American waiters see the British as "cheap". We are poor tippers. I don't go to America but if I went there my usual 10% UK tip would be seen as inadequate. They now expect a 20% tip but they wouldn't be upset by 15%.

The link below has hundreds of comments by American waiters about tips from various groups. I found the comments very interesting. Some would say these comments are racist and ignorant, but other might say they are just objective observations. If you can't be bothered with the link I have saved you the time by summarizing the comments.

Good tippers : Gay men, Hells Angels, middle aged white men

Cheap but pleasant : Brits, Lesbians, Irish

Just Cheap : Chinese, Northern Europeans, Australians, rich women, church people, old people, people who promise a tip

Cheap and Nasty (i.e. you are their slave) : Blacks, Hispanics, Teenagers, Indians ("part of them dies when they tip")

The lowest circle of waiter/waitress Hell : Gypsies

http://www.waiterrant.net/2009/11/wh...worst-tippers/