'Generous tipper' says tipping culture is getting out of hand: '20% tip to make eye contact is crazy'

Tipping has always sparked debate, but an X post from journalist Billy Binion (@billybinion) is giving people fresh reason to talk about how far things have gone. In his post, Binion admitted he usually tips generously, but said some expectations no longer make sense. "Tipping culture is out of control. I'm a generous tipper. But 20% for someone to make eye contact & hand me a muffin is crazy. Restaurants widely suggesting people tip 30% now is kookoo bananas. At this rate, we'll soon be tipping the price of the meal. Make it stop," he wrote.

The frustration didn’t stop there. In the replies, he explained how digital payment systems are now pushing higher tips as the default. "I also really can't get over how POS systems are now using 20% tips as the minimum. Went somewhere recently that began at 25%, going to 35%. I'm not tipping a third of the price unless you defeat Gordon Ramsay in hand-to-hand combat. And I'd still have to think about it," he wrote. Binion also described the awkwardness that comes with refusing to tip in situations where no service is really provided. "I always feel like a sociopath when I select 'no tip' after buying, say, a $7 coffee. I should not feel that way. Someone took my money for a drink I already paid too much for, poured liquid in a cup, and handed it to me. Why is a tip merited there? What are we doing here?"

This tipping pressure has been highlighted a lot recently. A paper in the International Journal of Hospitality Management found that pre-service tipping prompts cause stronger negative emotions in customers, including guilt and discomfort. The study noted that higher suggested defaults, like 25% or 30%, made people feel pressured and less in control, while lower suggestions reduced those reactions. Customers were also more likely to view tip requests before service as unfair or illegitimate.

A lot of readers shared the same frustration in the comments. @haile_jr_ commented, "Totally agree! Tipping for to-go orders is wild. Called a local spot, paid over the phone, and they asked for a tip before I even got the food. No service, just a card swipe. Outrageous!"  @summermar2025 added, "Here in Europe, we have a concept where the employer pays the employees' salaries, and we consumers pay the price the goods and services are tagged with." @jamesharrigan wrote, "Yesterday, I was offered three default tip amounts: 20, 25, and 30 percent. This is obviously intended to get you to choose 25. Sorry, choosing 20 doesn't make me a cheapskate!

Not everyone agreed with Binion’s take. @jakefromgeorgia replied, "No one is forcing you to tip anywhere. But this 'anti-tipping culture' thing has led people to regularly tipping under 10% in FINE DINING. Y’all complain about the people who you think do nothing, but it gives license to people to stop tipping folks doing a hell of a lot more than ringing you up at the register." Others defended tipping as a way to support workers. @michelletandler said, "I feel the complete opposite. Most workers who accept tips aren't earning a substantial amount. I believe that giving a generous tip is a great way to express gratitude and show appreciation. Nobody ever feels too appreciated."

More on Scoop Upworthy

Waiter rejects $25 tip from diner customer for being too small, reigniting the debate on tipping

Server urges customers to tip as 'compliments don't pay bills,' sparking debate

Restaurant manager chases customer down for not leaving a generous tip, sparking heated debate