If They Want More, They Should Raise Their Prices
A man’s exasperation with tipping culture has hit a new level after being prompted to tip by the owner of a food truck. He made his frustrations known in a TikTok video that has garnered over 474,000 views. The content creator, Jerry (@better.call.hall), shares his thoughts on why tipping has gone completely off the rails in the U.S.
“You ever seen that video where the guy says, ‘If I have to pay before I get my food, I’m not tipping’? Well, I’ve adopted that policy, I took that to heart,” Jerry states as he opens his tale of woe.
Jerry explains how, after getting dinner at a food truck, the owner flipped his point-of-sale system around, prompting him for a tip.
“Who the f*** is the tip for?” he indignantly asks.
Jerry elaborates, “You own this food truck. You set the prices of your food. You generate your own paycheck. If you want more money, raise the price of your f***ing food.”
Adding background to his frustration, Jerry shares that, in his teens and early twenties, he worked every back-of-house job in the restaurant industry. He mentions that tips were traditionally for employees paid below minimum wage, designed to supplement their meager earnings. The expectation to tip the owner of a food truck, then, makes absolutely no sense to him.
“Imagine that scenario anywhere other than a food truck. You walk into your local TGI Fridays, enjoy a meal, leave a few bucks on the table for the franchise owner for the good work they’re doing. No! You wouldn’t f***ing do that,” Jerry argues.
“I’d rather pay $15 for my meal upfront than pay $12 and feel guilted into tipping the other $3,” he concludes as his video draws to a dramatic end.
Viewers Weigh In
In the comments section, viewers shared their own exasperated takes on tipping culture.
“My rule is if I stand at a counter, sit in my vehicle to order, fill my own drinks, or bus my own table, no tip. Tips are for service during a meal, not just the preparation of my order,” one user expressed firmly.
“I get tipping waiters at small businesses. But why can’t corporation-run restaurants just pay a livable wage and stop relying on customers to cover their employees’ salaries?” another viewer questioned in frustration.
“I’ve stopped going to any restaurant because of this nonsense,” commented yet another viewer.
“I think a lot of these apps automatically show a tip screen. They’re not always expecting a tip. Some are embarrassed that it even asks,” countered another user, offering a sliver of empathy.
What is ‘Tipping Fatigue’ and Are POS Systems to Blame?
Tipping culture in the U.S. continues to be an incendiary topic. According to the National Restaurant Association, one of the cons of modern POS systems is that they often don’t allow customers to complete a transaction without selecting a tip amount—either a percentage or a dollar figure—or choosing explicitly not to tip.
This constant bombardment has led to “tipping fatigue”—a phenomenon where consumers feel pressured to tip in situations where it traditionally wasn’t expected and at percentages that make them uncomfortable. This fatigue is exacerbated by digital systems prompting for tips in stores, restaurants, and businesses that—or so we thought—had no business asking for them.
To ease this pressure and ensure customers have a positive dining experience, the National Restaurant Association recommends that eateries clearly communicate their tipping policies. They should decide whether to use dollar amounts or percentage-based suggestions for tips on their POS. For quicker service restaurants, small dollar suggestions are more appropriate, while percentage-based suggestions work better for dine-in establishments. And as always, delivering excellent service should be a priority.
Final Thoughts from Karen
Tipping used to be a nod to appreciation, a little extra for the extra mile. Now it’s a minefield filled with guilt trips and presumptions. Owning a food truck comes with pricing power; use it wisely. Don’t guilt-trip your customers into paying more because you’re too spineless to set a fair price from the get-go.
Maybe it’s time for all of us to put our foot down and stop this lunacy of tipping inflation. Want more money? Improve your service or hike your prices—quit making us responsible for your financial planning failures. And that’s my two cents—or should I upcharge you for it?
