In February 2018, CNBC shared a “simple tipping trick” that can save you more than 400 bucks a year. But when you consider the entire point of tipping a server, the concept is pretty uncool. Unsurprisingly, when CNBC recently re-posted the video, it sparked countless angry responses.
The “trick” sparked outrage on Twitter, and folks quickly dubbed it terrible financial advice.
The viral video follows Zack Guzman, a CNBC reporter at the time, dining at a restaurant and talking about tipping while saving money. It also includes mini interview segments with people on the streets, who were asked about their tipping habits. Basically, Guzman proposes tipping by doubling the tax, which equals about 18%. Guzman recommends doing this instead of rounding up to the suggested 20% tip.
In the video, Guzman also pegs tipping as a “seemingly insignificant decision.”
Other folks who work minimum wage jobs also explained how little servers typically make.
Obviously, the minimum wage depends on the state and city. But even that isn’t enough to make a living.
That 2% difference can make a major impact on your server’s life.
The video also says you can save $400 on tips if you eat two $100 meals a week.
But many people feel that if you’re “losing” money on tipping, you’re probably eating out too much for your budget, anyway.
Dining out can add up real fast, after all.
That’s $10,400, to be exact.
It's $100 tabs twice a week.
— Sgt. K. Onyx (Deactivated) (@SgtK_Deactive) April 9, 2019
200*52 or 10400 dollars a year
It also doesn’t help that some restaurants take a percentage when a credit card is used, too.
These credit card service fees can add up as well.
And then there’s tipping out, which gives a percentage of tips to hosts, runners, bartenders, etc.
Let’s not forgetting tipping out. I had to tip out a % of my tips based on sales, not based on tips, with the assumption that everyone tips. So not tipping can actually take money from your server
— Trevor supports unions and workers (@TrevLSteinberg) April 8, 2019
Basically, your tips can impact multiple people.
As you can imagine, the CNBC video sparked a serious debate on how much one should tip.
Others reminded fellow Twitter users that servers are humans.
Some also pointed out that service industry work takes professionalism and skills, just like any other line of work.
In fact, one woman in the CNBC video blatantly pointed out the unfairness of tipping less.
In the end, your tip is your choice.
But don’t forget that your server is a person, just like you.
