As they say, "Well, that escalated quickly." (Page 4)

It depends on each state, but in most, servers and bartenders are generally paid around $3 per hour.  Yes, you read that correctly!  24 years ago, I remember earning $1.75 per hour.  Your income depends almost solely on tips.

Which to me always raised the question...  When will the lawsuit come and go before the Supreme Court that requires restaurants to pay their servers minimum wage when they perform non-tipping work.  All of you here whom have been a server can remember pre and post shift duties;  cleaning, prepping, table sets, "roll-ups", minor food prep.  I used to do that work for $1.75 per hour and I would be willing to bet that that's illegal in some way.  Taking advantage of workers for an hour before and an hour after their shift and paying them less than minimum wage.

I would love to hear from a lawyer on this one.

Same here.

And I'll tell you if you're a chronic bad or non tipper (receiving great service) and a regular patron, your service WILL go down drastically. Why should anyone bother giving great service when they know it won't be rewarded? 

Servers in a restaurant receive a fair wage via their tips.  There are a number of reasons it's structured this way.

Counter service is a different story.  Sometimes I will leave a small tip or leftover change, but most of the time I ignore them.  I do tip my morning coffee folks though, because I go there every morning and they do a great job, plus they have a reward program where your 6th cup is free, so I use the savings to tip the Batista.

Anyway, I'm not sure what's not going to end well.   We may argue over here about the way things should/shouldn't be politically, but I think we are  doing okay comparatively.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/30/spain-gdp-economy-shrinks

And for the record, I have no idea how the service is today in Europe.  I don't ever remember it being bad from the few times I've been, nor anything spectacular.

I'm just glad Cops and Firefighters and Teachers don't follow that line of thinking...

I still tip. I just think that when the service sux, I should not feel bad for tipping at 10%. 

But I never tip that low. I'm always a 20%-er unless someone sucks really bad and then I go with a 15%.

Maybe I should still give the 20% and put a note that says "I'm still giving you 20% because maybe this was just a bad day, but I wasn't very happy with my service."

What would be worse? a note like that or a 10% tip?

Cops, Firefighters, and Teachers all receive more than $2.13 per hour.

keep editing! 

Wait... an American goes to London and order's cajun chicken? I'd say you are lucky if pepper was all she put on it...

I'm expected to pay a tip for services rendered. I usually tip at least 15% for regular service, and 20% or even more for a server that makes more of an effort. But a server who doesn't do his/her job, and I actually have to go hunt them down to get something or go to the bar myself to get a refill? Nothing, just as deserved.

No, for that pay 15%. You pay extra when the server is aware that you need something, and brings it, without you asking. When he see's that the children are being difficult, and suddenly crayons appear, when he does a bit more to make your evening special. That can all be done while allowing you to eat in peace.

In Canada we have a chain called Earls. The dress code for the waitresses seems to be VERY low cut blouse or dress, and VERY short miniskirts. And they bend over a lot. Since I am no longer 16, this doesn't amuse me, and the tip is the minimal 15% I give for decent service. The few waiters I have run into there don't have the miniskirts and chest to show off, so they actually work harder at making the experience enjoyable. They get the 20+ % tips.

15% for average service.

20% or more for exceptional service

0% for lousy service

Why should anyone expect a tip if they give really bad service?

I would NOT encourage tipping revolutionaries

Cajun in London,,,,, sounds like a movie Kurt Russell should be starring in.

I never did. I don't think people do, in general.

The point was that if you know you're not going to get tipped, you're clearly not going to go above and beyond. That's just a waste of time.