[Ernestine]

I hate the whole culture of tipping. Why should any employee's wages be dependent upon the kindness of strangers?

I've worked as a waitress, a bank teller, a store clerk, a supermarket cashier and several other service positions. I always tried to give good service in spite of low wages, yet I was only given tips in one of these positions. Why?

I think tipping is a hold over from an old world aristocracy /servant class culture. It survives because restaurant owners like having the customer pay his employees for him, as well as paying for his goods, and the customers don't want to seem cheap. What other business owners get away with this? We don't go to Pennys, buy a shirt and then give the clerk 18% of the cost to pay his wage. I think it's time to phase it out.