Pretty soon only the rich will be able to dine in Seattle

Tipping in Seattle is becoming more difficult as prices increase. At least one person has reached their limit and is handing out economics lessons.

The card explains why the server is not receiving a tip, and it all comes back to the minimum wage increase.

“$15 = [no] TIP,” the card reads.

Basically, the cardholder is choosing not to tip because of increased wages, KIRO Radio’s Rachel Belle points out.

The cost of going out to eat is on the rise, KIRO Radio’s Ron Upshaw said. He and Belle used to be able to have lunch for under $10. Now, a sandwich and drink costs up to $15 to $20, he said.

“For a lot of people, it’s a big deal,” he said. In cases where someone may have thrown an extra few bucks in for a tip, that might not happen as often.

Still, someone refusing to tip could go about it in a better way.

“It’s very snarky,” Belle said.

The card isn’t exactly accurate, either. Though Seattle’s minimum wage is increasing, it isn’t at $15 an hour yet. The minimum wage will increase over a period of years; unless a restaurant owner has decided to make the jump immediately.

The cost of running a business might have more to do with why meal prices are so unlike what Ron experienced 10 years ago. Restaurants are paying more rent, for example, Belle said.

“But so are the customers,” Ron rebuked.

Ron might just have to let go of the prices of a decade ago, however.

“We’ve been here 10 years, Ron, prices are going up,” KIRO Radio’s Don O’Neill said. It might be better if Ron doesn’t eat out anymore and sticks with his lentil soup, Don suggested.

Though she doesn’t necessarily agree with the card in question, Belle said she always feels uncomfortable tipping. She would rather just get a more expensive bill than to have to figure out a proper tip.

Either way, the sometimes ridiculous prices of meals in Seattle are forcing some people from being able to treat themselves at all.

“We’re getting to a point in Seattle where it’s going to segregate between people who are going to go out to eat and people who can’t,” Ron said.