Find out how you’re wasting money on tips that should never be expected.
Are you tipping for things that make zero sense? You’re not alone in this bizarre new world where everyone’s got their hand out—even the self-checkout machine. What used to be a way to say “thank you” for great service has spiraled into an exhausting game of guilt and confusion. Now, you’re being nudged to tip for tasks so basic, it’s hard not to laugh. Or cry. Or both.
Let’s walk through 11 situations that absolutely do not deserve a tip—so you can keep your dollars for the people who truly earn them.
1. You Shouldn’t Tip Just for Opening a Bottle of Water
There you are, grabbing a bottle of water from a counter or mini fridge, and suddenly you’re face-to-face with a tip jar—or worse, a digital screen asking for 15%, 20%, or even more. For what, exactly? For twisting off a cap? Unless the person handed you a bottle of water and gave you a pep talk, adjusted your chakras, and filtered the water through Himalayan crystals, this is not a tipping moment.
Handing someone a sealed beverage does not constitute “service,” according to writers at Restaurant Engine. It’s a transaction as basic as it gets. Tipping here sets a weird precedent—like you’re rewarding someone for standing still. Save your hard-earned dollars for folks actually breaking a sweat, like the server who keeps your coffee cup full or the delivery driver dodging traffic to bring you dinner.
2. You Don’t Need to Tip a Self-Checkout Machine
It’s 2025, and even machines are asking for tips now. You scan your groceries, bag them, hit “Pay,” and there it is: the tipping prompt. The screen flashes percentages at you like a needy slot machine, hoping guilt will override common sense. But let’s be real—you’re the one doing the work. No one bagged your apples. No one smiled and said, “Have a great day.”
Tipping a self-checkout is like tipping a vending machine for dropping your soda without exploding, as stated by writers at Plain English. It’s unnecessary, and it’s designed to make you feel bad for not rewarding… what, the software? Until a robot walks over and carries your bags to your car, the only tip it should get is a firmware update. Swipe, skip the tip, and move on.
3. Tipping for a Takeout Order Is Overkill
You ordered online. You drove to the restaurant. You walked in, grabbed the bag, and left. Where exactly was the service? If no one waited on you, brought food to your table, or had to manage a tricky substitution with a smile, tipping here is optional at best. And yet, there’s that digital screen again, with suggested tips starting at 20%, Leah Carroll reported at BBC.
This tipping situation preys on our discomfort. The person at the counter barely looks up, yet you’re nudged to tip more than you would at a sit-down restaurant. If you feel generous, fine—round up a couple bucks. But don’t let shame make the decision for you. Picking up your own food isn’t a luxury service, and your tip shouldn’t be treated like a fee for entry.
4. Don’t Tip the Person Handing You Fast-Food Through a Window
You’re at the drive-thru, running late, and just need your burger and fries. The worker hands you your bag with a smile, and that’s it. Job done. You didn’t get a customized experience or a gourmet meal—it’s fast food, not fine dining. So why is there now a screen asking for a tip as you tap to pay?
It’s not that the fast-food workers don’t deserve fair pay—it’s that tipping shouldn’t be the system that makes up for low wages. Tipping here feels forced and unnecessary, especially when there’s no extra service being provided. If the job is done quickly and correctly, a “thanks” is polite and plenty. Save your tipping dollars for service-based roles that go the extra mile.
5. No Tip for the Barber Who Only Buzzes Your Hair
There’s a world of difference between a 45-minute cut with styling, shampoo, and a little friendly banter—and a 4-minute buzz cut with barely a greeting. If your barber flips the clippers on, runs them over your head like a lawnmower, and sends you packing, don’t feel bad about skipping the tip.
Sure, barbers deserve respect for their trade. But if the experience feels like a speed-run to get to the next customer, you’re not obligated to tip out of habit. Not every trim is created equal, and tipping should reflect time, effort, and care. If you’re in and out faster than it takes to make a cup of coffee, so can your money.
6. Say No to Tipping the Hotel Staff for Showing You the TV Remote
Hotel staff work hard—but not all hotel service deserves a tip. If someone escorts you to your room and spends two minutes pointing out the obvious (“Here’s the bathroom, here’s the light switch, here’s how the remote works”), you’re not obligated to shell out cash. That’s part of the room setup, not an extra favor.
Unless someone’s hauling bags, making your bed with towel animals, or saving you from a broken AC unit, this kind of “assistance” doesn’t warrant gratuity. It feels more like theater than service—just an excuse to hover in hopes of a tip. Be polite, thank them, and keep your wallet closed unless real value was added to your stay.
7. Don’t Tip the Person Handing You a Paper Coffee Cup
Not all coffee runs are created equal. If someone crafts a complex drink with multiple modifiers and a perfect foam heart on top, sure—tip away. But if you just asked for a regular black coffee and someone poured it and passed it across the counter, tipping for that is overkill.
The tip jar doesn’t always align with the level of effort involved. Some baristas work their tails off, but others simply go through the motions. If no skill, customization, or memorable service was provided, you’re not being stingy—you’re being reasonable. Save your generosity for the times it actually makes a difference.
8. Avoid Tipping for Pre-Packaged Snacks at the Counter
You pick up a protein bar or a bag of chips from the counter, and as you pay, the tip prompt shows up. What are you tipping for here—the honor of grabbing your own snack? Unless the employee hand-made the snack in the back kitchen or infused it with gold flakes, tipping isn’t necessary.
These kinds of transactions are retail, not service. You’re already paying inflated prices for convenience. There’s no personalized touch, no effort to upsell or enhance your experience. You could have grabbed the same item at a gas station without the added social pressure. In this case, your gratitude can be silent and cash-free.
9. Don’t Tip the Gas Station Attendant Who Only Takes Your Payment
Gas stations aren’t exactly known for hospitality, and if the attendant’s only job is to swipe your card and give you a receipt, tipping them doesn’t make much sense. They didn’t pump your gas, wash your windows, or offer roadside help—they stood behind a counter and did what the machine used to do.
Tipping should come with a sense of appreciation for something above the minimum. If someone genuinely helps you—changes your tire, finds you a tow, or braves horrible weather to pump your gas—sure, tip away. But for simply standing there and taking your money, your thanks should be verbal, not financial.
10. No Tips for the Bakery Employee Who Hands You a Box of Donuts
Walking into a bakery and grabbing a dozen pre-boxed donuts shouldn’t turn into a financial guilt trip. If all the employee did was grab the box from the counter or shelf and pass it over, there’s nothing magical happening that deserves a tip. That’s basic retail—like grabbing eggs at the grocery store.
If someone decorates your custom cake, stays late to finish your order, or walks you through ingredients for allergies, that’s a different level of service. But for everyday, routine hand-offs, don’t let the tip jar intimidate you. You’re already paying premium pastry prices—no need to add a financial cherry on top.
11. You Shouldn’t Tip the Ice Cream Scooper for Adding a Single Scoop
Unless the ice cream scooper is balancing three flavors while blindfolded, there’s really no reason to tip for a single scoop. They didn’t invent the flavor or churn the cream—they just placed a scoop into a cone. It’s a job, yes, but it’s not high-effort service deserving of a tip every time.
Now, if they’re patient with a kid choosing between bubblegum and mint chip for ten solid minutes, that’s worth appreciating. But if the transaction is short, simple, and drama-free, you shouldn’t feel pressured to drop extra cash in the tip jar. Enjoy your cone, smile, and move along—guilt-free and wallet intact.