Fascinating thread. I would hazard a guess that everybody I am supposed to tip so labishly already makes FAR more than I do.

Aren’t you a dog walker?

If tipping stopped at places such as restaurants then the cost of the food would go up due to having to pay servers a salary base. I would rather tip servers then pay for over priced food. You would cone out better and so would servers. Also, @kate i was a server/bartender as well a while ago and its considered stealing when one comps food/beverages without the approval of a manager. Usually when someone does this without managers approval its cause they want you to give a nicer tip. The hook up is really more or less I want a bigger tip. I agree with the rules of service tipping as well. The only one i do not agree on is the home health services as home health providers to me is not a tip service job its a medical service provider job and most people that require home health are the elderly and disabled who are on a fixed income. So I wouldnt suggest anyone giving a home health employee additional income without the approval of the home health agency and also most home health providers have policys that forbids them to accept gifts from their clients/patients. This is to protect their employees from accusations and to protect the clients/patients from being taken advantage of.

I mean, arguably the cost of your food should include the tip. Going to restaurant isn’t just about the food, you also get service. That should be paid for.

You should always go in expecting to pay what’s listed plus 20%. If you can’t afford that, they don’t go out. So, let’s just add that 20% to what’s actually printed on the page. It’s not making anything more expensive, it’s just codifying what we are already paying.

I live in Seattle, where the minimum wage is $15 an hour, even in tip establishments. A lot of restaurants have started adding a mandatory 20% service charge here. I’m fine with this, in these restaurants I tip less and really only when I get excellent service, as a genuine token of appreciation, just like I tip more than 20% in normal restaurants when I get really excellent food service.

So, the cost to eat out hasn’t really changed, just how its presented to you as the consumer.

Also, I would say there has not been a decline in the quality service in the establishments that include the automatic service charge.

In fact, from what I understand from my friends working in the service industry, they are desirable places to work because the base pay starts higher and guaranteed.

I agree about the quality of service. Though more so in stores than restaurants… most everyone in retail is so fucking clueless lately. Nobody knows the answer to any question Lately…