fullscreen

eFinder

eFinder

Home › Tipping Etiquette › Article

Exclusive | Tipping experts clear up controversy over gratuity at self-service kiosks and other sneaky surcharges

Nypost · · 1018 words · By Christopher Edwards
Tipping Etiquette Economic Impact on Hospitality Consumer Frustration
headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing
Generate a natural audio summary of this story
Daily briefing

What to know about Tipping Etiquette

Tipping experts clear up controversy over gratuity at self-service kiosks and other sneaky surcharges See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 8
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center0%
Right100%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Tipping experts clear up controversy over gratuity at self-service kiosks and other sneaky surcharges See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google We’ve reached a tipping point: self-service kiosks are asking for tips, while shoppers feel pressure to tip cashiers who don’t cook a thing.

Common ground

At restaurants, where a tip of 15 to 20% has been standard for decades, suggested tips are climbing higher and higher.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/lifestyle/tipping-experts-reveal-when-to-tip-digit…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 3
check_circle Corroborated 3
verified Verified 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
info
Claim 1: “We’re the only country I know of that allows waiters and waitresses to be paid a substandard minimum wage”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim that the US is the 'only country' allowing a substandard minimum wage for servers is presented as a quote/opinion. While sources confirm the US has a tipped minimum wage ($2.13), there is no comparative global data provided to verify that the US is the *only* country with such a practice.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal district (Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States). The U.S. also possesses five major territor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_territories…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_St…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 2: “In a viral incident earlier this month, TikTok creator BD Powell claimed that a Shake Shack kiosk at the Salt Lake City airport raised the price of his items after he selected “no tip” during checkout.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm that TikTok creator BD Powell posted a video alleging a Shake Shack kiosk at the Salt Lake City airport increased prices after he selected 'no tip'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Shake Shack kiosk price change after selecting “No Tip” — what happened?.Customer video shows kiosk prices rise after choosing “no tip” at a Utah airport Shake Shack; company says a technology error a…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/did-shake-shack-admit-to-a-p…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Shake Shack says technical glitch caused kiosk tip pricing confusion seen in viral TikTok. 5 hours ago. By Krys Shahin.WATCH: Shake Shack Kiosk Raises Customer’s Prices After He Selects No Tip. Yester…
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — For its part Shake Shack commented on the TikTok saying, "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. This is not a Shake Shack policy, and we're currently looking into it with our licensee, HMSHost…
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/shake-shac…
info
Claim 3: “According to Lynn’s research, 32% of people said they wanted tipping abolished in 2016. That number climbed to 52% by 2022.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific statistics (32% in 2016 and 52% in 2022) are mentioned in one specific web result citing William Michael Lynn. Other results mention Lynn's research on tipping generally, but do not independently verify these specific percentages.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — King's Lynn, known until 1537 as Bishop's Lynn and colloquially as Lynn, is a port and market town in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the county of Norfolk, England. It is 36 miles (58 …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King's_Lynn
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Loretta Lynn (née Webb; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretta_Lynn
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement is an award given by Sigma Xi, a scientific-research honor society. The Procter Prize is presented annually to a scientist who has made an outstand…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Procter_Prize_for_Scie…
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 4: “Shake Shack denied that the man’s total changed after not selecting a tip, saying the change in price was due to an error.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that Shake Shack denied the price increase was linked to tipping, instead attributing it to a technical error/glitch at the licensed location.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Shake Shack Denies Raising Prices After 'No Tip'. Powell ordered three Classic Shakes, which initially appeared on the kiosk at $5.99 (£4.44) each. After reaching the gratuity screen and selecting 'no…
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shake-shack-price-increase-no-tip-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In a statement shared with Inc., Shake Shack denied any connection between tipping and the price increase. “It is not Shake Shack policy, nor that of our licensees, to increase the price of menu items…
https://www.inc.com/amaya-nichole/shake-shack-order-got-pric…
+ 1 more evidence source
verified
Claim 5: “Jacqueline Whitmore... author of “Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work””
VERIFIED
Multiple sources, including a Reader's Digest author profile and a book description, confirm Jacqueline Whitmore wrote 'Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jacqueline Whitmore is a certified business etiquette expert, speaker, and author who specializes in business etiquette seminars, dining etiquette training, and networking skills.
https://etiquetteexpert.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The author of two books, Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work and Poised for Success, Jacqueline formerly served as the protocol officer and assistant director of public relations …
https://www.rd.com/author/jacqueline-whitmore/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — About the author. Profile Image for Jacqueline Whitmore.Business Class Etiquette book: Some of this is just common sense but it does contain the new technology etiquette which was helpful. I bought it…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/571665.Business_Class
info
Claim 6: “Jacqueline Whitmore... The Protocol School of Palm Beach founder”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant WhatsApp search results. No evidence was provided that confirms Jacqueline Whitmore founded The Protocol School of Palm Beach, although one source mentions she was a protocol officer at The Breakers in Palm Beach.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Simple, reliable, private messaging and calling for free*, available all over the world. Now you can make and receive video or voice calls — one-on-one or in groups — right from your browser. With pri…
https://www.whatsapp.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Today, for the first time, millions of you will have the ability to use WhatsApp on your web browser. Our web client is simply an extension of your phone: the web browser mirrors conversations and mes…
https://blog.whatsapp.com/whats-app-web
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Log in to WhatsApp Web for simple, reliable and private messaging on your desktop. Send and receive messages and files with ease, all for free.
https://web.whatsapp.com/
verified
Claim 7: “William Michael Lynn... published “The Psychology of Tipping” earlier this year”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While evidence confirms William Michael Lynn is a professor who has published extensively on the psychology of tipping (over 80 papers), none of the provided sources explicitly confirm the publication of a book titled 'The Psychology of Tipping' in 2024.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cognition encompasses mental processes that deal with knowledge. It includes psychological activities that acquire, store, retrieve, transform, or apply information. Cognitive processes are a fundamen…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognition
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sigmund Freud (born Sigismund Schlomo Freud; 6 May 1856 – 23 September 1939) was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for evaluating and treating pathologies ar…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — William Michael "Mike" Lynn (born 1958) is the Burton M. Sack Professor in Food & Beverage Management in Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. Lynn’s teaching has been the subject of no…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Michael_Lynn
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 8: “Across Europe, for example, “tipping is really rare,” he said.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (Rick Steves and TopicNest) confirm that tipping is rare or unnecessary across much of Europe compared to the US.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Don't stress about tipping in Europe. If you're unsure what to give, ask a local (but not a server) about the tipping norms for that country. Virtually anywhere in Europe, you can do as the Europeans …
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/tipping-in-euro…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Service included, tipping rare and unnecessary. UK and Ireland. Restaurants: 10-12.5% is standard.This works across Europe without offending anyone.
https://www.topicnest.blog/travel/tipping-customs-across-eur…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Tipping is rare in Australia and New Zealand, in some countries, I think Singapore is one, tipping is considered insulting. We tip according to local custom/convention when abroad. On ships that's wha…
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2828928-tipping-now-mo…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.