Originally Posted by
pacer142
Which, IMO, is bribery, not a tip.
A tip to me is a "bonus" given to a waiter or whoever as a reward for having provided good service. It isn't a bribe given in advance to ensure good service. Quite a difference.
I don't know if there's such a difference. The purpose of tipping IS to provide an incentive for good service. Whether it's at the beginning or the end or throughout the service doesn't really matter, does it? A larger than normal gratuity to a bartender at the start of an evening at the bar or to a concierge at the beginning of a hotel stay can be a very smart strategy.