-tip option and continue with their purchase. They didn’t see a reason to give up a favorite restaurant or coffee shop over a payment prompt.
Could Tip Screens Be Costing Businesses Customers?
For businesses, digital tipping options offer customers a convenient way to leave something extra without carrying cash. For workers who depend on tips, those extra dollars can make a difference.
But the discussion suggests that the way businesses ask for tips may be affecting how some customers feel about shopping there.
Customers can still choose whether to tip, and businesses can still offer the option. The bigger question is whether asking for a tip during nearly every transaction is making customers less willing to return.
For some people, that decision has already been made.
