Woman shares how Starbucks barista tricks customers into paying tips every time they make a purchase

It is often difficult for people to be mindful of the exact amount paid when going to Starbucks. In case you did not know, Starbucks card machines now have an option where the customer can choose what amount to tip the barista. But when people are in a rush, baristas can take advantage of the situation by making them tap their cards and making a bit of extra cash. TikTok user Zo - who goes on the platform by @zosfaceaccount_ - shared valuable insights for other customers in her recent post, revealing that a "certain barista" would make her tap her card for tips every single time for two months.

The woman starts the video by saying, "Long story short, I get a drink from Starbucks every single day." She then goes on to mention how they introduced the tipping option that ranged from small tips to not tipping at all. The woman mentions that she tips them whenever she can, being a frequent customer. However, one barista kept collecting tips from her for two months using this mechanism.

She says, "I look back and like my $7 or $8 drink is like $9 or $10. So imagine doing that all day." The creator is not happy that the barista is "hustling" her out of her money and how they would make decent money even without forcing customers to tip. She then talks about how the $2 or $3 extra tips on a drink every day would add up over time to form a substantial amount. The woman concludes the video, by saying, "That barista's killing it."

@anneliesjschou10 commented, "I certainly am not tipping at Starbucks. I can barely afford the drink in the first place." @sentinus_1 said, "The sad thing is the money doesn't even go to the barista. It all goes to partners." @nazanin_srd said, "Just order it on the app and go pick it up. You don't have to deal with anything or anybody." @whadup1 said, "Over my dead body will I tip at Starbucks. They get paid more than minimum wage, too."

Tipping has always been a topic of debate in the services industry. According to Forbes, the digital tipping system many companies have adopted has caused more tipping fatigue and confusion among customers. They conducted a digital survey that provided some interesting insights. The survey revealed that approximately 95% of individuals tipped at least sometimes, while 76% said they tip always or often.

As for the amount, the majority of individuals revealed that they tipped an average of 11% to 20% of the total bill. Interestingly, it was found that people tip more when paying digitally. 65% of individuals reported having tipped at least 11% more when they did it digitally. It was also found that one in three people felt pressured to tip and 18% reported feeling uncomfortable about tipping. The tipping amount was influenced by the quality of service (72%) and personal budget (56%).

These statistics reveal that people working in the service industry are tipped adequately. So, the woman's concern about being forced to tip is understandable. It's best to be more mindful and ask for a breakdown of the price when purchasing items in general.