End “Guilt” Tipping!

[TheRealChipA]

Greetings,

So, anyone who reads the news these days knows that tipping has become a hot-button topic.  The shopping public is getting fed up with, for example, tipping in places where they receive no service — say in a retail shop where they fill their carts and then do self-checkout.  I’m not here to debate the merits of this but to bring up my idea for another controversial tipping topic — Guilt Tipping.

As we all know, currently all POS systems have tip screens that appear as a transaction is being created.  In my situation (an ice cream shop) this has always caused the uncomfortable situation where people are forced to tip before they have received service or products, which honestly is wrong and totally unacceptable.

At Piper’s we decided to say goodbye to Guilt Tipping.  Since we already use Square for Restaurants POS because of its superior interface and functionality, we have made the decision to print guest checks that our guests will sign (with optional tip) after  they receive their products.  In essence, we are using the traditional sit-down restaurant tipping model.  I’ll admit that after only 4 days in our new season, the response has been incredible!  We get lots of questions, especially from our existing customers but when we explain they totally get it and tell us we’ve started a revolution.  Ha.  All customers seem to appreciate the fact that they are no longer guilted into tipping for something before they see what they are getting.

That’s enough explanation, I hope.  Here’s my idea.

I think that Square should create a new app for tablets (and phones).  This app would display information about the order being worked on at our service window — items, modifiers, customer name or ticket number, etc.  

If the current transaction is cash, there would be no other information.  If the transaction was paid with a card or gift card or Cash App, there would be a few buttons, like so:

• Add a tip to my card payment of $
• I’ll tip in cash
• I’m not tipping

This would eliminate the mountain of paper we are generating, as well as the inevitable mistakes that happen when employees key in incorrect tip information that has to be corrected.  And it will free up employee time by not requiring them to do this extra step.

There are issues, of course.  Like the fact that in order to display the next order, we would need a keyboard or bump-bar to scroll to the next order.  And I’m sure there are things I’m not thinking of, which is why Square software engineers are paid huge bucks!  Ha.  But this is the basic outline of what I am proposing.  Honestly, I think this would make Square stand out as a new leader in the field of tipping etiquette and it would start a new conversation.

As always, if you decide to do this, I’m available for brainstorming, concept testing, etc.  I’m fine with my royalty payments being made via ACH to my personal bank account. 😎😇😉

Lastly, I’m posting this on the Restaurants board because that is the POS I use, and I would want this to be implemented for that platform first, for obvious reasons!  But of course this feature should be added to all Square POS platforms. I’m just not going to post this idea that many times!

[TCSlaguna]

I think it would be cool if it text you the receipt with an option to tip. 

[TheRealChipA]

@TCSlaguna That’s an even better idea!  Options are always good since all of us run our businesses differently.  Thanks for weighing in!