Posted 10/30/2006 05:16:00 PM by Douglas

Not to go off in my Mr. Pink rant, but tipping is for the birds. And I got two words for these idiots. Learn to type. 'Cause if they expect me to help out with the rent, they got another think coming.

Servers across the nation are speaking up about pay. But in South Florida in particular, with its influx of international tourists, servers wait on many visitors who are unfamiliar with the 15 percent tipping custom in the United States. Some restaurants, such as those in South Beach, automatically include tips on the bill because of international tourists. Yet other tourist-heavy areas, including Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, don't automatically include gratuity.

And after years of dealing with paltry tips from international diners, Rivera supports the efforts of an online organization to boost tips.

That's the #1 responsibility of a traveler: To learn what's expected of him when he's in a foreign land, so if Germans in Florida are stiffin' you at Appleby's, hey learn German. But what's more disturbing is the sense of entitlement. Servers are entitled top 15% no matter what? Then tack it on the bill for my salmon, pay your server something above minimum wage, and everyone's happy. Right? Wrong.

With your continued support, we are actively pursuing reform with the N.R.A. (National Restaurant Association) so as to add a set 20% service charge to every check. This standardization will allow restaurant owners to maintain control of their costs while at the same time allowing servers to be paid fair wages. The service charge will also help eliminate the uncertainty in the mind of the customer when deciding what amount to leave for the server.

Ya know what would totally "eliminate the uncertainty" of the customer when it comes to paying for something he's purchased? If the damn final price was printed on the bill. Come on, morons.

Imagine going to buy a TV and having to pay an extra 20% for "service" from the high school drop-out that told you want HD meant? Is this money well spent, or are you going to go somewhere that doesn't have such moronic business practices?

This is a market question. Food prices have been kept artifically low at restaurants at the expense of the server, because you didn't have to tip them. Get rid of obligatory tipping, pay servers in proportion to their service, and all will be well.