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Comment by Waterluvian | Hacker News Reader

Why would anyone tip a fast food restaurant? It’s bizarre they even ask.

Because it works. Our local 'decent' fast food chain (Burgerville) now asks for a tip. Even at the drive-thru window. They apologize every time and let you know you can just say no if you want. I guess it's good they feel a little uncomfortable about it, though it wasn't the worker's choice.

At some point small businesses, food carts, etc, realized that if you just put a tip jar on the counter, many people will throw money in it just because it's there. It's culturally expected now. I find it slightly infuriating.

I mean, tipping in general is bizarre imo. But at the end of the day I don’t see a lot of difference between that and a regular restaurant.

Fast food places pay at least minimum wage and these days are so desperate they often pay $15+ an hour where the minimum wage is still $7.25

You have to walk to counter each time you want something in fast food restaurant, in a regular restaurant you have waiter for that. But yeah it's his job for which he is paid, so tips still don't make sense just for doing the job, I don't get tips for doing my job, neither does my wife and most of the occupations.

To me it's not about what I have to do, but the fact that someone else is serving me for probably a pitiful wage. I'd rather they get paid well, but they don't. So I tip. Even if they do a bad job because I know everyone has bad days.

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