As the tipping culture in restaurants continues to evolve, a surprising reason behind leaving checks upside down has emerged, revealing a complex web of psychology and social cues.
The Psychology Behind Leaving Checks Face-Down: What’s Really Going On?
When you’re out at a restaurant and the server brings over your check, do you often find yourself flipping it over to peek at the total before leaving it face-down on the table? You’re not alone. A TikTokker named Saydie recently shared her observation that customers who leave their checks face-down tend to leave smaller tips.
The Tip Slip: What Does It Really Mean?
According to Saydie, when a customer leaves their check face-down, it usually means they didn’t leave a big tip. However, this isn’t always the case. A standard tip for servers in sit-down restaurants is about 15% to 20% of the bill before tax, depending on the quality of service. Despite this, many Americans are overwhelmed and annoyed with today’s tipping culture, known as “tipflation.”
The Impact of Age on Tipping Habits
A survey conducted by Bankrate found that nearly three in five adults have negative feelings about tipping, and this resentment grows with age. Interestingly, older generations tend to be more frequent tippers than younger ones. According to Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate, “Older Americans seem to have the most sticker shock about the rising cost of tipping, yet they’re still much more frequent tippers than Gen Zers and millennials.”
Common Tactics Used by Customers to Avoid Leaving Tips
A waitress with 10 years of experience shared one common way that customers avoid leaving tips. When the dining experience is over, some customers will ask for a service charge to be removed, then pay in cash so they don’t have enough money left for a tip and pretend they had bad service.
The Art of Getting Better Tips
Despite the challenges of tipping culture, servers are finding ways to get better tips. Female restaurant workers from across the country have reported noticing an increase in tips when talking with a Southern accent, dyeing their hair blond, wearing their hair down, applying plenty of shiny lip gloss, having their nails manicured, and strutting around in booty or biker shorts.
The Bottom Line
Next time you’re out at a restaurant and the server brings over your check, consider flipping it over to see how much of a tip you’re leaving behind. You might be surprised at just how much of a difference a little bit of effort can make.
