A TikToker named Emry Kaiser says she got more than she bargained for after a facial waxing appointment. In a video posted June 18, she showed that a 15% tip had been added to her bill without anyone asking her first. She had offered cash for the service and simply wanted her change back, but the employee reportedly called the 15% tip the“most popular option.”Her response?“Yet it wasn’t an option.”
The video, recorded in South Dakota, has since pulled in over 875,000 likes, and the comment section has been nearly unanimous in support of Kaiser. The top comment called the practice“illegal,”pointing out that tipping in the United States is legally voluntary. Neither the salon nor the employee has been identified, and the business hasn’t responded publicly.
The clip is tapping into a much bigger conversation about tipping fatigue: how much is expected, where it’s expected, and whether customers still get a real choice. Suggested tips on a screen are one thing. A charge that appears on your bill with no consent is another. So we want to know — have you ever noticed an automatic tip or service charge you didn’t agree to, and did you ask for it to be removed?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.