Should you tip at restaurants if you have to order through your phone?
A recent outing with friends raised an interesting debate amongst the group.
I've always tipped at restaurants. Honestly, even if the food is average, I'm likely to leave a tip. I just think it's the polite thing to do (though I understand others who don't agree).
However, a recent dining experience in Hull made me wonder if it was necessarily the 'right' thing to do.
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Nowadays, plenty of restaurants ask you to scan QR codes at the table, order and pay all on your mobile phone. They ask if you want to tip - and I always tick yes.
But on this occasion, my friend said she would not be tipping and I looked at her slightly puzzled. Since the Covid lockdown and while still living in a cost of living crisis, I've always just assumed that everyone tips - I almost see it as 'doing your part' to help out.
My friend however raised an interesting point. She asked why would I tip for a service I had not yet received. What if the food was bad, she asked?
Don't get me wrong, my friend does tip at restaurants, just not when paying in advance. In her mind, a tip is meant to be for the good service - and how can you pay for that when you've not received it yet?
Of course this is not the fault of the staff, but I did wonder if the introduction of technology and apps like these had an impact on the amount of tips they now made. Surely if my friend felt this way, there would be plenty of others out there too.
Or perhaps like me, you tip regardless and keep your fingers crossed for good service and quality food.
We'd like to hear from you. Should you tip at restaurants if you have to order through your phone? Have your say in the poll below.