Originally Posted by
PaulMSN
No, it's not -- it's called making up for lousy wages. In some cases, though, including some upscale restaurants, it's not even that, because the base wages are good enough, so if you tip 15-20% you're giving a whole lot of "respect". In my opinion, tipping should be purely a reflection of the service provided, not an expected add-on, but I don't see the pay structure ever changing in the US.
I like the German way of rounding up. It's a little random, but if you really liked the service you could always add more.
I agree that the first 15% or so of a US tip is just a weird way of having the customer directly pay the employee wage.
I actually doubt that upscale restaurants pay more. Since the service staff will make more in tips, they will be happy to work at such places.
The doorman job at nice Vegas hotels is actually sold off, and for quite a large sum of cash I hear. (Maybe true, maybe not)
But regardless of whether the system is stupid or not, it is what is is.
No tip == poor service, and that is not "extortion", it is part of the transaction.
When the OP chose his words carefully he basically said "I will ignore the local custom, and if they do not act like they would at home then they are wrong".
Flip side of an ugly American.