one thing that troubles me as much, if not more, than automatic tipping, is tip inflation.

i can't pinpoint when it started. a customary restaurant tip is 15% of the pre-tax subtotal. but around 15 years ago, i noticed some "trendy" restaurants that included "tipping guides" that recommended 18-20%. i do not mind tipping 20% for extraordinary service beyond what i would expect for that class of restaurant (i.e., 3-star v. denny's), and usually the subtotal is higher in high-class places anyway. i happily ignored these "guides," which often tried to cover up their pretense by saying they were for foreign guests unfamiliar with US tipping customs.

(of course, there was also the long-standing custom of adding an 18% gratuity to parties of six or more. while i often saw the 18% calculated on the post-tax total, i never objected as i felt i understood the reason for the gratuity, and i'm not sure what i would accomplish anyway.)

this trend seems to have spread everywhere, to the point that 18% or 20% is often quoted as the new standard. some people even act like 15% is an insult. and i have seen people brag about tipping 25%, and perhaps even 30%. yet, so far as i know, the IRS assumes that tips, at least in the restaurant industry, to be 15% (and i have never met a server who reported their actual tips, instead of accepting the assumed 15% for their taxes).

so not only should the tip not be automatically added, it should start at 15%, subject to adjustment (+/-) based on the level of service.