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Perhaps the thread should be titled "Americans - why do you put up with inferior service and have arbitrarily high tipping customs?" Maybe "Stereotype group vaguely supported by a host-quoted article, defend yourself'"
I've worked in the service industry. My wife, sister, and brother have all been servers at one time or another. I eat out a couple times a week and my wife and I have a standing Friday date night to have a decent meal together. I start at 20% and add/subtract based of service. More often than not, it is higher. If it ends up being lower, we don't go back to that establishment. It has been 0-100% in the past. I know people need to tip out, I've done it myself. If you are a shitty server and don't provide a reason, I'm not going to tip. Although I've only not-tipped once.
I think the entire concept is flawed. The custom started as a bonus to those that provided exceptional service. In a service industry where a tip is automatic, there is no motivation to the server to provide average or even adequate service.
I know you can make a decent living as a server. I know you make more money than other servers when you do a good job, as you should. I know most people in the food service industry pay minimal taxes. If you're a career server (as opposed to 'first jobs' and 'putting myself through x), then you shouldn't be concerned about low tips. I've never been to a fine dining establishment and had poor service or tipped anywhere below 20%. But I've pretty much stiffed the airhead college girl at Earls and the old bitch at the diner.
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