28 Places We Are Pressured to Leave A Tip (But We Don’t Need To)

Tipping used to be simple. You left a little extra at a restaurant or for a hotel staff member who went above and beyond. It was a way to show appreciation for great service. But somewhere along the way, tipping got out of control.
Now, everywhere we go, we’re met with a screen asking if we want to add 20%, 25%, or even more to the total. Suddenly, we’re tipping for things that never used to require a tip, and it’s making every little purchase feel just a bit more expensive.
A recent USA Today survey found that 63% of people believe too many places are now asking for tips. Nearly half say they’re just tired of it. Tipping, once reserved for genuine service, has become an expectation in places where it doesn’t seem to belong.
So let’s break it down. We’re going to look at 28 places where tipping has become common, but maybe shouldn’t be. Some of these might surprise you. Others you’ve probably already questioned yourself.
Do you feel like tipping is getting out of hand? Let’s go through the list and see how many of these places have asked you for an extra dollar or two.
Table of Contents
Fast Food Restaurants

Fast food used to mean grabbing a quick meal without any extra steps. You order at the counter, take your food, and go. But now, tip jars are showing up next to the registers, and digital payment screens nudge you toward adding a little extra.
The thing is, fast food was never about personalized service. There’s no table-side assistance or someone refilling your drink. It’s a simple transaction, but the expectation to tip is creeping in.
If tipping becomes the norm here, does that mean “fast” and “affordable” food won’t be so fast or affordable anymore?
Coffee Shops

Coffee shops have turned tipping into a moment of social pressure. You order a latte, tap your card, and suddenly, a screen pops up asking if you want to tip 15%, 20%, or more. The barista is standing right there, waiting.
A simple coffee run now comes with a moment of hesitation. The price already reflects the cost of making and serving that drink, yet tipping feels almost mandatory.
It used to be that you tipped if you lingered in a café for hours, taking up space. Now, even if you’re just grabbing a black coffee to go, there’s an expectation to pay more.
Food Trucks

Food trucks were supposed to be the casual, no-fuss alternative to sit-down restaurants. You walk up, place an order, and get your food in a paper tray, simple.
But now, those card readers with preset tip percentages are everywhere, making it feel like tipping is expected just for handing you a burger in a parking lot. It raises the question: where’s the line between counter service and full-service tipping?
If you wouldn’t tip at a hot dog stand, why is a food truck any different?
Ice Cream Shops

Even something as simple as getting ice cream now comes with a tipping prompt. Some shops have tip jars. Others have digital payment systems that ask for gratuity. But here’s where it gets weird: some places let you scoop your own ice cream and still ask for a tip at checkout.
When you’re doing most of the work yourself, what exactly are you tipping for? A fun treat turns into an awkward moment at the register, making you second-guess why a cone now costs more than what’s on the menu.
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Takeout Orders

Tipping used to be reserved for table service, where someone brought your meal, refilled your drinks, and checked on you throughout your visit. Now, even picking up your own food comes with a prompt for gratuity.
Many restaurants started pushing this during the pandemic, and the trend never went away. But if you’re already paying for the meal and taking care of the entire process yourself, is the extra charge justified?
With rising food costs, adding another fee to takeout makes some people rethink if it’s worth the splurge.
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Hotel Housekeeping

Leaving a tip for housekeeping has long been an unspoken rule, but it’s become more of an expectation in recent years. Some hotels even leave envelopes in the room, gently reminding guests to tip.
But isn’t cleaning the room part of what you’re already paying for in the nightly rate? On longer stays, it makes sense to show appreciation for consistent service, but when you’re only there for a night or two, should you really be leaving extra cash?
Maybe hotels should focus on paying their staff fairly instead of nudging guests to fill the gap.
Pharmacies

Pharmacies are places where people go for essentials, prescriptions, over-the-counter medicine, maybe a quick chat with the pharmacist. Lately, though, some have started putting tip jars at the register, making an already expensive errand feel even heavier.
Pharmacists and cashiers are professionals who are already compensated for their expertise. Unlike in restaurants or salons, tipping here feels completely out of place.
The last thing anyone wants when picking up antibiotics or allergy meds is to feel guilty about not leaving extra change at checkout.
Valet Parking

