11 Things I Don’t Tip For, and Why You Shouldn’t Either

Tipping fatigue has reached a boiling point as Americans push back against screens demanding gratuity for tasks that barely qualify as service.

Tipping culture in the United States has officially hit a breaking point, leaving many of us staring at payment screens with a mix of confusion and guilt. It feels like every time we tap a card or sign a receipt, we are being asked to subsidize wages for jobs that never required gratuity before. Yes, you want to support service workers, but drawing a line in the sand is necessary for your bank accounts and your sanity.

We need to talk honestly about when gratuity stops being a reward for service and becomes an awkward obligation that makes zero sense. While servers and bartenders rely on tips to pay their bills, other professions have standard wages or billing structures that cover their labor costs in full. Understanding these distinctions can save you hundreds of dollars a year without making you a bad person. Here are eleven instances where keeping your wallet closed is perfectly acceptable behavior.

Teachers And Academic Tutors

Teachers are salaried government employees or private contractors who do not rely on tips to make a living. While holiday gifts are a common and lovely tradition, handing a teacher a wad of cash after class is inappropriate. Cash implies a transactional relationship that does not belong in education.

Tutors set their own hourly rates, and those rates should encompass their preparation time and travel expenses. If they need more money, they will raise their hourly fee for the next semester. Respect their professional pricing structure by paying the invoice on time rather than adding a tip. A heartfelt note from the student means more to a teacher than a ten-dollar bill.

Buying Coffee Or Takeout From A Counter

You walk up to the register, order a black coffee, and suddenly the iPad flips around asking for a 20 percent tip just for handing you a cup. It is baffling because the labor involved here is functionally identical to what fast food workers do, yet we treat it differently. According to a Bankrate survey, only 18% of Americans always tip at coffee shops, proving you are not alone in opting out. There is no table service, so feel free to hit the “no tip” button.

This expansion of tipping pressure onto counter service creates an uncomfortable dynamic where customers feel judged for simply paying the listed price. The transaction is simple: you pay for the product, they hand it to you, and the interaction ends there. If you have a complicated order or the barista goes above and beyond, throwing a dollar in the jar is a nice gesture. However, a standard transaction requires no extra payment.

Skilled Trade Professionals And Technicians

When the plumber fixes your sink or the cable guy sets up your internet, they are charging a substantial hourly rate for their expertise. These rates are calculated to cover their time, travel, and skills without needing a supplement from the homeowner. It creates a weird dynamic to hand cash to someone who might be billing you over $100 an hour. You are paying for a professional service, not a hospitality experience.

Offering a cold bottle of water or a fresh cup of coffee is a great way to show appreciation without having to open your wallet again. Many companies actually prohibit their technicians from accepting cash tips due to liability or policy issues. Save your money for the invoice, because skilled trade labor is already one of the most expensive household costs. Trust that their paycheck reflects the high value of their trade.

Flight Attendants On Your Next Trip

It might surprise you, but most airlines discourage, or even strictly forbid, flight attendants from accepting cash tips from passengers. Their primary job is safety rather than service, and handling cash can actually distract them from their core responsibilities during a flight. CNBC reports that flight attendants are not allowed to accept tips because tipping is not part of their compensation structure. Attempting to slip them a twenty can put them in an awkward position with their employer.

Instead of cash, many frequent flyers bring sealed chocolates or coffee gift cards to the crew as a thank-you gesture. These small tokens are appreciated but never expected, unlike the gratuity culture found in restaurants. If you receive exceptional service at 30,000 feet, the best thing you can do is write a letter to the airline praising them. This helps their career much more than a few dollars ever could.

Ordering Merchandise From Online Stores

We are seeing a strange trend: online checkout carts for clothing or candles ask whether you want to leave a tip for the staff. This request is completely disconnected from any personal service interaction you might have had. You are already paying shipping and handling fees, which should cover the logistics of getting the box to your door. Tipping a warehouse packer you never met for doing their job feels excessive.

