Originally Posted by
nacho
What about going to buffett in the US? Why do you have to leave tip on the table, or at the carving station, or at the dessert station?
I live in Scandinavia and tipping is not a custom. I absolutely agree that tipping is a bribe - because the person who serve you do a bit more than it's required and that he/she is expecting something in return.
I can only speak for myself. In a buffet, we leave a small tip for the people who clear the table after you leave and often ask you for beverage refills and other misc. needs.
Like it or not, tipping is customary in our culture. To some degree it is is a bribe. It is a carrot on a stick. I have heard that the term "tip" originally meant
To
Insure
Promptness.