Becky Marcum doesn’t mind tipping at restaurants but draws the line when asked “to add a tip” for other services. “I don’t make very much money,” the Penbrook resident said. “People just don’t have it these days.”

From fast food kiosks to concert tickets, shoppers face more solicitations to tip, causing fatigue. A Bankrate report found that 66% of Americans negatively view tipping culture, with 30% saying it’s “out of control” as more companies request tips. About 32% called it aggravating and 41% said businesses should pay staff more instead of relying on gratuity.

“Inflation and economic unease seem to be making Americans stingier with their tipping habits, yet we’re confronted with more invitations to tip than ever,” said Bankrate’s Ted Rossman.

Historically, tipping rewarded good service at restaurants and salons. Now, digital screens with tip requests require little to no service, blurring the lines. Pouring coffee or sticking a cookie in a bag hardly warrants a tip like a hustling waiter ensuring top-notch restaurant service, said leadership coach Valerie Sokolosky.

Higher tip prompts likely reflect inflation’s impact, she said. More companies also rely on tips as an employee benefit, paying wages plus tips, according to etiquette expert Elaine Swann. “As consumers, we should pressure establishments to pay living wages and not make us pay,” she said.

While machines make asking for tips easier, consumers are confused when and where tips are appropriate, according to Pew Research. Of 12,000 adults, 72% said more tip requests while only 33% found tipping norms clear.

Diner Bob Welsh tips at sit-down eateries but questions the expectation at counter-order places like Panera. “If (employee) is standing there, how can you not leave something?” he asked.

Swann stresses tipping applies at sit-down establishments where servers rely on tips and make $2.13 hourly. Not for takeout or coffee orders. About 65% tip at dine-in restaurants, down from 73% in 2022, Bankrate found.

It’s also customary at salons and okay to tip for extras like hauling a tree or large takeout order, Swann said. “However, you are not required to tip in these circumstances. There is no etiquette guideline that you have to tip,” she noted.

When unsure whether to tip, Sokolosky suggests considering your emotions. “Are you thinking ‘Oh my gosh, this is one more thing I have to tip?’ or ‘This is an opportunity to give someone something extra?’“

Tipping exploded assisting struggling staff during the pandemic. But expectations grew and now some see it as obligatory, Sokolosky said.

Some small businesses avoid new technology, using old-fashioned tip jars workers directly access. Levi Hackman of Herr’s Fruit Farm stand said adding machines would complicate workers getting tips. About 50% of customers tip, he said, especially with bigger trees.

So should consumers feel obligated to tip more? Etiquette experts say tipping fatigue is understandable with relentless prompts from screens large and small. But conscientious consumers can choose to tip workers who rely on gratuity while going easy on themselves with counter-service orders. The bottom line? Businesses should ensure fair wages so good service stands on its own.