Why Some SouthCoast Dunkins Are Saying No to Tips

A growing number of Dunkin' locations across the SouthCoast are taking a stand against modern tipping culture.

Customers at several local Dunkin' shops, including locations in Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Dartmouth, have started noticing signs asking customers not to leave tips.

One sign posted at the Fairhaven Dunkin' reads, “Customer service is our pleasure, serving friendliness one cup at a time. Please, no tipping.”

A Shift Away From Tipping Culture

The policy appears to be in place at multiple locations including Hathaway Road, Nauset Street, Braley Road, Kempton Street, Kings Highway, Water Street, and Speedway Boulevard.

I never even considered that customers would be anything but excited about the idea of no tipping at Dunkin', but we got a significant amouth of callers that strongly disliked the idea because they felt it was a slight to the workers. "They don't make that much money to begin with," said one caller to The MGM Show.

“I think people are getting sick of this tipping culture,” said another caller.

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Should You Tip For Coffee?

The debate centered around whether coffee shop workers should be viewed similarly to bartenders or restaurant servers.

Some argued that Dunkin' employees often remember customers’ orders and customize drinks just like baristas or bartenders. Others pointed out that most people would never consider tipping at places like McDonald’s or Taco Bell.

I brought up how Gloria and Company, a salon in Marion, has been a non-tipping establishment for decades, even though that is exactly the type of service where you'd expect to leave a tip.

The growing use of digital checkout screens asking customers to leave tips also came up on the air. “There’s pressure now everywhere you go,” said Michaela Johnson. “People are tired of being prompted for tips at every stop. If you don't tip, you're worried what the workers think of you."

Why Some Customers Actually Like The Change

While some customers enjoy rewarding good service with a few dollars, others appreciate the simplicity of eliminating the awkward tipping prompt altogether.

It's not clear if the affected Dunkin' locations will be doing anything financially for their employees to make up for the missing tips.

For now, at least at some SouthCoast Dunkin' locations, the pressure for customers to tip appears to officially be off.