Tipping should be an extra that customers choose to give voluntarily for good service. However, over time, it has become an industry obligation, even if customer service, food, or place is not the best. That is why many people applaud a restaurant in New Jersey that announces that tips are not accepted at its locations. It’s true that tips help many people make ends meet, but fair wages should be a concern for companies, not for employees or customers.
Redditor jojosalwayslost on r/EndTipping shared a photo of a New Jersey restaurant informing customers that it does not accept tips. The restaurant in question is Dim Sum Station, which currently has three locations in the state. But what makes the restaurant and the sign unique is that they themselves acknowledge that the tipping culture is out of control. Since Dim Sum Station is a self-service restaurant, and for that reason the owners don’t see the need to leave a tip. However, on this same subreddit, there are many posts where self-check machines or self-service restaurants do ask for extra cash even though there is no customer service.
In addition to that big plus point for Dim Sum Station, OP added in comments that they are an affordable restaurant with delicious dishes. No wonder OP also said, ‘Wish more self-service restaurants were like this!‘ as a caption.
With such good publicity, many Redditors feel tempted to try the restaurant, no matter where its locations are. ‘Yeah, I’d go out of my way to eat there,’ said RocketLabBeatsSpaceX.
Fortunately, Dim Sum Station isn’t the only restaurant implementing this no-tipping culture. For example, crazyk4952 commented, “Someone has built a website where people can report ‘tip pressure’ for different businesses,” and added the link. For the web page, it seems this foundation was established by and for customers. This is to help others identify restaurants that impose hidden charges, pressure for tips, fail to accurately reflect menu prices, and engage in other questionable practices. Anyone who disagrees with these tactics can sign up on the website to add restaurants or find out which ones have these unexpected charges in their area.
Tipping is not inherently a good or a bad thing. The issue lies in the blurred boundaries between scammy company tactics and some pushy workers. Tips are very helpful, but you shouldn’t beg, create a nonsense charge, or pressure others to get them.