Is it Okay to Skip Tipping in These Situations?

A 28-year-old Redditor is stuck in a very modern tipping nightmare, bubble tea receipts, and a couple of “wait, I didn’t do anything” moments. They’re the kind of person who usually tips 20% at sit-down restaurants, but last week they started noticing how often the screen asks for extra money even when they watched the whole process happen right in front of them.

It went down at two similarly priced bubble tea spots. In one place, they ordered $3.50 worth of bubble tea, watched the barista make it in about 30 seconds, and then the card reader automatically offered a tip. In another, they set the tip to $0, and the waitress frowned at the receipt before continuing to make the drink anyway. Then they took it further at a normally sit-down restaurant, ordering takeout udon that was ready in three minutes, with no one waiting on them at all.

Now they’re wondering if they’re the jerk for skipping tips in these exact scenarios.

Original Post

On mobile so formatting might get messed up. I understand that at sitdown restaurants it is courtesy to tip, and I make sure to give a good 20% tip every time I go to them, but here are some situations that I ran into last week that make me question whether I should always tip.

1. I got $3.50 bubble tea, and saw the barista make it in 30 seconds right in front of me, and when I swipe my card I get an option to tip.

I saw no reason to tip. 2.

This happened in another, similarly priced bubble tea place. After filling out $0 as the tip in the receipt the waitress looked at the receipt, frowned, and then proceeded to make the bubble tea.

It took 2 minutes to make and I walked up to the counter to pick it up, as all customers do. I dont think that simply filling out an order calls for a tip.

3. I ordered a takeout udon bowl at a normally sitdown restaurant, and it was ready in 3 minutes.

Because no one waited me and all that happened was an order was filled out, I dont think I need to fill out a tip. AITA for not paying tips in these scenarios?

Comment from u/Korjos

Comment from u/PebblesV

Comment from u/LissyVee

Comment from u/[deleted]

Comment from u/dutchapplekatty

Comment from u/BellaBlue06

This is similar to the AITA parent who skipped Thanksgiving hosting after a newborn changed everything.

Comment from u/VelveteenAmbush

Comment from u/KFCNyanCat

Comment from u/dreamer4523

Comment from u/redditKMC

Comment from u/[deleted]

Comment from u/insufferable_prick_

The first red flag hits when they order $3.50 bubble tea, watch it get made in 30 seconds, and still get a tip prompt at checkout.

Things get awkward at the second bubble tea place when they choose $0, the waitress frowns at the receipt, and then still makes the drink in about two minutes.

The pattern continues at the sit-down restaurant where they order takeout udon, no one waits on them, and the bowl is ready in three minutes.

By the time they compare these three moments, OP is left staring at the same question, are they skipping tips for “service,” or just refusing to pay for the touchscreen default?

We're curious to hear your perspective. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Nobody wants to feel judged for tapping $0, especially when they watched the whole order get made.

Want another tradition-tipping dilemma, read how a stressed host split her family over Christmas?