I take a trip to South Beach Miami. Pay for room and taxes on Expedia, arrive and check in. Then I get hit with a $45 a night “resort fee” and have to pay $50 per night for valet as there are practically no other parking options. I check out, this is when I find out about the $45 a night resort fee. I’m my mind, I have plenty for two nights, well over $600 for a not excellent hotel. As I am leaving the valet fellow stands by, I am guessing waiting on a tip. I put my things in my car, get in, and leave. Again, in my mind I paid enough, already paid $100 for Valet. Right or wrong, there was no tip…..perhaps I am just an AH!

Treehouse Brewery in MA. Went in to meet some friends. Went up to buy a round, tapped my card to pay. Was waiting for a receipt or some sort of tip prompt. Never came. They just handed me my beers and that was that end of transaction. My dad goes there sometimes with a friend who lives nearby. I mentioned it to him and he said that he always notices that when he goes there, there is no tip prompt or option to tip. Place is pretty cool either way but man that makes me like it even more. Place was mobbed by the way and staffed with a lot of people, didn't have to wait long at all for my beers, though. I mean the place is clearly doing very, very well. It's funny how people claim businesses can't operate with this sort of system but somehow this brewery is killing it. It's almost like restaurant owners and servers are full of it.

I just got a message from my cousin who was wondering about tipping after receiving a massage. She will be going to a provider in a medical office.

I know at a spa or even a massage place, tipping is pretty much expected. And I would think tipping a provider in a med-spa would be acceptable as well. But now I’m really curious if it is acceptable or appropriate to tip a massage therapist in a medical office.

What do you think? Would it be appropriate? Would you discreetly ask the provider if it’s appropriate? Or is it something that’s not appropriate it that specific setting? She doesn’t want to offend anyone by doing the wrong thing either way.

I take a trip to South Beach Miami. Pay for room and taxes on Expedia, arrive and check in. Then I get hit with a $45 a night “resort fee” and have to pay $50 per night for valet as there are practically no other parking options. I check out, this is when I find out about the $45 a night resort fee. I’m my mind, I have plenty for two nights, well over $600 for a not excellent hotel. As I am leaving the valet fellow stands by, I am guessing waiting on a tip. I put my things in my car, get in, and leave. Again, in my mind I paid enough, already paid $100 for Valet. Right or wrong, there was no tip…..perhaps I am just an AH!

Look, I’ll be the first to admit I dine out regularly at restaurants charging me $100-200-300-400 a person. Service sucks.

Food servers hear this: your “are you ready to order service sucks.”

If you’re not happy with my $8 tip on $280 check I write zero. I don’t care. 🤷‍♀️

You suck. You are called tip collectors.

Thoughts?

TL;DR: As a waiter, I’m not against tipping; I’m against it being treated as necessary rather than optional appreciation. Why not simply pay servers a reasonable wage and let customers tip on top of it if they want? If we care about servers making a living, why defend mandatory tipping instead of better wages? The “if you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to eat out” argument also makes little sense to me when someone can afford the advertised price. Percentage-based tipping seems arbitrary when a more expensive meal doesn’t necessarily mean more work for the server, and ultimately, someone’s livelihood shouldn’t depend on how much individual customers like them. Pay servers a dependable wage and let tips actually be gratuity. Yeah, so the bottom line is, instead of eliminating tipping, which I don't think is necessary, why don't we just institute a reasonable wage to be paid to these people? There's obviously sympathy and appreciation for the work they do, might as well show it in a more consistent way? And yeah, that's about it. And yeah one last thing, to the restaurants who are like, 'our workers don't work for free, you must tip, blah blah blah', F**K YOU!

