Some shoppers might be a little surprised to find that local grocer Partial Foods and their subsidiary Save On Bulk Super Presidential Budget Food Mart, have gone completely self-serve at their checkouts. Those same shoppers may also be surprised to see that those new checkouts now come with a tipping prompt on all their debit machines. Shoppers can now tip 18%, 20% or even 25% if they receive outstanding service.

When asked to comment about the new machines, store owner Phil Jenkins explained, “Let’s face it, you see tipping options on virtually every debit machine in virtually every business these days. This is just the natural next step in that process.”Jenkins was also quoted as saying, “Most shoppers would agree that no one really knows why we tip anymore anyway or how much is a reasonable percentage if a tip is warranted. When and how much to tip has mostly been controlled for years by the finance companies that make the card readers.” Jenkins added, “Card reader companies have families that have to eat too you know.”

He went on to say that, “By adding the tip option, we can reduce the cost of all the food items we sell, although that has not actually ever happened yet.”