Using valet parking already comes with a service fee, yet tipping on top of that is practically expected. It’s one of those situations where not tipping feels wrong, even though you’ve technically already paid for the service.
It raises a bigger question: if a business is charging for a service, why is the worker’s pay still dependent on tips? This double charge can make people think twice about using valet at all, opting to park a little farther away instead of dealing with the awkward moment at pickup.
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Buffet Servers

Buffets are a self-serve experience. You fill your own plate, get your own refills at soda stations, and only interact with staff when they clear your plates. Yet, the expectation to tip remains, sometimes at the same percentage as full-service restaurants.
It’s not that buffet workers don’t deserve fair pay, it’s just that the entire setup doesn’t match traditional tipping rules. When most of the dining experience is self-directed, it’s fair to wonder if tipping should be treated the same as in a place where a server takes care of everything.
Delivery Services (Non-Food)

Ordering groceries, packages, or even furniture online often comes with a delivery fee. Yet, when the driver drops off your order, you’re prompted to tip.
These apps and services charge extra fees already, so where does that money go if the worker still needs tips to make a fair wage?
The rise of gig work has blurred the lines between standard wages and tip-based pay, leaving customers wondering if they’re covering the worker’s income or just adding to corporate profits.
Pet Shops

Getting a pet groomed or buying specialty pet food can be expensive, but lately, tipping has become part of the process. Groomers are professionals, often charging premium rates for their services.
So when you see a tip option at checkout, it feels like an extra charge on an already pricey visit. If pet care costs keep rising, will tipping expectations push more owners to delay grooming or skip professional services altogether?
Convenience Stores

Convenience stores are built around speed. You walk in, grab what you need, and check out. There’s no table service, no special treatment, just a transaction.
Yet, some stores are now putting tip jars at the register, subtly suggesting that paying for your snacks or soda isn’t enough. This trend turns an everyday errand into an unnecessary decision: should you tip for something you’ve always done yourself?
It makes a simple stop feel unexpectedly complicated.
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Gas Station Attendants

In states where gas station attendants pump fuel for you, there’s now an expectation to tip, even though it’s a required service. Unlike a valet or restaurant worker, these employees aren’t going above and beyond, they’re simply doing what the job requires.
For drivers passing through unfamiliar areas, this expectation can catch them off guard. It’s another example of tipping creeping into places where it never used to be a factor, making people question where the line should be drawn.
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Hair Salons and Barbers

Getting a haircut already comes with a price tag that reflects the stylist’s skill and experience. Even so, tipping is treated as an unspoken rule. Many customers feel pressured to add a significant amount, especially at higher-end salons.
Some stylists rent their own space and set their own rates, so if pricing is in their control, should tipping still be expected? The cost of grooming keeps rising, and with the push for bigger tips, many start to wonder if the listed prices should already account for fair pay.
Dry Cleaners

Dropping off clothes for dry cleaning is a straightforward transaction. The service has a set price, and there’s no direct, personalized interaction that would normally justify tipping.
Some locations have started placing tip jars on the counter, which adds an awkward moment when paying. If prices already cover the cleaning process, what exactly is the tip supposed to reward?
It turns a routine errand into another place where tipping suddenly feels expected.
Furniture Delivery

Furniture stores often charge a separate fee for delivery, yet tipping the workers has become an added expectation. These deliveries can be expensive, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars. If there’s already a service charge, should customers feel obligated to pay more?
The lack of clear guidelines makes this even trickier, some companies encourage tipping, while others say it’s not required. Customers end up feeling unsure, caught between wanting to be polite and wondering why the initial fee doesn’t cover everything.
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Moving Services

Hiring movers is a costly service, but even after paying for their time and effort, tipping is often brought up as an expectation. The work is demanding, no doubt, but if the company is setting the rates, shouldn’t fair wages already be included?
Moving is already one of the most expensive services people pay for, so adding a hefty tip on top can make the final bill much higher than expected.
It creates another moment where customers are left second-guessing if they’re paying a fair price or just covering for a company that doesn’t want to pay enough.
Ride-Sharing Services

Using a ride-sharing app used to be simple: book a trip, pay the fare, and get to your destination. Then tipping became a built-in part of the experience, with the app prompting customers after every ride.
The price already includes service fees, yet there’s still an expectation to add more. With rising fare prices and fluctuating rates, the cost of getting around can quickly become unpredictable.
Customers are left wondering if the fare itself should be higher to ensure drivers earn enough without needing extra tips.
Tour Guides

