Online Public Relations Thoughts

Unlike Europe, tipping is not mandatory in the US.  A consumer can add to a bill in appreciation of service or walk away.  With debit cards and digital cash, the chance to tip has expanded and the screens of payment systems offer a range of amounts -- 15%, 20%, 30%.  Customers, so far, don't like the prompts and walk away. Yes, they still tip in restaurants but they are not rewarding baristas -- not yet anyway.  This is a cultural change and it is bound to be slow.  People have to be educated from transaction to transaction that tipping is part of compensation and not just a reward for good service.  Expanded tipping will make slow but steady process and eventually will be the norm, but it will take years, if not decades.