DEAR MISS MANNERS: Donation containers for the needy by our cash registers have been relabeled for tips. I felt that was tacky, but since it didn't require any action on my part, I sought to ignore it.
Now credit card payments flag the customer screen with a yes/no question: "Would you like to leave a tip?" It then flags me that my customer (if they choose to do so) is leaving a tip ... to which I am to give a certain response.
I feel this whole tip thing is tacky and rather rude. If I am going to receive a tip, I don't think I should be informed of it. I've seen many price increases, and to ask the customer to give yet more money seems wrong. What do you think?
GENTLE READER: That more people should patronize the restaurants that have decided to abolish tipping. Miss Manners is puzzled that customers don't seem to understand that they pay no more when the cost of labor is built into the prices, and spare themselves possible embarrassment.