Kirin <fake@email.com> wrote in message news:<2jt9s8F14mn8rU1@uni-berlin.de>...
> > Waiters in the states for the most part make their living SOLELY on
> > gratuities. They're payed a pittance in salary and rely on tips to
> > survive. Tips are not some added bonus which they rip off the
> > customers for.  
> 
> That's why it's better to tip in the US. The system should be changed - 

Why? I agree to a point, but if you believe this then you also believe
that salespeople in general shouldn't work on commission, right?
That's pretty much what the tip is. If the service at a restaurant is
good, I tip quite a bit; if it sucks, I don't. I've been called down
by a manager once for not leaving a tip; I told him point blank that
the service sucked all around, the food was cold, etc., and I didn't
think a tip was deserved. I've also had friends bitch at me for not
tipping much (if any) at Starbucks, to which I reply that they're
making more than minimum wage and I don't think much tip is needed. I
don't tip the person at the convenience store either.

John W.