Generally I will never tip. I think its a backward practice that should be eliminated. Its patronising to staff and in some cases bordering on corruption - ie a means of securing resources from a provider that you're not entitled to. I have my contract with the service provider, not with staff in their employment. If extra payment is needed for something then it should be billed for. I refuse to take responsibility for the remuneration of somebody else's staff. As for 1-to-1 service, eg a taxi, then if there's a meter that's what I should pay.

Of course I realise that staff are often low paid - but this is not my problem - and in any case countries where tipping is the norm are not necessarily the ones where staff are lowest paid.

Most of the posters seem US based - fortunately for me (in this respect, and for hotel workers!) I don't visit the US very much. My observation is that despite the apparent love of this practice in the US, service doesn't seem any better for it.

When I do tip, its as little as possible - and usually under duress.

If I get to know staff well enough, then I might give them something on important occasions - eg the Lunar New Year in Vietnam (where I stay alot), a gift for their children etc. Over time, I might "do stuff" for them and they might "do stuff" for me. This seems to make for a much nicer relationship than the crass "you gave me a roll of loo paper, here's US$5".