Most of us have already naturalized tipping at restaurants, bars, and clubs––but what about tipping at grocery stores? As of January 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that roughly 100 million Americans are working in the service industry. Of that sum, a little more than 3 million of those workers work in food and beverage stores.
Whether you’re a grocery store worker or a shopper, you may be wondering if and how you can accept or offer tips in the grocery store setting. Read on to learn more about this tipping standard and how you should approach it.
When Is It Appropriate to Tip Grocery Store Workers?
In general, it’s most appropriate to tip anytime a worker performs a service that is usually manual or physical labor, like when the waiter at the dine-in in a restaurant brings the table’s food out from the kitchen or at hair and beauty salons after a trim, cut, or color.
At grocery stores, you don’t usually see much manual labor because we’re fixated on our grocery lists and only ask for help when looking for a particular item and can’t find it. But even then, stock checks are considered general customer service, and most times, associates are not expecting a tip for that.
So when do you tip a grocery store worker? If you choose to opt-out of self-checkout, the final moments of your grocery shopping haul are where the last bits of customer service come in. If the stock associate went above and beyond finding your product, or if the cashier went the extra mile by adding in promotions or properly applied any coupons that you weren’t aware of, now’s the time to tip!
Another popular scenario––most common with seniors and people with disabilities––is when your grocery bagger carries out or brings your groceries to your car. Not only are they leaving their work site for you, but they’ve also already done the puzzling grocery bag food piling to make sure your produce and perishables are stored safely until you get home.
Do You Have to Tip Grocery Store Workers?
Tipping will almost always be an option when eating, dining, or drinking at venues. However, at grocery stores, since you technically haven’t received a service (like when a server brings out your food), there’s no expectation to tip when you’re at the register. Although, tips are still much appreciated by the staff.
Note: The more common scenario to tip a grocery store worker is when the dedicated bagger walks your items out to your car.
Should You Tip Grocery Store Workers with Cash or Card?
Cash is always nice to have because it’s easier to keep track of, and virtually all places will accept bills as tips. Although credit cards are convenient and make transactions a bit quicker––there can be some downfalls to tipping on your card, especially when you’re trying to tip a grocery store worker.
Tipping in cash is generally preferred by grocery stores because:
- It’s tangible and often goes straight into the worker’s pocket at the end of the night, skipping through their bi-weekly pay period.
- Cash may also be more acceptable for grocery stores since there’s usually no option for cashiers to add a tip to your transaction if you’re paying by card.
- If you’re tipping a grocery store worker who has helped you load your car with groceries, it’s easier just to use cash to tip them on the spot.
It’s worth noting that when it comes to grocery delivery, you will usually have the flexibility to offer a tip via card through the app you use for ordering.
However, this tip will primarily be for the driver who brings you your groceries rather than the grocery store worker who picked them out for you (unless the driver is who picked out your groceries, as is the case for some grocery delivery apps). This is typically the only time when tips can be accepted for grocery-related services via card.
How Much Should You Tip at Grocery Stores?
In the U.S., the average gratuity rate is 15-20% of the total bill––although this is specific to dine-in restaurants. Of course, you can tip your server any amount you want. (But it’s important to remember that your server is running around helping out five or six other tables as well as making accommodations for each guest.)
Tipping at Restaurants vs. Grocery Stores
The difference between tipping at the grocery store and tipping at a restaurant is knowing that you should always tip your server. It’s extremely rude and disappointing to find absolutely zero tips after running to and from the kitchen and bar for a family of four who was incredibly demanding while the server was more than accommodating.
Because some grocery stores have policies against accepting tips, it’s best to tip grocery store workers at your discretion. There’s no rule-of-thumb when it comes to tipping grocery store workers, so if you see a tip jar near the cash register, it’s more than okay to toss in your cash, change, or spare coins––every bit is appreciated!
How Much Should You Tip for Grocery Delivery?
Etiquette in the service industry will continuously evolve, so patrons must evolve with it. As more companies expand to online grocery delivery services like Uber Eats, Postmates, and Shipt, we can recognize that these companies’ workers provide a service and should be tipped accordingly.
As hinted above, most grocery and food delivery services add an option for a tip after you’ve had your items dropped off at your doorstep. The tipping range is usually within 10% to 20%—the ladder for excellent service. Some grocery delivery apps also have an option for customizable tips, meaning you can enter a set amount versus a percentage of the bill.
Note: Food deliverers rely heavily on tips as their primary source of payment. Their tip does not go to the restaurant or grocery store that you purchased your food from.
How Much Should You Tip for Grocery Pick-up?
As technologies and business boom in efficiency, you’re likely to come across grocery pick-up, where employees will have a designated area for curbside pick-up. After placing your order and arriving on-site, your items are ready for pick-up at the dedicated outdoor or indoor space.
In these instances, you are not required to tip the associates working. Unless otherwise specified while checking-out online, there are generally no options for credit card tipping. The only way to tip a worker would be by cash after they’ve dropped off your items to your car.
How to Accept Tips as a Grocery Store Worker
It can be quite awkward refusing or accepting gifts––especially cash––at the register because you never want to insinuate theft or cause a commotion as the next customer waits their turn to check out. However, if the company you work for is pro-tip and you feel comfortable accepting it, it’s definitely appropriate to pocket the tip.
For a seamless interaction, if a customer offers you a tip, a polite refusal and verbal appreciation should be enough to cue the customer to withhold their cash. Although in some instances, if the customer insists that you take the tip after declining, it might just be better to accept it and say thank you (you worked for it!).
Final Thoughts
Tipping policies vary from business to business but are appreciated regardless of the industry. Having a customer offer any gift or reward for your service means that they acknowledge your work and support you––a priceless sentiment.