lol. Fair enough, we will agree to disagree based on different upbringings.
And I agree with the Decaffeinated Coffee… why bother! I’ll tell you one thing, I’m not tipping a dime to the person who thought up THAT concept. 
[QUOTE=Dr_Paprika]
If you have a family that is just getting by, counting the pennies, and has few luxuries and pleasures – I’d much rather they went out and had a good meal th
What about the waitress, who also has a family and is “just getting by, counting thte pennies and has few luxuries and pleasures”? Why should she wait on you and not get paid for it? Especially when she is TAXED on what you should have tipped?
Sorry, the answer is still, if you can’t afford the tip, you can’t afford to eat out.
Now, you’re in Canada, where things are different. Fine. But, and this doesn’t just go for you, but for Martini Enfield and others-if this is your attitude, then don’t come to the US, or if you do come here, don’t go out to restaurants, unless you plan to go by our customs. Seriously.
Remember, that waiter is getting taxed on what you SHOULD have tipped her, too. So if you don’t tip, she’s losing money.
Don’t like it? Stay home.
I sincerely hope you don’t work for the Department of Tourism, Guinistasia.
Does this mean that if customers pay more than the average tip, the staff are paying less tax than they would if earning wages normally?
Another question: in the US, would the prices listed on the menu include any applicable taxes?
No, I am not a cheap tipper.
If the waitress doesn’t bring water after I’ve asked for it, or never show up until the bill comes, or not ask if I want a refill, I may tip a quarter.
I go to a nice chain restaurant near home, and this one man gives really good service so I tip him well.
The other day I was in and had a salad and chickens fingers ($4) and left him a $3 tip. I’m usually not in there for longer than a half hour anyway.
Next time, I know he will also give excellent service.
Nope. As far as I know, in both the US and Canada, the price you see on the menu does not include tax.
Same goes for alcohol: the price your beer is listed for is generally the price before tax.
Why is this, exactly? Everywhere else I’ve been, it’s the law that taxes must be included in the displayed price.
Martini Enfield,
Maybe someone in this thread hasn’t explained this clearly enough for you…
WE’RE. NOT. TALKING. ABOUT. AUSTRALIA!
Yes, we know people that live in countries that don’t tip don’t agree with tipping because it’s not customary in those countries. However, it IS customary here. Things here are not LIKE things in Australia, so continuing to argue why you won’t tip in countries where tipping is customary by using examples of how things are in Australia where tipping isn’t customary is a bit of a logical fallacy, can’t you see?
Going to another country and knowingly disregarding one of their most established customs because it’s not what you do in your home country (and therefore it must be stupid) makes you just as “ugly” as the “ugliest” of American tourists.
Guess this is just another American thing, eh? Let’s see…what innocent joe can you screw over in protest of this most egregious slight, hmm?
Look, taxes are not displayed on any prices here. Go into a retail store and the price will not include tax either, so it’s not just another Evil Restuarant Thing.
It never ceases to amaze me how worked up people get over the whole tipping thing…
From what I’ve read, not EVERYONE in the US tips. I’m under the distinct impression that there are sizeable numbers of people who actually live in the US who don’t tip- for much the same reasons I’ve outlined at length both in this thread and others.
I didn’t know tipping was expected in Canada, either… total news to me.
Rest assured, the next time I’m in the US I shall keep my restaurant dining to an absolute minimum, such is my dislike for the institution of tipping.
And I don’t recall seeing a sign at the front of the thread saying “NO FOREIGNERS!”, either…
I don’t know what you’re so worked up about… I only enquired as to why the taxes weren’t included in the price, retail or otherwise.
What? It’s not because you’re a “foreigner”, it’s because you expect everyone all over the world to adher to YOUR country’s customs. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.
I respect the right of Guinastasia and scottandrsn and others who feel they cannot afford to eat out, take a taxi, etc. if they canot give a tip as is customary with such services. This is their opinion and right.
Frankly, I think they have zero right to tell me what I can and cannot do. This is because although tipping is a custom, one that I personally practice, it IS discretionary. This was true when I worked as a dishwasher (receiving one percent of the total tip pool), and a waiter, and can be shown to be true every time someone does not leave a tip. What is your legal recourse?
I would never presume to call someone “just a waiter”, nor do I judge people by their financial situation. I always try to treat service staff with respect and dignity. I know what it is like to have big debts and be working for peanuts. However, the solution is that restaurants should not be permitted to give people such low salaries even if it increases the cost of a meal. I tend to tip 15%. If everyone tipped 50%, the restaurants would indeed try to pay the servers even less. And I know many servers who do very well out of the tip system, even at 15%. But it is out of place for servers to tell me I have to tip or tell me what I (or some hypothetical family just getting by) can and cannot do. This is what is wrong with the “tipping culture”. Expectations which are shown to be misplaced every time someone does not leave a tip. And adults who knowingly take a job where the pay and conditions are clearly spelled out.
I choose to tip. This is my choice.
