This reminds me of my favourite episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun. When at a restaurant, Dick places a pile of bills on the table and calls the server over. He explains that this is the potential tip and for everything the server does to please him, he will add to the pile and for everything the server does that displeases him will result in a deduction from the pile. There's logic to that!

Having said that, I come from a country with a minimum wage of approx $12 US per hour for all workers. Tipping happens but if you do tip (and it's passed to the employee, not always the case) then it's a bonus on top of that wage.

It frustrates me, and so many others, that the US system of almost compulsory tipping is to compensate for a poor base pay, in some cases $1-2 per hour. While I would never take that out on the employees, I really would prefer not to have to tip out of guilt.

Don't get me wrong, I do tip well when in the US, but coming back from a Business trip I may have receipts for meals, taxis, drinks to the value of $1200, but actually have spent $1500. My accounts department still don't quite understand the tipping thing. Yes I could tip on my credit card, but not for things like taxis, bell staff etc and it adds up fast!