Customers face pressure to tip at self-checkout systems in US and say they’re tired of ’emotional blackmail’

Self-service machines in cafes, sports stadiums and airports ask for tips, and people aren’t eager to hand over more cash. The Wall Street Journal covered the rise of digital self-checkout kiosks and how shoppers reacted to requests for tips.

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What is self-payment?

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Self-checkout, also known as self-checkout or automated checkout, is a technology-based system in retail stores and other establishments that allows customers to scan, bag, and pay for their items without the assistance of a cashier or checkout staff.

Where are people asked to tip, even at self-checkout counters?

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According to the Journal, many consumers who were asked to tip staff with whom they had no interaction became irritated by these requests. The investigation interviewed half a dozen clients from across the United States. Although some were willing to pay the additional fees, most said the tip signs were confusing and many weren’t sure where the money was going.

According to the Journal, a consumer who ordered a beer from a self-serve cooler at San Diego’s Petco Park was asked to include a tip in his order. “He was confused because it wasn’t entirely clear who he was tipping,” he explained to the Journal, adding that he still tipped 20%.

Why is it happening?

According to a representative of the stadium, home of the San Diego Padres, all notices were given to staff. According to the Journal, a tourist who was asked to leave a 10% to 20% tip for a $6 bottle of water at an OTG gift shop at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey described the request as “blackmail.” emotional”.

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The consumer did not leave a tip. According to an OTG representative, all tip money is collected and then distributed to staff members working that particular shift.

How is it affecting people?

Tipping has been an increasingly contentious issue in the United States, with many people experiencing “tip fatigue” as they are asked to tip in more places and face the effects of inflation. Landlords have taken to TikTok to advocate for a tip to be added to rent, while Maryland’s first unionized Apple store is campaigning for the implementation of a tipping system.

Customers, however, haven’t stopped tipping: Total tips received by full-service restaurants and quick-service restaurants increased 16.5% and 15.86%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to a spokesperson for the Block payment platform. This data includes all tips received, not just those from self-service kiosks.

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Source: vtt.edu.vn

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