Quoted from gandamack:Well, I knew I would catch some flak for making this thread. I am no way attempting to demean service workers. I was one too at a certain point of my life. Do I think the system will ever change here? Not likely. I understand that this is not Europe where a fast food worker by law has to be paid a livable wage, complete healthcare and 21 days minimum vacation.
My frustration simply boiled over recently when I received a point of sale receipt depicting three suggested tipping percentages, the lowest starting at 18 percent. Mind you, I got a tray....walked through a line, picked up a day old sandwich... and then proceeded to the cashier where I was told they do not accept cash.
Please do not paint those who question the excessiveness of the current tipping culture with a broad brush.
Years ago when I was in a service industry job(yes a server at a long defunct steak house), the wage was $1.15 per hour, and the rest was from tips. The servers who were consistently positive and professional, generated the biggest %, of per table tips. In those days ALL TIPS went into a tip pool, and the bussers(individuals who cleaned the tables for the next sitting) shared(although at a lower % than the servers) from that pool. We were all young and narcissism was a foreign political tool. While the superior performers may have run their pie hole's, we got along, and all made out well by and large! As a 56 year old consumer now the potential to make good for all, is even greater(regardless of the split structure), because the majority of people who even show up for a shift is perverted. Good service can get rewarded now, more than ever, in our lifetime's!