A YouTuber from Bengaluru faced smear campaign for calling New York’s tipping system a “scam” in a post on X. Ishan Sharma, who is currently touring the US, was upset when he visited a restaurant in New York because the waiter refused to give him his $5 change after he paid $50 for a $45 meal.
In his post, Sharma said he ordered a crepe, a club sandwich and a panini at the restaurant and his bill came to $45 (about Rs 3,800). After he paid the waitress $50 in cash, she refused to give him $5 back and kept it as a tip.
When Sharma asked for the change, he was told that he had to tip. Sharma asked if that was mandatory, to which she apparently “ignored” him.
“Tipping is such a rip-off in New York. Why am I paying more just because restaurants pay minimum hourly wage? I ordered a crepe, a club sandwich and a panini for $45 (Rs 3,800). We paid $50 in cash and the waiter just took the rest as a tip. I asked for change and she said ‘you have to pay the tip’ and walked away. I asked ‘is it mandatory?’ and she just ignored me. And my friend (a local) felt guilty for not tipping at least 20%! 20% for what? INSANE,” Sharma said in his post.
In the United States, tipping is an important part of the service industry and is expected as a sign of appreciation for good service. When eating out at a restaurant, it is customary to tip 15 to 20 percent of the total bill before taxes. This is because many waiters make a significant portion of their income from tips, as their base salary is often below the minimum wage.
Sharma came under fire online because of his comment about the tipping system.
“Stop being stingy,” said one user, while several others were surprised because he was expecting $5 change in return.
“Tipping 15-20% is a common social custom in the US. If you’re in Rome, act like the Romans. If you firmly believe tipping is wrong, don’t order food at a help-yourself restaurant,” said one user.
Here is another comment on his post: “It is quite sad to see that young, educated and well-earning Indians continue to exhibit this mindset of little abundance.”
Tipping is also customary in the United States for other services, such as taxi rides, hotel room cleaning, and personal care services. Although optional, tipping is widely accepted and is seen as a way to reward and encourage good service.
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