(12-16-2019, 04:41 PM)TrivialPursuit Wrote:

(12-16-2019, 04:35 PM)jagibelieve Wrote: It is an American concept.  There are places over-seas where tipping is almost an "insult".

It's an American concept because in every other country in the world waiters and waitresses are paid fairly. Here they make 4-5 dollars less than minimum wage.

"Paid fairly" is subjective and doesn't apply to just waitstaff it also applies to bar tenders, hotel maids, drivers, delivery people etc.  There are some people that choose the service industry solely because working for tips could be good money.  I have family members that chose it because it's what they like to do and they make a decent living from it. 

Granted being a waiter or waitress at IHOP or Applebees isn't going to pay as much as doing the same thing at a country club or a fine dining restaurant.

The other thing to consider is that much of the service industry, specifically the restaurant industry is a very low profit-margin business.  Paying people what some would call a "fair wage" would drive many businesses to shut down.

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