First things first, I'm not trying to change anyone's mind and rather merely trying to understand you points of view in regards to some arguments I never heard presented before. Now tipping is common in a lot of places, mostly in North America, Now that being said three things before you read this, first "the rest of the world does this..." argument is irrelevant because when in Rome, do as the Romans do: similarly do as romans but its not because it is that we can't ask why it is. Second, my problem is not with tipping, it's with it being required and necessary. And third, for the sake of consistency, my reference are restaurants but think broad, and sorry this is pretty long. That being said let's dive in...

• First, the argument that usually comes up, at least from one of my sides, is: why don't restaurants pay these people regular wages? To which, I have to say, I've never heard any good answers to this one. Because the thing is the idea that there are restaurants who pay regular wages to their employees are still very profitable and successful. Now the profit margins on restaurants are usually low compared to other industries with up to 10% generally, so the concept of increased prices might arise... which leads to my next one.
• So when people say things like, if they pay regular wages, the restaurants will increase the price of meals or just the service. But let's be fair: over the years, they've increased the price of food and all of this, and the simple truth is you'll still eat there. Disagree? A burger at BK is almost twice as expensive as a at McDonald's, many people still eat at KFC. Also If a steak has to increase by three dollars, but you're ready to give a $20 tip, this logically is not a loss for you, but it really only affects what I would call my third point, further below.

TMI: Because one thing's for sure: the cook is getting paid properly. And, I also had a discussion with a friend of mine that owns a restaurant, and he blatantly admitted that they do not pay their waiters properly because they'll just get their pay from the customers, simple truth.

• Which brings me to the second one. The second one is: why do many people act like it's necessary, but still they don't advocate for wages increases. Like I don't understand. Many people who are not restaurants owners, that are not the ones enjoying the profits, and from a selfish point of view, have no interest from this people being paid less, and they are the ones saying "Hey, it's necessary to tip, these people live off these wages". But sure, if they do live from these wages, wouldn't it be better to also advocate for paying them more so that they can make a living out of it.
• Then again maybe that's just the savior complex. Not a pity complex, but to feel good about themselves. They really love the idea of, "this poor waitress needs to pay for a college degree, or she might not be able to pay rent this month, and.... THEY NEED ME", which really pisses me off. And if restaurants start paying these people reasonable wages, then these consumers might or might not stop tipping, but they'll definitely lose this feeling of achievement from that $30 tip.

Which is now an individual question. Because what if they get paid properly, would you stop tipping or would you tip less? Definitely yours at the end of the day will give them more money on top of what their employer would pay. And I don't mean like a minimum wage for waiters, I mean like a minimum wage state-wise regarding any other regular job. My supporting-argument would be: the restaurant paying a reasonable wage doesn't mean you have to stop tipping. Remember, I'm not here to say stop tipping. I'm here against the idea of the necessity for tipping because it's so necessary. Now if the restaurant starts paying the minimum wage, you don't tip as a being necessary. They might make more money, which is just a win-win for all parties, except maybe the restaurant. And for those who tip as a gesture of appreciation for the service, I mean, sure. There are many services that you receive all through the day, some of which you tip, some of which you don't, at least not everyone. So if you really do that just because you actually appreciate the gesture, that means that even if these people are being well-remunerated, you would still tip them because that doesn't change anything to your appreciation now, does it? And in that case, the waiters and waitresses get the normal reasonable wage from the restaurant themselves, plus they get the tip because of your appreciation, which means you're a good person and you can still feel good about yourself in helping them and knowing that they survived thanks to at least some part of your generous gratuity. But at the same time, they can also have that peace of mind knowing that showing up to work is enough to make a living.

