[Ben Mugged]

This has gotten way out of hand. Some businesses are adding 18 to 25% of the meal cost as service wages.

[Repulican Donkey]

There was a post on FR a couple weeks back about a restaurant that abolished tipping. Servers could opt for a $10/hr flat wage or 20% of the gross take from their tables during their shift. All opted for the 20%. Everybody wins! Servers push desserts, wines, appetizers and move people along to turn the table over to a new group. The owner is happy. He’s making more money and has a stable and experienced work force. The servers are very happy.

[Repulican Donkey]

There was a post on FR a couple weeks back about a restaurant that abolished tipping. Servers could opt for a $10/hr flat wage or 20% of the gross take from their tables during their shift. All opted for the 20%. Everybody wins! Servers push desserts, wines, appetizers and move people along to turn the table over to a new group. The owner is happy. He’s making more money and has a stable and experienced work force. The servers are very happy.

[Georgia Girl 2]

That’s why they call the US a free country. You are free not to go to restaurants where the gratuity is automatically added. You can stay home or go to Mickey Dee’s.

[logi_cal869]

I agree with you: Tips now are not what they were.

This concept intrigues me

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3165539/posts

[Labyrinthos]

This has gotten way out of hand. Some businesses are adding 18 to 25% of the meal cost as service wages.

Here's an idea: Don't go to these places. End of problem. I'm a big fan of "eat what you kill" pubs and restaurants where waitstaff does not split their tips with there co-workers. I tipp well -- very well - but I tip a lot less when I know my tip is going to someone I never saw at my table.

[Arthur McGowan]

Over time the businesses noticed their servers were making a lot of money in tips so they reduced their pay to minimum wage. The difference between that and what you should have been paid was made up by tipping. In other words the burden of paying the server moved from the business to the customer.

First of all, if the staff stayed rather than seeking employment elsewhere, what gripe does anybody have? None.

Second, ALL the money ALWAYS comes 100% from the customer.

[right way right]

I went to a mens breakfast gathering at Dennys and the waitress added the tip to the ticket.
Has this become the norm?
It ticked me off. I threw a 10$ bill and told the cashier that I did not appreciate that practice. It was actually a few cents short.
I told her she should call the cops or pay it and walked out. Nobody stopped me.
I typically tip 20% for polite attentive service.