Diner planned to leave 20% but found the server had already selected the tip for him — his question prompted an immediate apology
While tipping is a common part of dining out, guests still expect to decide how much they want to leave. This was the situation a diner, Jesús Iñiguez, found himself in during a restaurant visit. He was prepared to leave a 20% tip but was surprised to see that the server had already selected the amount on his bill. The incident left him questioning the practice. He later shared his experience in a now-deleted Threads post under the handle @eslvis on November 6, 2026, asking whether his reaction had been justified.
He explained that the server handed him a printed bill with the 20% tip already selected. Although he had no problem leaving that amount, he disliked that the choice had been made for him. He asked the server whether the tip was compulsory, pointing out that the menu did not mention any mandatory charge. He added, "I like being able to select the tip amount myself." The server appeared embarrassed and replied, "Well, it's what most people tip regularly." When Jesús asked whether customers chose the amount themselves or whether staff selected it beforehand, the server apologized and offered to redo the bill. However, the payment had already been processed.
The incident also brought attention to the debate around tipping in the United States. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey of 11,945 US adults found that 72% opposed automatic service charges on bills. The same survey found that 40% opposed businesses suggesting tip amounts, while 24% supported the practice. It also reported that only 21% viewed tipping mainly as a choice, while 29% felt they were often obligated to leave a tip. These findings highlight how customers have different expectations when it comes to gratuity.
In some cases, customers have also described feeling pressured by servers. This is what happened in another incident when a woman took her elderly mother out for lunch. The mother usually preferred tipping in cash and was planning to leave around 20% or even more, depending on the service. However, when the waitress handed her a payment machine to complete the bill, she felt rushed and selected the 18% tip option without thinking much about it. She later reached for her wallet to leave some cash, but stopped after remembering she had already tipped. When she asked the waitress about it, the response felt rather cold. The experience left the family uncomfortable with the way tipping was handled.
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