One thing I like about Europe that I don't like in the U.S. - not having to tip(such as while dining) because the employees already get a decent wage; although I understand that a token tip for good service is customary. I feel like tipping(in N. America) is more of an obligation than a show of appreciation. I also hate, by employees, the constant "suggestion" of tipping.
For those not from the U.S. A few notes on tipping in the U.S.
1) Tax, which can be as much as 10%, should not be included when figuring out a tip.
2) Never ask the person serving you how much you should tip! they will almost always give you an inflated amount. I asked a person serving a drink - was told 20%! how about 10%? (although, if you sit, $1.00 per person is generally considered to be minimum).
3) If the person is an owner of the establishment, it is NOT customary to tip them.
4) Self serve buffets and the like are just that - self serve. But if there is good service with the buffet(like at the Ritz I give 15% anyway), 10% should be adequate. Also, busing(cleanup) tables is not customary to tip for.
I think that tipping is more of a company's way of getting the customer to pay the employee's wage. I certainly don't mind tipping if someone does a person favor(favour for you Brits *s*), for really really good service, or if someone goes out of their way for me; but, I dislike the idea of tipping when someone simply does their job. I do tip the customary amount, usually slightly more, but I don't like it.
My peeves:
#1. I dislike tipping for a service that is provided as part of what I am already paying for. Like a Taxi...why can't they be paid a decent wage to their job? I am already paying for a ride, how personal is that? yes...they might take the time to point out things if I am new in town, maybe that deserves a tip, but simply giving a ride...that is what I am paying for!
#2. Employees soliciting tips!! I don't know how many fast food places I have been that have tip jars...it is fast food!!...I have to pick up my own food, the act of preparing food is what I am already paying for! At one fast food place, the two owners actually had the nerve to put a tip jar out for themselves!...they own the place!! ..they are not employees!
#3. While in Las Vegas, it is usually customary to tip the Black Jack dealer if they were nice and you won; however, did you know that all the tips go into a central collection that is then equally distributed to all the dealers equally? This was explained to me as a IRS requirement so that the IRS would know how much each the dealers were tipped. I say the IRS is probably overstepping their bounds, but, since it is the way things are, the collection of tips really amount to a "wage" that is paid by the customers. The Casino should take care of wages themselves and leave me out of it. My tips weren't intended to pay the whole staff, they were for the individual - so, I no longer plan to tip at the casinos since the individual can't keep it.
#4. A business that has signs indicating how I should tip...why don't they pay a good wage first!
In my younger days, I worked at a number of service jobs and never expected a tip nor asked for one. At one job, I occasionally got a tip, but it was not common and considered a special bonus - never expected or requested; ...and I was always happy to do special requests...again, no tip nor was it expected.
I wish more businesses would put up signs like "Our staff is paid well, no tip is expected. We are happy to serve you!"
How did all this tipping come about? Maybe a long time ago there weren't waiters or waitresses and someone walked into a eating establishment and said "let me bring your food to you, so you don't have to get up" and tipping was born...but now, since it is part of the meal, lets drop it!
We could do the opposite:
tipping fees:
Would you like your food cooked? 20% tip.
Do you want your salad tossed? another 20%
Want eating utensils to help with that food? 25%
Need a napkin? 5%
Want to come inside out of the cold? 30%
Want to sit down? another 20%
Want us to kill the cow or do you want to? 40% if we do it.
ok, no tips, but in order to eat you have to:
Kill the cow
butcher the cow
light the grill
Slap the steak on the grill
set table
could make this list of "personal" services very long, but how about?..just give me one price, then pay be taxes, staff, and overhead out of the total and keep the rest for your profit. On this issue, Europe wins my vote.