Originally Posted by trouble747

Always get a kick out of reading the insane justifications people come up with for not tipping in situations where it is customary.

I personally would not blame someone for failing to have cash on hand at a lounge where they're drinking complimentary drinks--I always make sure to have some when traveling, but I'm sure bartenders in these types of situations know that they frequently will not be getting tipped (if for no other reason than many travelers simply won't be carrying cash).

That said--I roll my eyes at all this nonsense about 'enabling' employers to pay less. Throughout our economy (certainly in the U.S.) there are service workers who customarily have received a gratuity (indeed certain self-employed individuals rely solely upon voluntary tips). Naturally this is taken into account when their wage is set by an employer. You're not going to change the system by refusing to tip (a purported act of defiance that just happens to personally benefit you above anyone else).

Though I'd be perfectly fine with restaurants simply adopting a mandatory 20% service charge so that folks who don't seem to understand that they're paying the worker's wage no matter how they're paid will stop whining about it.