Tipping sucks.

[conuly]

Seriously. I hate the idea of mandatory tipping because I know you have to tip, or else you're stiffing your server of his/her pay. Restaurants here are allowed to pay less than minimum wage (which sucks anyway) because the assumption is that they're getting tipped. The argument against just paying minimum wage is that "well, if we did that, the prices would have to be higher", which sounds like a good argument until you realize the prices wouldn't be any higher than they already are. I mean, the prices in the menus would be higher, sure, but you're already paying what they would be. You already know, when you go out to dinner, that if you're buying a $10 meal you need to budget for $12. Since you're already planning to spend that much, why not just add it onto the menu prices, thus eliminating the financial loss wrought by bad tippers AND making tipping a completely free and honest assessment of a job well done?

Comments

[ladytalon.livejournal.com]

I don't mind it so much. It forces me to do maths in my head, but.. it's the easiest way to do something about your server if they're horrible to you, and also if they're wonderful, you can express that.

But tipping customs are very confusing and convoluted, especially to visiting foreigners. =\