Business owners should price their goods high enough to pay their fulfillment team fairly without begging customers for extra cash at checkout. If a business cannot survive without asking for donations on top of the purchase price, its business model is flawed. Do not feel guilty about skipping the tip line when you are buying physical goods online. The price tag is the price tag.

Bills That Already Include A Service Charge

Always read your receipt carefully before you sign because many restaurants now add an automatic service charge to the final bill. This happens frequently with large parties or in tourist-heavy areas like Miami, where an 18 percent charge is standard. If you add another 20 percent on top of that, you are accidentally tipping nearly 40 percent total. Math mistakes like this are how a nice dinner becomes an exorbitant expense.

A service charge is functionally the same as a tip in most establishments, meaning the staff is already taken care of. You can add a small extra amount if the service was life-changing, but it is certainly not required. Check the bottom of the receipt to see if the math has been done for you.

Self-Checkout Kiosks At Markets

This is perhaps the most infuriating development in modern commerce because a machine is asking you for a tip. You scanned your own items, bagged your own groceries, and processed your own payment without any help. According to a Pew Research Center study, 72% of Americans say tipping is expected in more places today than it was five years ago. Tipping a robot or a software system is illogical and benefits the corporation, not the worker.

There is zero justification for leaving gratuity when you performed all the labor yourself during the transaction. The money collected at these kiosks often goes into a general fund or to the business owner rather than to specific employees. Keep your finger ready to hit the “no tip” option immediately. You effectively worked for the store for five minutes, so do not pay them for the privilege.

Picking Up Food At A Drive-Thru

Speed and convenience are the whole point of a drive-thru, and that model does not traditionally support tipping. Handing a bag of burgers out of a window does not constitute table service or personalized attention. While 29% of Americans feel pressured to tip, most agree it is unnecessary for drive-thru orders. The wages for these workers are not the sub-minimum wage that waitstaff receive.

It slows down the line when the cashier has to hand out a payment terminal and wait for you to select a tip amount. You are paying for the food and the speed, nothing more. If the weather is terrible or it is a major holiday, you might make an exception, but it is not the rule. Stick to the menu price and keep the line moving for everyone else.

Visits To Nurses And Physical Therapists

Healthcare providers operate under strict ethical codes that usually prevent them from accepting money from patients. Tipping a nurse or a physical therapist can blur professional boundaries and create ethical dilemmas regarding preferential treatment. They are paid professionals who care for your health and well-being. Offering cash can actually be seen as insulting or a bribe in a clinical setting.

The cost of healthcare is already astronomical without adding an arbitrary 20 percent to your copay. Expressing gratitude with a verbal thank-you or a card is the appropriate way to handle these interactions. You would never tip your surgeon, and the same logic applies to the rest of your medical care team. Focus on your recovery rather than worrying about gratuity.

Mail Carriers And Government Employees

Federal employees are subject to very specific laws regarding what they can and cannot accept from the public. The United States Postal Service allows carriers to take small gifts worth under $20, but cash is strictly prohibited. Giving cash to a mail carrier is technically a violation of federal regulations and puts them at risk. They provide a vital public service that is funded by tax dollars and postage fees.

If you want to recognize your mail carrier during the holidays, a gift card or a box of cookies is the safest route. These workers handle your mail through rain and snow, so showing appreciation is excellent, just not with cash. Stick to the rules to make sure you do not get your favorite mail carrier in trouble. It is the thought that counts, provided the thought follows the law.

Events Where The Host Covered Gratuity

At weddings or corporate parties with an open bar, the host has typically already paid a hefty service fee to cover the bartenders. Contractually, these fees act as the tip for the staff working the event. While a tip jar might still be present on the bar, you are not obligated to fill it. The bartenders are being compensated by the person throwing the party.

It is frustrating when guests feel pressured to tip for drinks, even though the host has already shelled out thousands. If the bartender ignores other guests to serve you faster, then a dollar is appropriate. However, for standard service at a hosted event, keep your money in your pocket and enjoy the celebration. You are a guest, not a customer, in this specific scenario.

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