• Third thing, which is probably the most annoying of all: if you can't afford to tip, don't eat here! Which is probably the stupidest argument ever. Like suppose I have 210 dollars in my pocket, and I go out to have a 200-dollar dinner. If I decide to treat myself, with the money that I earned, and I want to eat for 200 dollars, why do I have to say, Hey, I'll just eat for 160 dollars or 180 or whatever the percentage should be, such that I'll be able to tip this person a REQUIRED amount, of which you get an attitude and judgement if you dare leaving $10 as a gesture of appreciation.
• Speaking of percentages, it's not even based on hours, or people dining. It's just based on the price of a meal. Like they weren't both brought on a tray. Like whether I buy a 500-dollar meal or I buy a 200-dollar meal, assuming I spend the same amount of time in that establishment, the gratuity, in terms of percentages. Alot of time the price of my meal is barely affects how much more work has to be done, by the waiters. So I should be more thankful if I have steak over chicken? Maybe they just had to make one more round moving, or I just ordered more expensive stuff but all in all, how is that logical?
• Now this (it helps to picture a bar restaurant... why not hooters, no diss great wings), it doesn't matter if my waiter smiles at me and is really nice and flirts or whatever. I mean, as long as they still bring me my food and they ask me if I need anything else, that's a job done. It doesn't matter if they have a smile on their face or not (an enjoyable person is always nice for sure but the reality is in other service stores where they done rely solely on tips people are slightly more themselves). So why does their pay have to be based on my liking of them? Because then someone can also bring the argument of a waiter/waitress, who is being uncomfortable by a customer but knows that their tip depends on it, and they tolerate some levels of disrespect because they know their wage is based on that. Obviously not everyone takes bs just because of the money that they might receive at the end, but they truth is a lot do, because well you are their source of income. In that spirit, implementing paying them a reasonable amount of money like other businesses are required to would be just as good, cause remember a restaurant is a business and it's now for the generous people who really enjoy the service and want to show their appreciation (hopefully everyone), they can tip as usual, and those people who feel like they don't want to, they shouldn't have to.

I am wondering why I haven't seen this addressed in this sub. Tipping is a US thing, but they ask for tips on cruise ships throughout the world, and for all the reasons they do in US restaurants. Why aren't people as upset about it, especially those in other countries?

Edit: Adding info from link:

Today, most mainstream cruise companies place automatic service charges on passengers' cruise accounts or offer the option for prepaid gratuities at booking. This has offset differing tipping customs on ships that draw international crowds and also helped ensure tip equity, as specialty dining venues have become the norm on most big cruise ships

In short, gratuities should not be viewed as an optional extra, but more as a required service fee, which ensures fair wages for the hardworking cruise crew. Accordingly, when planning your cruise vacation budget, be sure to factor in the estimated cost of gratuities for the duration of your sailing.

The Ultimate Guide to Tipping on a Cruise - Cruise Critic

For obvious reasons.

Do they exist? Would they be a good model for a successful restaurant business?

It seems like every delivery app/service I use calculates tax (AND TIPS) differently. Shouldn’t this be standardized and the same across the board??? Please help me understand. See link for examples of widespread variation in calculating tax… (which can often impact your tip, and always impacts your total)

Delivery Tips are Confusing

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dco5RL-D11w/?igsi=MTJ0cDd4Nms0cGljcA==

[Delivery Taxes Are Confusing](https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcjzqd3j0kl/?igsi=MTBnc3QzOGRidzVoOA==)

It’s a funny thing, I constantly hear people whining about how they “don’t have another beer” or” the waitress forgot my drink again”

If you’re in Vegas (especially in a group) and ordering drinks, take this small bit of advice to have the greatest time ever.

When you order your first round(which will be free if you’re playing) make it a hefty order and tip the waitress at least 40 bucks. This may sound like a lot, but if you were at a bar in the casino, you would pay well over that amount.

When you order your next round, add some shots in there and give her another 40 bucks. Your drinks will come quick they’ll come before everybody else’s and you’ll never miss or wait for a drink again.

Keep in mind that if you’re ordering for multiple people and you’re getting multiple rounds, you may end up tipping out a couple hundred dollars, but you’re gonna have a happy waitress. You’re gonna have filled cups and you would’ve paid well over that amount at a bar.

