This is usually a touchy subject.

I don't feel any obligation to tip as a standard practice. Unless a server has really gone out of their way in their service they will not receive a tip. I go their expecting to pay for my food, seating and service. In England we have set minimum wages laws, with no exceptions in that regard. I do not tip a man sitting in a burger van roadside, nor do I tip the vast barstaff at the many pubs in England. I do not tip the server at the supermarket.

In America, the practice of tipping is absurd.

They are supposed to. This is why their employer pays them! it's not my fault they get paid less money because they recieve percentage based tips. I'm not helping the employer pay part of their wages so he/she can save money. If you all got out of this practice of tipping as customary perhaps eventually wage laws would have to be changed to accomodate service workers?

I'm in the States in March next year and I'll be fucking damned if anyone expects a tip as default practice. Fuck 'em. If a waiter calls me on it I'll tell their manager that they have ruined my experience by demanding I give them money outside what I have been billed. It's an American custom, not one of mine. It's not actually a law, so go fuck yourselves.

tipping is not a standard practise down here in australia as well. the minimum wage is pretty high

though my dad tips when hes at a fancy restaurant. i dunno why, i think he doesnt want to seem cheap

In before thread becomes absolute shit-fest.

You've not said fuck all, so what does that matter?

Anytime a thread of this nature comes up a bunch of former disgruntled waitstaff comes out of the woodwork and the ensuing banter that fills the thread ensures that your original question and/or purpose of posting in the first place remains ignored and not properly answered.

It's not a touchy subject.
I can be a cheap bastard if I want to.It's my decision.

In countries such as the U.K. where minimum wage laws do not have exceptions (if I understand correctly) tips should only be given in situations where the wait staff has gone above and beyond to provide a customer with excellent service and/or product. Unfortunately in the United States those who make tips can be paid as little as half the standard minimum wage; until this situation is rectified, tipping will continue to be a touchier subject than it should.

The reason for that is BECAUSE tips are so expected.

Yeah, we're moving this to MMM, since tipping goes beyond restaurants and bars, and the current discussion is geared more towards national practice rather than the afore-mentioned restaurant/bar gratuity setting.

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Well, I was going to swing back to do people think tips are deserved etc, but it looks like you've already moved it.