Man gobsmacked after shop's self-checkout machine demands 20 per cent tip

18 December 2023 , 10:26

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He was asked to leave a tip at a self-checkout machine (stock photo) (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A customer has been left scratching his head after being asked to leave a 20 per cent tip at a self-checkout machine. The American man went into a shop to quickly grab two bottled drinks - but when he went to pay, he was asked "Would you like to leave a tip?"

The machine provided him with four automated options - 'No tip', '15 per cent', '18 per cent' or 20 per cent'. But when reading over the options, he started to question who would receive the tip - believing he deserved it since he was the one carrying out the transaction.

On Reddit, he simply wrote: "I got an option to tip at the self-checkout lane." Commenting on his post, one user said: "That self-checkout screen has three kids to feed!" Another user added: "A tip for whom? Myself?" A third user said: "Tipping culture is out of control now." One more user added: "Wait…if I did the scanning and the putting things in bagging, shouldn’t I get a tip?"

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Unlike in England, where tipping is more of a personal decision than an expectation, customer service workers in America usually expect an additional 15 to 20 per cent on top of the overall bill to compensate for their service. Offering guidance for tourists on how tipping varies across the world, a statement from the the UK Post Office reads "In most of Europe, tipping is very common.

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"In many cases, it's just built into part of the bill – very similar to the UK. Tip sizes vary from country to country, but if you get stuck or you're strapped for cash – just add on 10 per cent, or round the bill up to the nearest €5 or €10.

"As in all countries, it's polite to tip porters, taxi drivers and the people cleaning your hotel room – the expected tip is much smaller than the standard in bars and restaurants. If the service has been poor, don't hesitate to hold back on the tip. As in the UK, it's meant to be a reward for good service." But for those visiting America, the UK Post Office's advice is to "tip in almost every transactional situation".

Paige Freshwater