I pre-ordered a pair of Jennen shoes (elevator shoes, so I can be a big boy) from their online site (they no longer have the shopfront on Johnstone street) and got asked for a tip at the end. For basically changing a stock allocation assignment. I had a whinge on their contact forms, and they replied "the tip function is optional".
2 years later I emailed again, saying "I haven't bought a replacement pair of shoes, all because of the audacity to ask for a tip. I get that it's optional, but so is a cashier going 'hey give me that twenty from your wallet', and when the customer goes 'wtf??' the cashier replies 'oh lol it's optional'. You may have thought 'you know, a tip screen could give us free money! What's the harm?', and I guess this follow up email is proof of that harm. Don't bring tipping culture here please!"
I get this reply a day later, and can confirm the tip function is now gone. Loverly! Whinging may be one thing, but persistent whinging made the difference.
They did the math. How much have we made in tips. Guaranteed $0.
How much have we lost. At least this person's order.
Scrap tip.
They may have even already scrapped it, or were planning to, so this is an easy win.
Nonetheless, the complaint was an important factor here.
IMO not enough people complain. I’m ½ tempted to setup a system that mass prints postcards complaining about the countless enshitification of websites.
Letter writing campaigns had to have worked on some things in the past! I’m all for it!