- A video of a TikToker denouncing the tipping culture has garnered widespread support around the world.
- He claimed a worker rolled his eyes and made fun of him when he didn’t tip for a macaroon.
- Commenters, identifying from different countries, share local tipping experiences.
In recent months, tipping culture has become an increasingly hot topic of viral debate, especially on TikTok. Users complain that they feel the pressure to tip for small transactions, stating that tipping is officially out of control.
Many of these videos appear to specifically criticize the tipping culture in the US, where automated tipping screens are ubiquitous in businesses across all industries.
Recently, however, a TikToker from the UK, where tipping is common but not usually a common practice, has sparked anger over an alleged transaction involving a single macaroon. On Monday, user @unwedvampire described a recent incident in which he said a member of staff mocked him for not tipping the treat, which cost £1.70 (or about $2.15).
The video garnered over 750,000 views and garnered widespread support from commenters, some of whom provided their own examples of absurd tipping expectations.
“Guys, tipping culture is crazy,” @unwedvampire said at the beginning of his clip. He said he went to buy “a single macaroon” and was told to add either £1, £2.50 or £5 as a tip. He did not reveal the name of the store.
“I looked at him and I was like, ‘You can’t be serious,’ I don’t tip you mate, you just tipped me, I didn’t ask you a question or anything,” he said.
After refusing to tip, he said the clerk “rolled his eyes and made fun of him.”
“Bro, let’s be honest for a second,” the TikToker continued. “Why do you feel so entitled to a tip? First, we are in the UK. Second, you did nothing. And yes, I think we should just calm down.”
A top comment with over 14,000 likes pointed out that it shouldn’t be up to the individual consumer to adequately finance the lives of service employees.
“You have to pay the waiters normal wages that they could just about live on,” said the commentator; “I will NEVER fall for the guilt,” wrote another top commenter. “Be as CRAZY as you want, I don’t tip.”
Some viewers were surprised to learn that people in the UK face similar pressures as the US: “Does the UK tip?” one person wrote.
Commentators, who identify as residents of different countries – from Germany and Costa Rica to Singapore and Australia – say they are amazed to learn about this modern topic.
“I’m from the Philippines and tipping is optional… I’m really confused about this whole ‘tipping culture,'” said one user. “Thank god I live in Asia,” one person commented.
“We also tip in Greece, but only when you are being served [something]”Not when you’re waiting at the counter to get what you ordered,” added another. “McDonald’s doesn’t tip.”
Despite the overwhelming support, the poster also drew some opposing opinions. One person challenged him to remember that the worker’s job is probably not just handing him the macaroons. “There is a shop to clean, machines to clean, probably tables, cutlery and so on,” they wrote. “With tips we can buy lunch or pay for transport.”
This video is very reminiscent of other similar videos highlighting the tipping culture on the platform. In May, a woman said an employee got mad at her for not tipping a $2 bag at Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop. Another video this month, which racked up over 1.4 million views, was about an exchange in which she claimed her daughter was ignored by a clerk at a bagel shop and then asked for a tip for a pickup order.
The hashtag for “tipping culture” has over 115 million views on TikTok and is full of people railing against modern tipping culture, as well as skits and memes satirizing various situations. A viral video showed a woman showing her newborn baby a notification screen.
Insider reached out to @UnwedVampire for comment.