Recently, self-checkout devices have started to request suggestions from clients

Businesses are introducing new tipping features at self-checkout machines, putting even more pressure on customers whose bank accounts have already been squeezed by inflation.

According to a recent report, businesses such as airports, bakeries, coffee shops, and sports stadiums have now introduced the self-serve tipping option. With this option, customers can leave tips of up to 20%, despite having little to no interaction with employees.

Businesses are increasingly embracing the option to increase pay for employees outside of salaries, according to WSJ. However, customers report feeling obligated to leave a tip and questioning where and to whom the additional money is actually going.

According to the newspaper, Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration professor William Michael Lynn, who studies consumer behavior and tip culture, businesses “are taking advantage of an opportunity,” and “who wouldn’t want to get extra money at very little cost if you could?”

According to The Associated Press, at the beginning of 2023, customers were already experiencing frustration as a result of unanticipated businesses requesting not only tips but also up to 30%.

In January, Fox News Digital heard from college students and a Wall Street day trader about their experiences leaving tips at drive-thru fast food restaurants and famous coffee shops like Starbucks.

“I feel like if there’s an automatic question to ask for tipping, there should be fine print stating where these tips go,” day trader Shaun MacDonald told Fox.

“It doesn’t have to be huge, but it should be in writing on the screen saying these tips help out employees or these tips go to all employees, which includes management. It should be specified.”