[TylerE]

> It's not like you get better or more food, or get the food faster since all that depends on the kitchen

Oh, trust me, go to a decent place, be a regular, tip decently (not even extravagantly), you absolutely get looked after. For instance, several of my usual lunch spots my usual fountain drink is often "water" on the bill.

[vel0city]

I've had similar experiences in all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Carribean where they stock your fridge. Leave a few bucks in the door of the fridge, it'll be overflowing. If you don't tip, you get the minimum. Tip the bell man well at the beginning of the trip, and every time you call the front desk things show up at your room real quick.

[fireflash38]

Isn't that then stealing from the owner?

I just don't think of a way you can have tipping and it not create perverse incentives like that.

[tarentel]

It's likely not like this everywhere but I've become a regular at a few places over my life time and asked about this. At least where I've been, it is actually all tracked. Generally, at least at bars, the people coming in and tipping well, are people who come in often and spend a lot to begin with so over the long run they end up making it back anyway. And honestly, when you're new to a city/place and don't have a lot of friends/are single, and you walk in somewhere and are greeted by name and served your usual without asking it's a nice retreat.

[exe34]

> so over the long run they end up making it back anyway

Yeah, they lose on the unit, but they make it back on the volume!

How are you both new to a city/place and they already know your name/usual before you've even tipped? Do they send runners out ahead with the information?

[TylerE]

Would you rather have 100% of a $20 account or 80% of a $2000 account?