Customer satisfaction and tipping

In North America, tipping is an unfair system built into the status quo by law. Restaurants aren’t allowed to easily spread tips around, and as a result, they tend to to exacerbate many of the inequities in our culture at the same time that they make it hard to count on a fair wage in one of the largest industries in the world.

That said, one reason for the stickiness of tipping is that the act of doing it offers benefits to the customers.

The first is ritual. It’s what we grew up doing, and leaving it out feels awkward.

The second is control. The person leaving a tip is given a vivid reminder of their power as a customer. “To insure prompt service” might not be the origin of the term, but it can feel that way. It gives the customer a sense of control.

In North America, tipping is an unfair system built into the status quo by law. Restaurants aren’t allowed to easily spread tips around, and as a result, they tend to to exacerbate many of the inequities in our culture at the same time that they make it hard to count on a fair wage in one of the largest industries in the world.

That said, one reason for the stickiness of tipping is that the act of doing it offers benefits to the customers.

The first is ritual. It’s what we grew up doing, and leaving it out feels awkward.

The second is control. The person leaving a tip is given a vivid reminder of their power as a customer. “To insure prompt service” might not be the origin of the term, but it can feel that way. It gives the customer a sense of control.