why don't restaurants add a % to the meal costs knowing that a certain amount will go to the chef and a certain amount to the waitress/waiter, a % going to the person cleaning the tables/dishes/room and the rest goes to the owner... I'm all for tips, but unless it states you MUST tip, surely they should get what the person can afford or feels they want to leave?

I'm English and have been to New York a few times. One of the times I went with my best friend and took him to a restaurant I fell in love with on a precious trip. We left money on the table for the bill and were unsure how much to tip so roughly worked it out and left a few dollars more just in case. The waitress followed us out of he restaurant and across the road to say we hadn't tipped enough. Unbelievable.

What is it with the us and forced tipping. as a rebuttal for the waiter claiming that "if you cant afford the tip, then i suggest you choose a more suitable establishment" would be "if you can't afford to live on the wage, then i suggest you choose a more suitable job". It's the responsability of the employer to pay the staff, not of the patrons. Tipping started as a way for patrons to help a staffer cause of poor wage, but was in no way or means an obligation. You have a job for a wage, if your job doesn't pay you enough, take it to your employer, not the patrons.

I once went out with a group of colleagues to a pretty cheesy sports bar after work. Our server was surly, gruff and most absent for most of the night. When the bill came around we all agreed that we'd only tip her 10%. She had the gall to not only confront us, but also had a giant bouncer standing behind her. A woman in our group gave her an earful, and soon the terrible server was backing away from us, and the bouncer was trying hard not to laugh. Justice served.

As an American, I think tipping is garbage. Ill tip if you earned it, don't expect it. Your salary is up to you and your boss. I am already supporting you but coming to dine. If you don't like the pay, find another job.

As a Brit, I simply don't understand Americans and tipping, you are paid by the restuarant to be there and the customer pays the restaurant for his/her meal, a tip is extra money not a right in most countries.

What c**p, i have also owned a cafe and while not in the US my staff were payed a wage, any tips they got were deserved bonuses for good service. I have been to the US and you are not charging customers less, just paying less, a customer shoukd not pay the wages of your staff, mistakes happen they were giving ten dollars, if a wait staff person got a ten dollar tip in Oz they woukd be elated that someone thought so highly of them. TEN DOLLARS is another meal, the US policies for wait staff are criminal.

When did 15% not become the standard tip? I go up to 20% if the service is very good, but 15% is what I was taught you were supposed to tip. Have I been a jerk my whole life? Which would be very strange because my mother has been a waitress almost my entire life.

If that tool worked in my restaurant I would have fired her. Humiliating customers is a find way to loose business. Pathetic this server hasn't realized that in the hospitality industry there will always be cheapo's, people who behave as if giving a tip is a holy act, and then, always too, the customers who surprise us all with their generosity.

This is 5% about getting a common topic with a date, 5% about tipping, and 90% about how remuneration system in US restaurants is severely out of order. If paying less than 15% tip means the sever will end up underpaid, this should be included in the normal bill. Systems in which, if any at all, tip is given only for astonishingly unusual service are much more pleasant. For all now saying that bad service should also be "compensated": if you experience really bad service, tell the restaurant about it. Half-decent places will understand and instead of you paying less tip and still being frustrated, an extra dessert or something similar will settle the situation for both sides.

So America how about start paying your staff and stop with this stupid tip system since it's not even a tip, it's an obligatory payment for the staff!!!!

I used to work at Jack Astors in Toronto. One night we were down staffed and I was asked to cover a 16 people table by myself. They were important guests so I wasn't allowed to have more tables. They spent only $480 and left no tip. When I asked my manager he didn't let me talk to the table as per company policy. They also made me pay $34 of my own money as tip out to the kitchen staff and managers. Seriously?

After reading almost the entire comment section, here is what I understand : waiters are'nt paid a decent wage. Therefore, customers feel bad for them and leave a tip to compensate their s****y income. Therefore, the boss says "hey, I don't need to pay you that much since you're getting great tips !" and pays them even less. Customers feel even worse for them and give them even greater tips. The boss says "hey, I don't have to pay you that much, you're making great money from the customers !"... Soooo... In my understanding, the more you tip the waiters, the less their employer pays them, or what ? What would happen if ALL THE CUSTOMERS decided one day "This system sucks, we're sick of paying waiters wages from our own pockets, NO MORE TIPS !" ?