On Sat, 02 Feb 2013 11:10:42 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 02/02/2013 10:47 AM, Gary wrote:
>
>> For example... say for a party of 2-3 people and the bill comes to $100.
>> Rather than pay $118, I will pay $125-130. We are talking a small
>> difference of 7-12 dollars extra here for a tip to help out a good waitress
>> who probably makes about $3 per hour plus tips.
>>
>> Your bill would be at least $118 (with an 18% tip). Will it kill you to add
>> a few more dollars and make someones day?
>
>Okay... turn it around..... if it is a small difference it shouldn't
>affect the server if you don't leave it.
>
>
>> IMO, people that are tight with tipping should stay home and cook.
>
>
>I don't have a problem with the amount so much as I do with the
>institution of tipping, the idea that some people should be so poorly
>paid that they have to depend on the generosity of their customers to
>make a decent living. I am all in favour of a system like they have in
>places like the Netherlands, Germany and (most of) France where tax and
>service are included in the menu price, so what you see is what you pay.
>If you order 6 items ate 5 Euros, your bill is 30 Euros.... no extras
>for tax, no calculating what is appropriate for a tip.
>
>
>Bear mind that a tip, or gratuity, by definition, is voluntary. Some
>people in the business have come to expect it, a sort of entitlement.
>Not only that, the expect to be tipped a percentage on the entire bill,
>including the tax. Worse yet, they argue that because of inflation the
>percentage should be higher, suggesting a minimum of 20%.
>
>Then we hear the argument that if you can afford to go out for dinner
>you can afford to leave a big tip. Screw that. If they want to jack up
>their prices with outrageous markups I am already paying a lot for the
>luxury of going out to eat. For instance, we went to a place last
>summer where they charge $14 for glass of wine, about the same price as
>a whole bottle of that particular wine. That means a 500-600% markup on
>the wine.
>
>
>I am supposed to pay 15% on top of that for a service...... $12 to pour
>the wine into a glass and walk 20 feet to the table?? Hold it.... no,
>that is not enough..... it is an expensive restaurant, and if I can
>afford to pay their high prices I should be able to afford 20%.. Not
>when I am already being gouged. Sorry, but that is a racket.
>
>
>
So you're going to retaliate against the lowest, most helpless figure
on the totem pole? You can argue your indignation against a system
you don't like but you don't affect the restaurant owner one iota
unless you stay home and don't eat out. When you eat out and pay your
bill, the restaurant still gets all their profit, doesn't make any
difference to their bottom line whether you tip or not.
Janet US