[Jamestown1630]

I’m not sure what you mean - does the ‘tip’ way or the other way, stifle service?

The ‘tip’ way of doing things relies on BOTH SIDES doing right.

Some people are really stingy, and never tip; and others tip as little as possible, regardless of the level of service. I’ve been out with this sort, and it’s embarrassing as hell - everybody else just chucks in more, to make up for the stingy ones’ failure and lack of ‘class’.

In a situation like that, a waiter or waitress could go above and beyond, and still get treated poorly.

(In countries where tipping is not generally a custom, it is still permitted, and appreciated, when you want to show appreciation for the staff excelling.)

[Prince of Space]

Have you ever been to Europe and eaten in a restaurant? I went to England in 1981. The servers were slow and didn’t seem to care about the level of service they gave. They got paid whether the service was barely passable or above and beyond so most of them didn’t really try and actually seemed irritated when a guest had a question or needed assistance.

It sounds like you’re against tip staff getting any sort of tax break that you’re not getting. That’s pry how it feels when homeowners get a mortgage interest break on their tax return that renters can’t claim. Life isn’t fair sometimes.

[OldGoatCPO]

Tipping is out of hand. But so is the economy. I tip based on service, my wife of 30 years, claims it’s based on the waitress flirting with me, but that is a different discussion.😀

If you are being paid $15 dollars per hour to wait on tables, I am not tipping. Been to Europe, tips are appreciated but not required. Unlike others I did get good service in Europe. At one restaurant, I left a five euro tip. My son’s fiancé picked it up and handed it back to me, she is from Europe. She said it is not required nor was the service so good it warranted a tip. Only in tourist areas, with lots of Americans, do they look for tips.