A debate over tipping at shops, bars and restaurants has been sparked in New York as people are being asked to fork out as much as 25 per cent.
During the pandemic, the concept of tipping in stores became popular as people expressed their appreciation for cashiers working at the registers.
Meanwhile, card payment screens encouraged shoppers to leave a minimum of 20 per cent tip for even small items, such as pre-packaged salads in the city of New York, US.
But the growing popularity of tipping is now an object of condemnation as many argue they cannot afford to shell out additional money for servers.
Commentators have claimed that customers often don't get anything in return.
Another argument suggests that other occupations, such as cleaners, might deserve a tip more, although they don't get it because they aren't at the customers' forefront.
Commenting on the dispute, Sekita Ekrek, a travel marketing executive based in New York, claimed that the situation is getting "out of hand".
She told the Times: "I can’t stand the credit card machines that ask for tips to buy normal consumer goods."
Sekita said she would tip for a prepared coffee however "I’m not going to add a tip when I buy coffee beans or groceries or get my teeth cleaned. Americans have an over-the-top tipping culture. It’s just way out of hand now".
Myka Meier, 40, founder of Beaumont Etiquette in Manhattan, said the new set of rules had been the talk of her industry.
Many of them "were spot on" but she took exception to the idea of tipping someone for taking her money at a counter.
She said: "A tip is supposed to show gratitude for service."
Another man, Anthony Taylor, 46, said he remained "very conflicted" about tipping.
He thought the debate suggested that "the system is broken" and "clearly we are not paying people enough".
He preferred to tip "extravagantly" but he baulked at the idea of tipping to pick up some food in a box from a restaurant.
He said: "I love how we are tripping all over ourselves to avoid nuance, to avoid honest conversations."
And added that during the pandemic, "we were able to forgive because we were all trying to survive. Now we could create all these new rules and live in fear."
"Or — and hear me out — we could just tell the other person: ‘This has happened and this is the resolution that I need’."
