{
  "id": 596392,
  "title": "Did Shake Shack really charge customers more for not tipping? Here’s what the company says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/did-shake-shack-really-charge-customers-more-for-not-tipping-heres",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-11T18:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91588572/did-shake-shack-really-charge-customers-more-for-not-tipping-heres-what-the-company-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A viral TikTok video has sparked debate over whether Shake Shack charges customers more for choosing not to tip. The clip, posted by B.D. Powell with millions of views, shows the couple ordering three milkshakes at a Salt Lake City International Airport location and discovering a 50 cent increase on each item when they opted out of tipping. Shake Shack has denied any policy of raising menu prices when customers don't tip, attributing the price hike to an error in kiosk technology used by HMSHost, a licensed operator. The chain's spokesperson clarified that HMSHost investigated the issue and confirmed it was unrelated to tipping, resolving the problem. The incident has reignited discussions about tipping culture in the US, with some arguing for tipping only for actual service and others questioning the pre-order tipping practice.",
  "summary": "Opting for the “no tip” button might not be saving you money, at least at one particular restaurant. Users on social media are circulating theories claiming that fast food chain Shake Shack raises prices on individual items when opting to go tipless on an order, all thanks to a viral TikTok . “My wife says that if you don’t tip at Shake Shack, they make it more expensive per item so we are about…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}