Don’t forget to tip your robots. A recent TikTok has exposed an airport store for prompting customers to select an 18% tip at a self-checkout kiosk. Dr. Clay Moss, a longevity specialist, recently posted a TikTok where a self-service payment terminal automatically nudged him to tip. In an undisclosed airport, the doctor was stunned when … Read more
There’s a fee to get fed. A popular Los Angeles restaurant is in the hot seat after an irate diner put the trendy spot on blast over a sizable mystery “administrative” fee slapped onto his bill — on top of the restaurant’s mandatory 20 percent gratuity and LA’s recently-raised sales tax of 10.25 percent. The … Read more
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. A Southern California bar that appears to have publicly shamed four customers for leaving a $25 tip on a nearly $400 tab unleashed a social media firestorm — with a slew of enraged commenters turning the tables on the hapless establishment. The Salty Dawg Tavern in Orange … Read more
What is the world’s “trust tipping point” for artificial intelligence? While most people (66%) are comfortable using AI in their personal and professional lives, there is still a line they draw for how far they’re willing to go. A new global study of 11,000 respondents from around the world explored how AI is becoming part … Read more
Here’s a tip, California — leave one. A shocking new study of tipping habits in the fifty states conducted by restaurant tech bigwig Toast shows California in last place — with allegedly stingy Golden Staters slipping well below the 20% most Americans are now expected to pay. Californians left an average 17.1% per transaction, the dirty data … Read more
Big Apple coffee fiends are spending loads of bread on brew — but the actual cost of a cuppa is just the tip of the iceberg. NYC go-getters fueled by beans, cream and sugar are being “guilt-tripped” into tipping an average of $357 to baristas each year, warns a new report on the ever-controversial rise of tipping … Read more
Mel Robbins learned an unusual lesson about earning big tips when she worked as a waitress: Pay attention to the women at the table. The bestselling author and podcast host recently recalled advice from a “mentor-boss” at the Red Rooster Tavern in Michigan about figuring out who really influences the gratuity. “She told me when I … Read more
We’ve reached a tipping point: self-service kiosks are asking for tips, while shoppers feel pressure to tip cashiers who don’t cook a thing. At restaurants, where a tip of 15 to 20% has been standard for decades, suggested tips are climbing higher and higher. In a viral incident earlier this month, TikTok creator BD Powell … Read more
Here’s a tip that no one asked for. A self-identified waitress recently took to social media with a simple message for patrons: gratuity is not a tip. “Gratuity is gratuity, and a tip is a tip,” the woman said in a TikTok video that’s made the rounds on social media, reigniting the heated discussion surrounding … Read more
A YouTuber put Beverly Hills’ famously deep pockets to the test by spending a day delivering food around the ritzy California enclave — and walked away with a whopping $346 after scoring some jaw-dropping tips. YouTuber iamBrandon headed to the 90210 armed with a delivery bag, a $150 secondhand e-bike and zero previous DoorDash or … Read more
Princess Cruises is introducing stricter booking policies, including higher deposits and earlier final payment deadlines, fueling mixed reactions among travelers. Among the biggest changes is an update to the timeline for final payments, the cruise line confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Beginning with new bookings for sailings departing in 2027 and beyond, we … Read more
Golden State diners may be all about sunshine — but when it comes to tipping, they’re leaving servers in the shade. California diners tipped less than any other state in the nation, according to a new report that ranked the Bear Flag State dead last in restaurant generosity. The state’s overall tip rate came in … Read more
Enough is enough. There’s no denying that tipping culture in America has gotten out of hand. It doesn’t matter if it’s a $7 coffee or a hefty bill at a bougie restaurant — everyone’s hands are extended out asking for a gratuity. It’s a hot topic that everyone seems to have an opinion on, including … Read more
Passengers of Celebrity Cruises are pushing back after the cruise line raised its automatic gratuity charges with little notice, with some guests threatening to remove their payment of the fees altogether and tip crew members in cash instead. As of July 29, guests who do not prepay the gratuities will automatically pay between $19.50 and $24.50 per … Read more
Don’t forget to tip your robots. A hungry Popeyes customer visited the Great Lakes Crossing mall location in Auburn Hills, Michigan and ordered his meal at a kiosk. When it was time to pay, the self-service machine asked for a tip. The diner, who posted the exchange on a popular Facebook group called Retail Dead … Read more
Furious foodies are at tipping point. Publicly shaming patrons into leaving hefty tips for waiters is, apparently, not the slam-dunk strategy one restauranteur had hoped it would be. Now, cheesed-off chowhounds are viciously, virally blasting the boneheaded boss for bullying customers to pay his staff a decent salary. “Our servers make $3.50 [per hour]…If you can’t afford … Read more
They’re serving up attitude. A clip of two wait staffers discussing customer habits has sparked a debate on social media, after a restaurant rage bait post went viral on X. Right-wing shock jockey Royce Lopez reposted the clip from another account that allegedly featured fed-up food servers discussing the frustrating FOH (“front of house”) lifestyle. … Read more
Papa John’s is under fire for guilt-tripping messaging on their pizza delivery boxes as tipping fatigue continues to enrage customers. A viral video posted on TikTok by @sydneeee___ exposed the blatant ask, “DELIVERY FEE IS NOT A TIP. Please reward your driver for outstanding service,” and spawned thousands of comments from users who collectively feel … Read more
A Los Angeles-based food delivery driver has gone viral after sharing that she has significantly boosted her daily earnings by including her feet in the delivery confirmation photos sent to customers. Jade Phoenix shared the unique strategy on the social media platform Threads, claiming the side quest has led to a surge in customers adding … Read more
For American travelers, tipping may feel second nature, but in Europe, that instinct can backfire. While navigating new currencies and customs, small gestures like leaving loose change on a table may not translate well, travel expert Rick Steves warned. “You’re just raising the bar and messing up the local balance,” Steves wrote in a blog post. “And it’s … Read more