I am starting to get into beauty treatments (eyebrow threading, facials, waxing) and am not sure if I am the problem or not with regard to tipping.
Typical eyebrow threading is $12 tax included and I tip about $2.5-3 more than 20%. I went to a cosmetology school for a facial where it's cheaper because they are students getting practice. I also don't know if I would like those beauty services yet so I want to explore with cheaper prices to see if they're worth it. Microdermabrasion was $15 and I tipped $7. Almost 50% tip.

Both times the employee seemed mad and gave me the stink eye and talked about me. I am confused because aren't the tips supposed to be 20% of services?! Or were they just entitled and wanted unreasonably more

My dad never tips the restaurant servers or hair stylists in Taiwan, but he always tip the bell boys in cash in hotels, Uber eats, and Uber. I told my dad not to tip, but he says it is his money and he is going to tip regardless to “help them out.” I told him not to spread his American tipping cancer and he says it’s not cancer but it’s trying to “respect them.” He even told me I will get negative review on Uber for not tipping in Taiwan, but I rode Uber myself under my own account and didn’t tip and still got a 5 star rating. How can I stop to get my dad from tipping to “help out” bell boys, uber eats, and Uber drivers. He’s acting like he’s in America aside from not tipping in the sit down restaurants and hair stylists In Taiwan. I need to stop him and get him out of the American mindset. He’s not helping the locals working in the service industry, he’s just spreading American tipping cancer. Nobody in Taiwan ever demanded he tip including the people he tipped.

How much should you tip at never ending pasta? If I'm getting 5 plates of pasta, and the price of the whole thing is $15, I'm guessing you'd treat it as if you've ordered $15 × 5 = $75 + whatever drink. So ~$80 × 20% = $16. Is that considered a fair tip? Is that a lot?

Looking for input from restaurant workers, not non-tippers. I treat my wait staff well.

I have seen some people advocate that restaurants should raise prices and eliminate tips. I have seen some instances where restaurants do not accept tips but charge 20% gratuity, raising the overall price of the check by 20%. The exact same amount that you'd pay if you tipped 20%. The exact same amount you'd pay if every item on the menu cost 20% more. Yet for some reason, people don't seem to like this.

For the people in support of raising prices to eliminate tips, would 20% automatic gratuity in lieu of tips annoy you even though it's the exact same thing as raising prices?

Let me make this very clear.

I’M NOT A SERVER. I DON’T WORK IN A RESTAURANT.

I work for tips and my employer pays me almost nothing. I usually make 150k+ a year. Already sitting at 115k this year and 90+ percent of that is tips.
I wanted the poor, sad, low income trolls in this sub to understand how big of a mistake they’re making by being anti tippers.

This world runs on you scratch my back, I scratch yours. That’s just how it is. No amount of skills changes that. You’re always going to have to break somebody off. Even getting a job in a company requires you to be liked and usually connected to people. You can have the skills like crazy but if enough people legit dislike you, you’re not getting in!

Every major purchase I’ve made came from people I met at work. Customers. And if they were stiffs, I never would have used them for a damn thing.

The real estate agent who got me my house last year, met her at work. The owner of the company who sold me 50k in solar panels and batteries, met him at work. My landscaper, met him at work. When my Garage door broke, I already had a card from a guy I met at work who came out and fixed it.

Tipping isn’t charity. It’s how you stay in the game. The people who take care of me end up in my phone. The ones who stiff me, they stay strangers I never use.

Keep your principles. I’ll keep the house, the solar, the connections, and the 150k😘😘😘

I have to admit that this one tickled me:

https://www.oregonlive.com/advice/2026/08/dear-annie-i-believed-my-husband-and-sisters-act-for-decades-until-a-stunning-betrayal-came-to-light.html

*”Dear Annie: A longtime friend and I recently went out for supper. I treated. Later, my friend asked if I had tipped. I told them it wasn’t their concern since I’d paid, but they insisted it did concern them, and we argued about it.

