Why bother to tip? At least here in Australia we don’t have that problem. Tipping is unacceptable as in most of the Pacific Rim from Japan down.
That's because in Australia waiters are guaranteed a minimum wage of about $15/hr. Here the system that has emerged over the last hundred years is that waiters get a crap hourly wage and work for tips. Now, which country has a greater incentive for good service?
Ancient American custom.
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My favorite aunt was a hair stylist when I was a boy, and she would frequently favor me with a large handful of the coins she received as tips. I've been conditioned to think well of tipping :)
I have two close friends who bartend. The hourly wage is $2.50 an hour, tips are expected to make up the difference between that and minimum wage. One, a very good bartender makes over 3K a month.
If I get good service I tip. Down at my favorite watering hole I walk in and my beer is waiting for me at my favorite bar stool. I pay $2 for the beer and leave a $5 tip.