tipping used to be for great service

I would be inclined not to gove a tip if it was asked for anyway, when I have paid by bankcard I have always left a tip in cash, I would never pay a tip on my card and I would only leave a tip if the services was good.

That's a very good question. I have another one, I had a lady tell me that, "if we all stopped tipping maybe employers would be forced to pay their employees what they are worth instead of relying on the customers to pick up their payroll in the form of tips". I had NEVER thought of it like that before. It was very thought provoking, don't you think?

It's a shame that you didn't get the good service you expected. I would never tip before the service, as you don't know the kind of service you'll get.

I think in part that wait staff get paid a very low wage and expect these tips to make up the difference for their hours of service. When they get used to this happening regularly, their efforts go downhill unless they have a special need for some extra money. Then, or at the start of the day, you might get some good service.

It happened when employers started to count tips as part of the server's wage. Service went to pot because tipping became standard operating procedure. The tables have turned. It used to be that servers knew they had to work for the extra money. Now, we, the consumers, are looked upon as cheapskates if we do not tip.

I know what you mean about that advance tipping - and in a buffet, at that. I live in an entertainment town and tipping is expected everywhere. At one of the hotels here, as we stood in line, I noticed you could pre-pay at a machine. I too was a little shocked to see it ask me how much tip I wanted to add to the ticket. Unless I have a large party where they insist on adding gratuities up front, I will always tip after checking out the service.

Sadly, some servers do not even earn minimum wage from their employers because they are depending on the tips from customers to bring their wage up to a decent pay scale.

I agree with you. I don't tip at all, anymore, because it is so EXPECTED, that if service is exceptional, people won't know it.

There are a few places that I go regularly, and I ind other ways to show my appreciation for the staf....like bringing back souveniers for them from my travels!!

That wasn't right that they expected you to give them a tip up front. And, I often wonder about tipping at those restaurants where you seat yourself, too, like a buffet. But, I really have a problem with places that you order at a counter and they have those tip jars there. I mean, all they are doing is boxing or bagging up your food and I don't consider that service. So, I hardly ever tip unless the person gives me extra attention or food.

It's because you ate an all you can eat buffet. At one of these places the waitress doesn't do more then clear your plate and fill your drink. She doesn't take your order. She doesn't serve your food. She doesn't really do anything. That's why they probably asked up front. Too many people not tipping at places like that where the server doesn't really do that much.

I would have told the waitress if she had to ask for a tip then I'm sure she's not deserving of one. Then I would have left after eating dinner and not given her a tip. If they are rude and I consider that rude then there's no reason for me to leave a tip.

I am generally a very good tipper. When I receive exceptional service, I tip very, very well. I resent, however, the restaurants that add the gratuity onto the bill. All too often I have found that the service is substandard when the gratuity is included in the bill. They already know that they are getting a tip whether they provide great or even good service or not.

I live in an area where we go to rather expensive restaurants and a dinner for two can lend a $15 tip or better to a great server. If the gratuity is included in the bill, I am not likely to visit that restaurant again...

As for tipping prior to the service. No way.

This is truly weird. It's so funny to know that tipping nowadays has become compulsory rather than optional. Well, in my case, I will still stick with the old rule. I will just give tip to those deserving servicemen who really give quality service.