The Matt Walsh Show The History Of Tipping Culture, And How We Got To The "Tipping" Point
12 snips
Dec 27, 2025 Tipping culture sparks heated debate, especially with new norms after COVID. The host critiques Uber Eats’ high pickup tip prompts and discusses why percentage tips can be misleading. Historical anti-tipping sentiments come to light, recalling the early 1900s and even a famous anecdote involving President Taft. With tipping rates skyrocketing during the pandemic, the discussion reveals a push to reconsider the necessity of tipping and suggests a return to straightforward pay-for-service models.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Uber Eats Pickup Tip Example
- Matt Walsh describes an Uber Eats pickup prompt that defaults to a 20% tip for restaurants.
- He argues this is audacious because the staff only bag orders and receive no in-person service warranting that tip.
Percentage Tips Misalign With Effort
- Matt Walsh notes tipping percentages don't reflect actual effort since bagging expensive food isn't more work than bagging cheap food.
- He calls percentage-based tips for pickup logically inconsistent and unfair to customers.
Pandemic Tech Boosted Tipping Rates
- Remote transaction tipping rose from about 46% pre-pandemic to around 86% by January 2022, driven by tech prompts.
- Matt Walsh highlights how kiosks and apps dramatically increased tipping frequency through suggested amounts.