Incidentally, I just came back from a brief vacation which included visits to Stockholm and Frankfurt. I heard no end of whining, largely from Americans, about the tradition of having to pay five krona (maybe 75 cents US) or 20-50 eurocents for the privilege of having a pee in a public or private washroom (even in McDonald’s type places).
It would be unthinkable to charge for washroom use in most Canadian places. But there are costs involved in running a toilet and benefits to keeping it clean. I didn’t mind paying, as is the local custom. Having heard so many complaints, however, I wonder how those who see tipping as mandatory since it is a local practice would REALLY feel about paying nearly a dollar to go to the toilet.
It’s incredibly late (or incredibly early, depending how you look at it), and I have just finished a very long evening at work, so I shall head off to get some sleep before I end up typing something I might later wish I’d put some more thought into, so to speak.
However, I did want to say I agree with Dr_Paprika’s views on the subject 100%.
Thank you and good night! 
Thank you. My own objections to the concept of tipping would then apply equally to listing the pre-tax price. If I did go to North America, I would still pay both, but I think the concept of adding +8%, +15% to the listed price would annoy me.
Very very few. Some simply don’t patronize that sort of restaurant- cafeteria, fast food, and buffet style restaurants don’t require tipping (although sometimes a nominal tip is left). Those who really patronize a nice sit-down restaurant and go in not expecting to leave a tip are about as common as those who wear tin-foil hats to protect them from xxxxxx. 
I will also point out that in an earlier thread, it turned out that Tipping in Australia is more common that you’ll admit- especially in extra-nice restaurants when you get exceptional service. Thus- other than dudes who just plain eschew eateries with tipping- there’s FAR more tipping in Austrialia that there is lack of tipping in the USA.
Here’s the earlier GD about Tipping:
Here’s my research about Tipping in Australia:
Australia 10% in fine restaurants only
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...DTL&type=travel
Australia and New Zealand: Tipping is not as common as in the States, but the practice is growing in restaurants and bars in larger cities
http://www.monash.edu.au/internatio...tralia/lpmoney/
Tipping: In Australia tipping is fairly entrenched, although the practice is not as essential as it is in the USA, perhaps because Australian workers are protected by a more generous minimum wage. As in the UK and most of continental Europe it’s customary but not compulsory to tip in restaurants and cafes: tip if you think the service warranted it, and 10% of the bill is usually enough
http://www.newsouthwales.worldweb.c…ping/8-618.html
Tipping is just starting to gain popularity in Australia, and at this point tourists are not frowned upon should they choose not to tip. The trend is catching on more in the larger cities than in smaller towns. Generally, it is left to the one’s own discretion, but in cafes and restaurants between 5 and 15% would be considered average.
http://www.smallguide.com.au/info.html
No service charge applies in Australia. Tipping is not mandatory but a 10% tip in restaurants and hotel bars is normal for good service. Waiters and waitresses do not rely on tips for their income, but tips are an incentive to performance as bad service usually results in no tip.
http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityg...ydney/tips.html
Sydney Tipping Advice
Throughout Australia, tipping used not to be customary but is becoming more widespread. In a restaurant a tip of 10% is now normal although some restaurants have started adding a service charge to the bill
http://www.bootsnall.com/pacifictra...dney/tips.shtml
10% is standard for restaurants if the service and food are good. If not, don’t bother or leave a small amount.
http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Australia/Do’s+and+Don’ts
Tipping
Not as common as it is in Europe and America nor is a service charge added to the bill in restaurants. 10 per cent for food and drink waiters is usual in top-quality restaurants
This last is from the Brisbane Visitors Bur.
http://www.brisbane.visitorsbureau…isitorinfo.html
Tipping is not mandatory but a tip in restaurants and hotel bars is optional for exceptional service.
Thus, it seems like in any decent sit-down restaurant with tableclothes & all, 10% is ordinary for good service, even in Oz
As Carlyjay said, the prices on the menu won’t include the tax. You might see a little blurb at the bottom of the menu somewhere informing you sales tax will be say, 7.5%. But customers are expected to know what the local sales tax is.
This gets a bit confusing. Normally, when you go to a bar and buy a $4 drink, that’s all you pay. They don’t add tax. If it’s a bar/restaurant, they’ll usually subtotal the food, tax that, subtotal the alcohol without tax, then total the whole thing.
I’ve seen some places which won’t tax you on drinks you get at the bar, but if you sit down and order a meal & drinks, they’ll include the drinks in the total and tax the whole thing. I guess it depends on local laws and how lazy the restaurant is.
Every server knows there are some who don’t tip, and most of us who have worked in the industry have a mental list of the worst ones.
One of my favorites is the family of tourists from some rural Mid-Western town. For some reason, even in this day-and-age, they think a tip is either $.25 for a regular meal, or $1 for an expensive meal. They’ll bring the whole family in, everyone gets treated to steak & lobster, the tab will be $200, and at the end of the meal they’ll genuinely thank you for the great food, the excellent service - and give you a dollar.