Without the option displayed at the terminal, most Canadians would not leave a tip Companies don't have table service, according to a survey.
As many as 65% of Canadians say they have tipped only because the terminal gave them the opportunity, according to a survey on tipping habits conducted by personal finance application Hardbacon.
Around 62% of the 513 respondents also believe they tip more than expected when paying by credit or debit.
Respondents also complained that the tip is sometimes offset against the after-tax amount in order to inflate it.
“The survey results show that retailers' tactics to encourage consumers to tip more are working, but they risk alienating their own customers in a context where we are all trying to adjust our budgets to inflation,” supports Julien Brault, CEO of Hardbacon.
• Also read: Here's a guide to knowing how much to tip (and to whom).
Avoid inconvenience
These results show the frustration with no-service establishments that require tips, but also with the excessively high percentages suggested to us by the terminals.
“Demanding 20 or 30% and sometimes feeling like we are asking for more is unreasonable,” admits Kenan Liedson, whom 24 Heures met in a Montreal mall.
“It happened to me that someone said to me: “That’s a 15% minimum.” You didn’t build a house, you just brought dishes. “The terminals require tips in situations where it is not really necessary,” adds the 25-year-old.
Axel Tardieu
“If we don't tip, we feel uncomfortable with the person who serves us,” emphasizes Hatim Assicar, 23 years old. We feel obliged to do this, but I don’t see a problem with it as long as this money goes to the people who worked.”
Axel Tardieu
For Safi Dao, not leaving a tip when the option appears at the terminal is unthinkable.
“I think everyone should do it. No matter what service I receive, I always give at least 15%, whether in a restaurant or in a taxi,” says the 18-year-old young woman.
Axel Tardieu
Depending on the type of company, habits differ
While the vast majority of Canadian consumers (99.21%) always tip at restaurants, they are more divided at other types of businesses.
Average tip in table service restaurant
- No tip: 0.79%
- Less than 15%: 12.85%
- 15%: 67.59%
- More than 15%: 17.98%
At a fast food restaurant or cafe
- No tip: 76.19%
- Less than 15%: 17.66%
- 15%: 3.97%
- More than 15%: 0.40%
In the hair salon or hairdresser
- No tip: 17.24%
- Less than 15%: 35.63%
- 15%: 26.21%
- More than 15%: 15.17%
- Fixed amount: 5.75%
Less generous with delivery people
For delivery drivers, the average Canadian tip is 10%, regardless of the delivery app used.
Finally, 24.90% of Uber Eats users say they do not tip their delivery driver, compared to 17.34% of users of other applications.