Originally Posted by
orthar
I am going to guess that such self-righteousness comes from someone who thinks that the only 'global cities' in the world are located in the US?
And this is coming from someone who has lived in NYC for many years. Just because he can afford to pay a 20% tip on a 500$ meal doesn't mean it makes sense, or that he should.
"Global Cities" means just that: Global. Moscow, London, Rio, NYC, Tokyo, Shanghai, etc. The point is that in many ways these cities have very similar, but exposure to these places gives you awareness that tipping customs vary radically. Customs within US cities seem to vary less, even from urban to rural.
It is difficult to argue that 20% inherently 'makes sense'. I am just saying that it is part of the custom to tip (in US restaurants). I personally admire those that tip and down based on performance, but there is a starting point around which those equations should be based and in the US, that seems to me to be 15-18% at restaurants.