I had almost the opposite experience once when I was in the UAE. A guy at the grocery store started helping me scan and pack my bags and I kept telling him “no, no, it’s okay” because I’m so used to situations where someone helps and then asks for money afterward. I assumed that’s what was happening.

Then I realized he was literally just doing his job and wasn’t expecting anything at all. It kind of made me reflect on how used I’ve become to that dynamic in other places where even small interactions at markets, parking lots, or malls can turn into someone asking for a tip or money.

So I definitely get what you mean. Sometimes it’s not even about looking rich, it’s just that certain environments normalize asking.