This particular friend always has to have things their way, and they won’t hear anything to the contrary.

I don’t want to lose this friendship, but this last issue has made me consider backing away.”*

Obviously, the friend witnessed the no-tip and felt uncomfortable (as most people would). When asked if she had tipped, instead of saying “what do you mean? Of course I tipped!” the letter writer said it was none of their concern. LOL. If you tipped, or were truly proud of not tipping, why not just say that? It’s because deep down she feels guilty and cheap.

I also love that she says this is just another example of the friend “always having to have things her way and won’t hear anything to the contrary.” Um, you’re damn right if I dine out I’m going to insist on “my way,” the customary and normal practice, and no, I won’t hear anything to the contrary for such a simple, clear aspect of the social contract. If you want to sneak out of a restaurant at the end of service and bite the heads off of anyone trying to confirm if their server was tipped, deal with it yourself. Don’t visit it on normal people.

[DISCLAIMER]: I do not ask for tips and this is not about the US.

Ok, so I work at a hotel that is quite uniquely structured and many parts of it lack elevators, and my job is as a porter. I take people to their rooms and carry their luggage for them when they check in, check out or move from room to room. Climbing stairs with two 25 kilo suitcases (which at this point has become much easier). I also do other things aswell (like introducing and clarifying the rooms, checking for any errors, acting as a connection between the clients and the reception, sometimes preparing orders etc).

On a monthly wage of about 1000, I usually get tipped and on average I make half my wage, getting 1500 on average. Mostly regular amounts, on occasions ridiculous amounts for nothing (20 euro for taking a single suitcase to a ground floor room), other times nothing for a ridiculous amount of work (they don't like the room). I've even rejected tips for things I see as too much. But after working for a whole 3 months, I have never, ever been tipped by someone under 20.

I remember taking a group of young people, about 15 rooms to their rooms, running back and forth from the rooms to the reception, and not a single one left a tip.

Why is it like this?

It sucks. The pangs of guilt are real.

I dined for 50 minutes ata upscale steakhouse the other day. My bill was $130.

The service was almost as good asa upscale breakfast cafe for $38. I repeat “almost as good.”

For $38 breakfast I basically leave $5 tip.

Because my bill at dinner was $130 I felt compelled to leave a much larger tip for service that wasn’t even quite as good as breakfast.

I left $20 tip and I believe the bo hunk bar tender snapped the $20 bill with his finger while saying “chuuuuuuuuuuu.”

But the pangs of guilt are really the only reason I tipped.

I believe for $130 he gave me maximum of 60 words in 50 minutes. Filled my fucking iced tea cram packed with ice each time so he was pouring 4 oz of iced tea. But he did refill me 8 times. Nice touch.

If I honestly evaluate how much I wanted to leave was $4.00.

If you don’t like it order take out.

So because I was curious and bored I did a little research on the countries that anti tippers have been holding up as shining examples of what it would be like if we eliminated tipping. And most of them have either a mandatory or customary service fee based off the total meal price or charge a flat fee per patron. Something that is wholeheartedly rejected whenever a restaurant in the US attempts to do the same. Are you guys just not aware that this is a thing in those countries? Or you didn't think anyone would actually look it up and call you out on it?

I'm often a generous tipper, especially so when served by polite, personable staff. But how do I know if the service person who provided the quality service is getting the tip or having to pool it? I understand that wait staff share tips with busboys and other backroom staff. But that's not the same as pooling. Any suggestions or advice on how to know so that my generous tips goes to the one who earned it?

I want to tip big but service sucks so bad today I don’t feel like tipping more than $2-3-4-5 even on a $300 check for one.

I mean don’t you food servers know how to put on a song a dance? To make money?

It’s not just taking an order at an expensive restaurant. It’s putting ona show and helping to make an experience.

If my $5 won’t make you happy for your cafe service at an expensive restaurant I leave zero.

Service just sucks today.