12 Times When It’s Ok to Skip Tipping

Tipping culture has been getting a bit out of hand. I love tipping for good service. I tip servers, housekeeping, hair stylists, tattoo artists, and bartenders. But what about other professions? Should you also tip the plumber? Or what about a retail worker?

Here are 14 times when it’s OK not to tip or its not expected at all.

1. Online Orders

I always tip at sit-down restaurants, but what about ordering online for pick-up? The short answer is no. The people preparing, cooking, and organizing your food make more than a server.

You can always leave a tip if you want, but all they did was the bare minimum. I’d prefer to tip servers instead of cooks who make significantly more hourly wages.

2. During Pick-up

This is connected to the first bit above. Generally, I don’t give tips when I’m picking up food, regardless of how I ordered it. Online ordering is easiest, but even if I call to pick up food, I don’t leave a tip.

Generally, the employees who handle pick-up orders aren’t servers. They are chefs, cashiers, and general restaurant staff handling phones.

3. Kiosks

Recently, while ordering food at a local ramen shop at a kiosk, it asked if I wanted to tip. But tip who? The ‘person’ who took my order was practically a touchscreen computer.

There is nothing wrong with tipping local shops. I do it all the time. But maybe skip providing a tip until after you get your food and not at a kiosk.

4. Buffet (Kind-Of)

Buffets are a funny one. I’ve had debates with family members over whether you tip at a buffet or not. Technically, you receive some service while at a buffet.

Buffet workers give you clean plates and take away the dirty ones. They also provide you with refills. However, you’re the one getting up and serving your food. I tip at buffets but not at 20%.

5. Fast Food

Skip tipping at a fast food restaurant. Fast food is all about quickness, not necessarily customer service. You don’t have to sit at a table and get waited on.

Fast food workers also make a lot more than servers hourly. For instance, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, fast food and counter workers make an average of $14.48 an hour. The federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13.

6. Coffee Shops

I tip at coffee shops, but you don’t have to. Most baristas make more than minimum wage, and with tips, they earn a lot more an hour. Even if one or two people tip in the same hour, it’s a win!

When I worked at a coffee shop, I never expected tips. Instead, they were a nice surprise.

7. The Trades

People in the trades make good money. Most of the time, they aren’t expecting tips. You don’t have to tip anyone working in construction, HVAC, electricity, general maintenance, welding, or plumbing.

Entry-level HVAC workers make about $28 an hour. With years of experience, HVAC workers can easily earn over six figures a year. An extra ten or twenty is appreciated, but not standard.

8. Included Gratuity

If you’ve ever dined with a large group, you’ve probably seen the words ‘included gratuity’ on the bill. Some restaurants charge a tip, so you don’t have to. This protects their workers.

Honestly, once I see a gratuity charge, I seldom tip more. I only tip more if the service is the best and I have the funds.

9. Grocery Stores

Grocery store workers don’t need tips. It’s not standard or part of their job description. Some grocery store companies don’t allow workers to accept tips like Publix.

Instead of tipping grocery store workers, you can tip grocery delivery drivers. This way, you don’t get anyone in trouble and give a little extra to someone who shopped, drove, and organized your groceries for you.

10. Medical Professionals

I’ve never heard of anyone tipping a medical professional. They aren’t taking your orders or serving you food. Medical professionals also make a lot of money.

For instance, in 2022, the average physician in the United States earned $227,180. Some doctors even earn over $300,000 a year! A tip doesn’t do much for them.

11. Lawyers

Like doctors, you don’t need to tip lawyers. Sure, they are specialists in their fields and took years to study and pass the appropriate exams, but they make more than enough.

It isn’t standard in law. In the U.S, the average lawyer earned $135,740 in 2022. However, the number was as high as $208,980. Even on the low end, lawyers make close to $100,000.

12. Retail Workers

Last but not least are retail workers. You don’t need to pay retail workers. They make at least $7.25 an hour and in most cases, a lot more.

Retail workers do all kinds of tasks at work covered in their job descriptions and wages. They clean the floors, fold clothes, stock aisles, work the registers, and help find items for customers.