(another) question about tipping...?

You're right, it's not fair. The tipping system in the US is partially responsible for the low wages that wait staff get. And surprisingly, sometimes it's less than dishwashers, as it assumes there will be tips.

You tip wait staff for their service (seating, taking orders, delivering food, solving problems), which is different than at a buffet.

And most places where I worked as wait staff, we would always tip the busboys.

Fun fact: Eleanor Roosevelt never tipped. She would leave a card that said "Tipping is un-American. Thank you for your service." Probably pissed off a number of wait staff!

This is of course your opinion, which you seem pretty set on. You have a right to your opinion and seeing as tipping is voluntary, you have a right to tip as you choose. However keep in mind that lower restaurant prices are a direct result of the lower wages paid to "tipped" employees. If you refuse to tip in a normal manner (that is 15 - 20% of pre tax bill) than the most that person will make is minimum wage. Viewing a waiter as a glorified food runner is rather short sighted. The waiter is there to help explain the menu, see to your needs, take your order correctly, maintain your beverages, make sure you are happy throughout your meal, bring the right meals to you, make sure you have the right condiments, explain the desserts, and above all make sure you want to return to that establishment. The best waiters and waitresses make service a part of your dining experience, and should be rewarded accordingly.

waiters only get paid $3/hr and maybe $3.43/hr because of state law just changed it.

pot washers and people who are not getting tipped make more than waiters, they have their own minimum wage. the only people that usually also get tipped from the waiters is the people who clean the tables.

actually, wait staff usually makes less than everyone else, based on the fact that management expects them to make it up in tips, and to do that you need to give good service...no it's NOT mandatory to tip, if service is REALLY bad i tip a penny so they know i didn't simply forget to tip!

tipping should be based on service given, yet anymore the servers just expect it so they give sloppy service. I tip according to service.

buffets - servers paid minimum wage....

pot cleaner in kitchen makes more than server approxd 3 x's....

all front of house personell, bus boys, servers, hostess, bartenders, etc get cut of server tips.

idc how much i spend or what the tip price is i just tip em how much i want to.

a simple thing to do is just double the tax