That's really odd considering they may need ones later on.

I don't tip because I have a heart. I tip for good service. Tips aren't charity; they are payment for services rendered. That said, if the service is bad, the tip will reflect that. Customers shouldn't have to ask for the denominations of change. Good wait staff never assumes that.

Do you have ways of seeing what's in people's wallets? When ATMs start dispensing 5s and 1s, you might have more support for your supposition.

tip(s) is an acronym. To Insure Proper Service. The tip is supposed to be given before any order/transaction is done. But that is no longer the case. I think the whole idea of tipping is outdated and screwed up. no one is supposed to give a tip. it is just a way of showing you did a good job. when i wait tables or bartend. i always give all their change back even if they say the rest is for you. i consider it to be rude when a waitperson gives me a great deal of change. but then again, what if i am giving you the right change. if youve got the cash and paying with big bills im gonna give you the 20's back for a big tip. but im not that way, just would like you to see the opposite side of it. then again, im in grb which is nothing like the outside world.

I never knew that a tip is an acronym. Learn something new everyday. That said, why would anyone pay for their meal including the tip before they received it unless they were at a cafeteria which would then eliminate the need for waitstaff?

not to pay for your meal before you get it. think of the idea behind the way the acronym reads. just like you would tip the mater'd for a nice table. if you didnt you would get an ordinary table, or lets say you slide a 20 across the coutner at a hotel and you get a better room. works on the same premise. if i were to be tipped generously before anything went down, i would be hell bent on making sure that table was taken care of. if bartending, a few free drinks would be given.

omt - it could also work against you, that is what i think most people are afraid of. the waitperson may think, i already got the tip, why do i need to do anything more? i understand the reason why that doesnt happen anymore. but i think people may be surprised at the honesty and morals of some waitstaff.

In the examples you give above, you are paying under the table for an improvement and/or upgrade. It's not for standard good service. In addition, it takes a few seconds to lead you to a nice table and a few seconds to go through a computer to find the upgraded hotel room. Waiter service is constant and in fact laborious. Also, I tip a percentage of the bill. I haven't ordered yet so I am not going to guess what the amount should be. In addition, wait staff turnover is huge.....why offer a gratuity in advance of knowing if the person will actually provide such good service? Lastly, many pay by credit card and add the gratuity to the check on the card.

i completely understand this, was just trying to explain. going to a restaurant and ordering and the waiter well doing their job is standard service. its all a given. yes there is always an expception to the rule. this is just my thinking, im not trying to pursuade or start something but just think of this. why suffer through a bad experience and leave a bad tip to show your dissatisfaction. but instead give a five or some small tip to get the waitstaff to do well in anticipation for a nice tip in the end. i have done this a couple times at nicer restaurants in the area and has worked out well. ive also done this when at a bar. give them a five or ten when you know your going to be there for an extended period of time and ive seen free drinks and shots come. never have to wait for a refill. just an idea.

Most etymologists have dismissed this theory.

William and Mary Morris posit that tip is a corruption of stipend (from the Latin stips, meaning "gift").

Here's the majority opinion, which concurs with the OED's etymology.

There's no legitimate reason NOT to have a proper mix of cash and coins on hand. It's inexcusable. Make a daily bank run and solve the problem. It's as bad as running out of food.

Wow. Based on response #1, you must have loads of relationship success, and based on response #3, you're clearly not in the service industry.

Deleted.

maybe we have to get to the root of peoples opinions. the group that thinks its "unexcusable" and the other who thinks its not. Who has worked in the service industry ie waitperson, busser, bartender etc.?

just curious.

I have.

Actually, I've been married 26 years.

And as to #3, 95% of your problems come from 5% of of your customers. Lose them and you've eliminated most of your problems. The customer is not always right. The three dollar tippers are taking up valuable space.