Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

U shouldn't be forced to live in such a hardship.......leave. It's easy to get into Mexico.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Just a point of view but, as an auditor I knew that most tips , if paid in cash, went south, that is to say never got reported as income for the person receiving them, Did you ever get tax free income? plus if a waiter does a good job on say 6 tables and gets $5 per table tip that's $30 an hour , not great but not bad, now at say 10% that not a huge dinner in these times. Personally I think tipping should be abolished and the people paid a wage, some waiters and waitresses are worth more than minimum, some are not even worth that!
BTW not only waiters and waitresses get screwed on the tip deal some commission salespeople get 'Tips deemed to be wages' too. check your shoe store! that's where I got screwed on the deal, plus mandatory unpaid overtime!

FL Streetrodder

Many years ago, a friend who was a waitress and I had a discussion about tipping. Her philosophy was that the tip should reflect the service provided and not be obligatory. She also advised me that If I ever received really poor service I should leave a penny so that the server would know that I had simply not forgotten to leave a tip!

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Ya'll getting your panties in a twist providing the "worry" for these poor waiters?

I really don't care about the service providers.....I look at it from a consumer's standpoint. If I want to tip for good, great, or crap service, it's my choice. I will let the provider worry about their like/dislike with their job.

After all....... it IS their job, yes?

Oh...and there's this: According to the BLS, in 2015, servers earned an average hourly wage of $11.07, or about $23,020 for the year.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Seems like UK and Australian restaurants pay a decent wage so tipping is only done when the service merits it. This string raises an interesting question: Why are (U.S.) restaurants exempt form minimum wage requirements? I've been to restaurants where I was highly annoyed the establishment added a 20% tip to my bill and while I usually give that much as a tip, it's good to know I can demand that be removed from the bill especially if terrible service deserves a lower amount.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You are absolutely right, places where tipping is frequent expect us the customers to pay the salary of the employees. Something we should be aware of, tipping is a courtesy shown to someone who serves us well. Let me repeat it, it is a courtesy NOT an obligation. When I see a place where the tip is added to the bill I simply go somewhere else.
In Europe you seldom see customers to tip on a regular basis. There is nothing that makes me more furious than to see in a bill a "suggested tip."

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

You really get "furious" over a 'suggested tip"?
How stupid that is; and a waste of emotion.

WorldTraveler Loc: San Antonio, TX, now in Greenfield IN

Some places I've seen put a tip if a party is more than 8 or so. Otherwise the tip is my choice.

Clint

dave.speeking Loc: Brooklyn OH

I decline the gratuity on the bill.
I simply give the server cash.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I don't tip these kind of food service places because it's there job to take your order and serve period.

jaydoc

I despise the system of tipping in th USA.
That said, I tip around 20%.
I think it is wrong that my waiter doesnt get paid enough to not require a tip.
I think it is wrong that the tip amount is usually figured off of the cost of the food.
I try to adjust for this. I've had great service in an inexpensive deli and bad service in an expensive steak house.
Many of us got our start in service jobs and I'm more than happy to contribute my share, I just think the system is flawed.
BTW, I also adjust my tip % for overpriced alcohol.

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

I retired from the military 32 years ago with 30 years service. It was common back then for low grade enlisted to qualify for assistance. My retirment pay was (is) based on my earning years pay which was quite low at the time. Nowadays the lower grades of enlisted make more than my retirment pay is now.

machia Loc: NJ

You're over simplifying things . Here in NJ we are all holding our collective breath . If the Democrat wins our property taxes will soar . The Democrat who is running for Governor promises "free" everything and vows to tax the rich for it . Ha ha ha ! The oldest trick in the book . If you do the math it just doesn't add up . But what does add up is that I'll have a hell of a lot more to pay in property taxes because I'm middle class . And we always end up paying for these "giveaways" and promises . And he wants to make us a Sancuary State ! That's a slap in the face to every man and woman who played by the rules all these years . I know State and local police and they are all disgusted with this idea .
Trump may be a flawed man , but his ideas are all about American self preservation . That's just plain arrogance in the Politically Correct playbook . Too bad , I'm done with that nonsense and the New Democrats . I blame the eight dead in NYC yesterday on them . Former NYPD commissioner Kerick is blaming them too . The New Democrats on security policies , taxes , immigration etc does not have the average American , the masses , in mind . Outside of a handful exceptions , the Democrats stink to high heaven . I'm vocal about my disdain for these policies , because these power hungry hypocrites sell the most vulnerable on words of compassion . And God forbid they " offend " anyone ! The eight dead in NYC received the ultimate offense . These so called understanding Leftist politicians are selling the American people a lot of garbage .
There is no " Robin Hood " to solve the complex problems that face us . Common sense solutions instead is and always was the answer . I wonder what happened to it ?
Judging your ideas on Capitalism , I'm starting to see what happened to it .
You and millions have been sold on Socialism and all the rotten ideas that go along with it . Have a nice day .

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Being enlisted you had the option of living on base and grubbing down in the chow hall. But were you married and living off-base your pay was likely inadequte. When you were in did your spouse get a stipend; I've forgotten about that part of the deal. As you wore out uniforms did they issue new.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

So basically, you don't know how capitalism works.

Got it.