[yjgyhj]

>Tipping culture also introduces uncertainty into pricing, and means that nicer people pay more and jerks get to pay less, for the same service.

Why is someone a jerk for not tipping? I pay for service provided - give me a receipt with the amount and I'll pay it, no problem. Let's end tipping, folks...

[CydeWeys]

It would require a legislative solution to end tipping. Until that happens, most restaurants pay their servers $2.13 an hour, with the rest of their pay coming from tips. If you don't tip at a restaurant that does make you a jerk. I don't like tipping culture either, but as long as you live in one, you've just gotta play along with it. Think of tips as an added tax on the price, and go out less if necessary to keep your costs under control.

[JCharante]

Isn't it $2.13 + tips if $2.13 + tips >= min. wage else min. wage ?

[scarmig]

Legally, yes.

But it's really hard to enforce, and if you were a waiter who consistently had to ask to be topped off to meet minimum wage, you might be putting yourself on thin ice with the manager.

[CydeWeys]

As scarmig says, it's hard to enforce, but even if it is correctly enforced, it's on a per-paycheck basis, not on a strict hourly basis. So imagine a server who makes an average of $20/hour with tips (which seems reasonable) -- if suddenly two-thirds of customers become tip abstainers then the server's pay will drop down to right around the normal minimum hourly wage. The top off only gets you up to poverty wages (keep in mind many server jobs are part-time); any lack of tipping above that point is pure loss for the server.

Also, I happen to be in Madrid right now, which doesn't have a tipping culture, and let me tell you that I've had some pretty bad service here. Way worse, on average, than in the United States.

[nso]

Yes

[_jal]

Complying with minimum-necessary legal obligations is insufficient to not be considered a jerk. There are many jerky things one can do that aren't illegal.

Stiffing someone, legally or not, because you'd like to see the renumeration system under which they're paid change is obnoxious. You're not sending a message[1] and you're not applying pressure where it could influence change[2]. You're underpaying someone who can't afford it, and have no room complain when people notice what you're doing. I personally do believe it reflects on character.

[1] Well, you are... just not the one you intended.

[2] To be clear, I'd love to see tipping go away, too.

[colmvp]

It's a social expectation. You can expect not to get great service at a restaurant or even have the staff ask if there was a problem if you didn't leave a tip.

I don't like it, but it is what it is.

[RX14]

I think the commenter means that jerks are less likely to tip drivers who do deserve it.