Paying for a guided tour already includes the cost of the experience. Despite this, guides often expect a tip at the end, which can be an unexpected expense for travelers.
Many tourists assume the ticket price covers everything, only to find out later that tipping is encouraged. It makes budgeting for a trip more complicated and leaves visitors wondering if they should have planned for extra costs.
When the service is already paid for upfront, the tipping expectation can feel like a surprise charge.
Freelance Service Providers

Hiring a photographer, musician, or other freelance professional usually means paying a price they set themselves. Since they control their rates, tipping hasn’t traditionally been expected.
Lately, though, some freelancers have started suggesting gratuity on invoices or payment screens. This shift makes people wonder if the quoted price is the full amount or just a starting point.
If a service provider sets their own pricing, should tipping even be part of the equation?
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Repair Services

Plumbers, electricians, and other repair professionals already charge hourly rates or flat fees for their work. Yet some customers now feel pressure to tip on top of that, especially when paying through digital invoices that include a gratuity option.
These services aren’t cheap to begin with, and tipping adds another layer to an already high cost. If the price reflects the skill and labor involved, why should extra payment be necessary?
It makes home repairs feel even more expensive than they already are.
Home Services

House cleaners, landscapers, and pool maintenance workers provide essential services that already have set rates. While tipping for occasional work has always been optional, recurring service providers are now starting to expect it.
Customers may not know if gratuity is included in the pricing or if they should add more to avoid seeming unappreciative. This uncertainty turns basic home upkeep into another situation where tipping feels required instead of optional.
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Grocery Stores

Checking out at a grocery store has always been a simple process, you load up your cart, pay for your items, and head out. Lately, some stores have started adding tip jars at registers, making customers rethink an errand that never involved tipping before.
Bagging groceries is part of the job, just like ringing up purchases. When digital screens suggest tipping for a cashier who simply scans items, it makes people wonder if tipping culture has gone too far.
Retail Stores

Some retail locations have introduced tipping for additional services, like gift wrapping or curbside pickup. Customers assume these conveniences are already part of the shopping experience, but now they’re being prompted to add gratuity.
Since store employees are hourly workers, tipping wasn’t something shoppers ever had to think about before. This change makes people question if basic customer service is being rebranded as an extra service that requires an extra fee.
Food Delivery Apps

Ordering takeout through an app means paying delivery fees, service fees, and sometimes even small order fees. Yet tipping is still pushed as a necessity, with apps defaulting to high tip amounts.
If all these fees are already in place, where does the money actually go? Customers end up feeling like they’re paying multiple charges for the same service, making food delivery more expensive than expected.
Without clear transparency on how drivers are paid, it’s hard to know if tipping is a bonus or a necessity.
Personal Services

Tattoo artists, nail technicians, and massage therapists often have their own pricing structures, yet tipping has become an unwritten rule in these industries. The services themselves aren’t cheap, and adding an extra percentage at the end makes them even pricier.
Many customers assume that if the rates are set by the professional, they should already account for fair pay. The line between tipping as appreciation and tipping as an expectation keeps getting blurrier.
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Self-Checkout Machines

Checking out at a grocery store or pharmacy used to be a simple process, but now even self-checkout kiosks are asking for tips. Customers do all the work, scanning items, bagging groceries, and handling payment, yet a gratuity prompt appears at the end.
If there’s no employee directly assisting with the transaction, what exactly is the tip for? The expectation to pay extra on a fully automated process makes little sense. It turns a convenient option into another moment of hesitation at the register.
Drive-Thru Windows

Fast-food drive-thrus were always about speed, order, pay, pick up, and go. But now, tipping requests have made their way into this quick exchange. Digital payment systems present suggested amounts, making drivers pause before completing their purchase.
There’s no table service, no personalized experience, just a transaction through a window. When tipping becomes expected at places designed for efficiency, it changes how people think about grabbing a meal on the go.
The Tipping Overload

Tipping used to be a way to reward great service, but now it feels like it’s everywhere. Simple transactions that never involved tipping before are turning into moments of pressure at the register.
Digital screens make saying no awkward, even when no extra service was provided. When businesses shift pay expectations onto customers, it raises the question, are we tipping out of appreciation or just because it’s expected?
Maybe it’s time to rethink where the line should be drawn.
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