Originally Posted by kuroneko

Urr....your value judgements aside, Americans have to pay non-refundable VAT on resto bills in Europe as well as "service fees", which is essentially the same as tips. At least a tip is discretionary in the U.S. and not a compulsory fee imposed to support the European social system that provides the American zero benefit. And IME, you still customarily have to leave a 5-10% tip on top of that in Europe anyway.

I would also point out that tipping was a custom exported from Europe to America.

Glass houses....