Vancouver Candle Co. prompts for tip on online orders
A local Vancouver candle-making company is raising eyebrows after including a tip prompt for online orders.
It’s a new expansion of tipping culture, which some Canadians already believe is out of control post-pandemic. Canadians report being divided about when to drop extra cash, with some wanting to scrap the practice altogether.
Vancouver Candle Co.’s online shopping interface prompts customers to leave a 5% to 15% gratuity when they check out.
The tip is calculated based on the before-tax total, with the company asking buyers to “show your support for the team at Vancouver Candle Co.”
Vancouver Candle Co.
Tipping has traditionally been a way to appreciate good service — such as when we’re served at a restaurant or given a great haircut. But tip prompts have been showing up in more and more places lately, from fast-food counters to wellness services such as massages.
Product purchases aren’t usually something Canadians tip on. But Vancouver Candle Co. wants to challenge that idea.
“The tipping option was introduced in response to requests from our customers who wanted a way to show extra appreciation for the skilled team behind our products. All tips are distributed directly to our staff — the artisans and dedicated individuals who handcraft each candle and diffuser with care,” Kathy Lee with Vancouver Candle Co. told Daily Hive.
She emphasized tipping is voluntary and customers are not obligated to leave a tip.
“We deeply value the support of our community and take great pride in offering locally made, high-quality products.”
Some folks who came across the tipping prompt while shopping for Black Friday took their complaints to social media, with one Reddit poster calling it a “new tipping low.”
“Everyone is tipped to death,” they said.
“Tipping is crazy for an online order, that’s just super tacky,” one commenter added.
Vancouver Candle Co. is best known for its scented soy candles, which are named after neighbourhoods in Vancouver. The company offers signature smells for the West End, Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, and more.
But the company drew criticism four years ago when founder Nick Rabuchin stepped down over harassment and racism allegations. Several BC women spoke to Daily Hive at the time, saying they were subjected to harassing messages after finishing business contracts with Vancouver Candle Co. In messages shared with Daily Hive, one woman was targeted with messages using anti-semitic language and the N-word.
The women said they endured bullying, threatening messages, and, in some cases, malicious rumours about their work that left them feeling scared and anxious. The complaints led to a Vancouver Police Department harassment investigation. Major retailers including Nordstrom and Indigo dropped the candles from their inventories at the time.
Lee, Vancouver Candle Co.’s former production manager, took the reins after the controversy surrounding the company’s founder.
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