Posr 118 is the best argument yet for why the service charge should be automatically included and not left to the discretion of whatever deadbeat patron happens to dine at the restaurant that evening.
Then why is it only America that doesn’t pay for servers properly?
Because the restaurant owners lobby for it, and the servers like the income tax evasion aspect of it.
If they had better wages, wouldn’t they be earning more money, even after income tax?
Is it more work for a server to carry a $25 steak on one plate than a $10 hamburger on one plate?
Re Poat 124: in calculating your tip on the hamburger, have you considered that it is no LESS work to serve you the $10 hamburger than it would have been to serve you the $25 steak? Didn’t think so, even though the logic goes both ways.
The $3 extra is not worth getting all wound up about. If I can buy the steak I can afford the extra $3 tip than the $10 hamburger. With a lower cost item I usually tip a higher percentage.
I hate tipping but I always feel guilty if I don’t which is why I often go to restaurants that have a no tipping policy.
Let’s see if we can explain things to @Paul2752:
Despite the fact that you can leave a restaurant without tipping and not get arrested, in fact tipping servers is not optional. It’s how we pay for their services, since the tab only covers a very small portion of their wages. So when you don’t leave a tip, or leave an inadequate one, you are basically engaging in a theft of services. Now stop thinking that leaving a tip is some kind of noblesse oblige and instead pay what you owe. Or eat at home.
There are two Jiffy Lubes that I sometimes go to. Both seem to do about the same in terms of changing my oil, but one has much more snappy service than the other–offering water, showing me where the restroom is, etc. No tipping at either one.
I guess one advantage of doing away with tipping is that after that happens, we can justifiably blame the management of a restaurant if the service is lacking.
And that brings us back to —why not just get rid of it? If it’s not optional why not just put the cost of the service into the price of the meal and pay the servers accordingly. That way you don’t have to worry about people who leave nothing.
(But yes, until that happens, one shouldn’t leave without leaving a tip…)
So many flashbacks to Reservoir Dogs reading this thread.
DW and I have been in Seoul for the last several days and the restaurant prices here all include tax and tipping is not expected. Even better, things are all priced in round numbers. Last night, for example, when we each ordered a W9000 meal and a W3000 beer, the bill came to exactly W24,000 (approximately $20). No tax, no tip; I just handed them W30,000 and got 2 bills in change. No annoying coins. If I would have paid by credit card I would have just been given a receipt for W24,000. End of story.
I prefer this to the U.S. system very much.
Major chain jumping on the No Tipping bandwagon:
http://www.eater.com/2015/11/9/9700130/joes-crab-shack-no-tipping-policy
“Following the lead of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group and other trailblazing restaurants in the United States, national seafood chain Joe’s Crab Shack is eliminating tipping from restaurants in participating markets. Servers will start at $14 and hour, according to Restaurant Business, and the bumped wages will be offset by price increases of 12 to 15 percent.”
“Testing of the new policy began in August and is still being rolled out across the country. Participating markets include Indianapolis, Omaha, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh.”
I remember being shocked at the menu prices the first time I visited Sweden (back in 1991). There is no tipping and their hefty tax is already included in the price. So, what you see is shocking, but it turns out to be about the same as factoring in tax and tip here.
Much fairer for the servers to have it automatically included. H had an Uncle who would refuse to even pay the tax on his restaurant bill, which just meant that whoever he ate with would have to pay it. He’s dead now and we’re all glad.
Sherpa, jealous! I’d prefer to be eating in Seoul. I was there at this time last year. The yellow ginko leaves, the steamy and cozy restaurants, the spicy and lovely food…enjoy!
@“great lakes mom” as a Korean, I m glad you had good experience in Korea 
“I remember being shocked at the menu prices the first time I visited Sweden (back in 1991). There is no tipping and their hefty tax is already included in the price. So, what you see is shocking, but it turns out to be about the same as factoring in tax and tip here.”
Yes!!
I just got back from Paris. No tipping there (but I did leave a tip in the hotel room for the maid).
Even more civilized than the no-tipping in restaurants was that a glass of wine cost less than a glass of Coke.
Wow really? I would livke to go Paris