A video out of Salt Lake City recently made the rounds, showing a customer who says he was charged 50 cents more for the items in his order after he declined to leave a tip. It left plenty of diners wondering whether it could happen at their local burger spot. Reporter @vickynguyentv decided to check for herself at a Shake Shack in New York City.
Her goal, as she puts it in the caption, was to see whether that charge was happening at other Shake Shack locations. She visited the one at Rockefeller Center and ran a simple test: place an order, decline the tip and see whether the prices change.
What She Ordered and What She Paid
According to the video, she ordered a quarter pound burger, which she describes as the “Go Big Shack,” priced at $13.49, and a chocolate milkshake priced at $7.49. With no tip, her total came to $22.84. The prices of the items did not change at checkout. In other words, nothing extra was added to her burger or shake because she chose not to tip.
The difference between the menu prices combined and her final total is likely due to sales tax, though the video does not break that down, so we will not guess at the exact figures.
What the Company Said
The caption includes a statement attributed to a Shake Shack spokesperson. The gist, as it appears in the caption, is that it is not the policy of the company’s licensees to raise the price of menu items when no tip is added. The reporter’s conclusion is that the Salt Lake City charge appears to be a one-off at that airport location, and that Shake Shack has said it is not standard across its system.
It is worth noting that this is one visit to one location, so it cannot speak for every restaurant in the chain. It does, however, offer reassurance that the practice does not seem to be widespread at the New York location she tested.
Why Tipping Screens Make People Nervous
Many diners have noticed that tip prompts now appear in places that used to be tip free, such as counters, kiosks and quick service restaurants. A screen turns toward you, suggests a percentage and waits while a line forms behind you. It is no surprise that a story about a surcharge for skipping the tip can spread quickly. People already feel pressure at the register, and the idea of a penalty adds to it.
Whether and how much to tip at a counter is a personal decision, and norms vary. The key point from this video is simple: a tip should be optional, and the price of your food should not change based on what you choose to leave.
Tips for Reading Your Receipt and Checkout Screen
- Compare the menu price with the line items. Before you pay, check that each item matches the price on the menu board or the app.
- Look for a skip or no tip button. Most screens include one, though it can be small. Take your time finding it.
- Watch for added fees. Service charges, surcharges and fees can appear as separate lines. If you are unsure what one means, ask the cashier.
- Check your total before and after the tip screen. If the subtotal changes when you decline a tip, that is worth asking about.
- Keep your receipt. If something looks wrong, a receipt makes it easier to ask the restaurant or the company about it afterward.
- Ask politely. A friendly question to the manager usually clears things up faster than a debate at the counter.
- Remember that locations can differ. Some restaurants are run by licensees or operators with their own setups, so what happens at one location may not happen at another.
For now, the reporter’s test brings some peace of mind. Her burger and shake cost exactly what the menu said, tip or no tip. As more restaurants adopt digital checkout, it will probably remain a good idea to glance at the screen before you tap, and to speak up if something does not add up.
More from Cultivated Comfort
- She Got A $600 Tip On A $600 Tab, Cried, Left Early, And Picked Up A Monday Shift Hoping Her Luck Would Continue
- Her Restaurant Bill Had A 4 Percent Health Charge, Supposedly To Cover Staff Health Insurance, And She Is Not Buying It
- Central Pennsylvania Barbecue Owner Says His Food Costs Are Up About 20 Percent Amid Higher Diesel Costs And Fuel Surcharges, And Your Plate Could Be Next
