I hardly consider myself to be among the most anti-tipping people out there, but this really crosses the line.
Tip 15-20% on an airport self-check out transaction?!
Airport concessions are known for their inflated prices, especially in the United States. While I can appreciate how costs are higher (rent is expensive at airports, employees are often paid more, etc.), the pricing is still pretty extreme at times.
But that pales in comparison to what seems to be a new trend. A viral Tweet shows a person being asked to tip the self check-out kiosk at Newark Airport. This is at one of those airport concessions that sells all kinds of packaged and prepared items, and this person buys a $15.99 chicken salad and a $4.70 candy bar. Paying nearly $23 for those two things is bad enough.
What’s worse is that during the check-out process, she’s asked if she wants to leave a tip. And it’s not even that the recommended tips are in the range of 5-15%, but rather the suggested gratuity is in the range of 15-20%. Yes, for a self-check out kiosk.
This is so beyond ridiculous
As I said at the beginning of the post, I’m not usually anti-tip. I mean, I don’t love the US tipping system, as I wish we’d see employees paid higher wages to begin with. But I also recognize that many in the hospitality industry make a living through tipping, and I want them to be well compensated, and I’m not going to take out any frustration I have with the system on them.
But the concept of a machine asking for a tip at an airport shop is enough to make me wonder if I’m actually in some alternate reality:
- Who do the machine tips go to? The person checking themselves out, the greedy company asking for these tips, the person stocking the shelves, or…?
- Isn’t the whole point of these self check-out machines to eliminate staff? So not only do the businesses want the cost savings of having fewer employees, but they also want tips for this innovation?
- It would be bad enough if they were asking for 5-15% tips or something, but I love how the range of tips for the machine is 15-20%; yes, the machine you’re using to pay for your candy bar deserves the same tip as a restaurant server
Let me take it a step further — even if there were a human checking you out, I would find the concept of tipping to be ridiculous. I perhaps usually over-tip, and I tip housekeepers at hotels, I tip at coffee shops, etc. But if you’re simply buying a packaged good at a store, it’s absurd for there even to be a request for a tip, regardless of whether a human or machine charges you.
This “tipflation” thing sure is real…
Bottom line
Usually I have no issue with tipping in the United States, not because I like the system, but because I recognize that this is how people make a living, and I don’t think punishing the hardworking frontline staff is ever the solution.
The point at which I draw the line is when airport self check-out kiosks ask for a 15-20% tip for the privilege of letting you pay for your overpriced pre-packaged items.
What do you think an appropriate tip is for a self check-out machine? 😉
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