£1 billion to build a football stadium

[blue matt]

That pretty much is the minimum over there isn't it?

22% recommended in disney world now, with another recommendation of 25%

In a NY diner, after breakfast, our check came to $63, gave the server 2 X $50 notes and she never returned, she came back and asked " Oh did you want change ? " , yes i replied, i took the $20 note and left her with $17 which i thought was enough, she didnt look happy

[Optimistic Nick]

22% recommended in disney world now, with another recommendation of 25%

In a NY diner, after breakfast, our check came to $63, gave the server 2 X $50 notes and she never returned, she came back and asked " Oh did you want change ? " , yes i replied, i took the $20 note and left her with $17 which i thought was enough, she didnt look happy

With all of the things the US is great at, it is easy to forget that it is years behind western Europe and the rest of the developed world in many respects. Tipping is one of them. In restaurants everyone knows you need to tip far more in the us than you do almost (absolutely?) everywhere else. I cannot fathom why the percentage increases over time either. "Inflation" is often given as an answer, but that doesn't stand up to even the most basic scrutiny. But OK - mentally it's not that hard to work out 20% in your head and go from there. And if you pay by card the machine generally prompts you to tip something like 15% for OK service; 20% for good service and 25% for great service or whatever. Fine - I can live with that too and at least it is easy. But the emphasis on "earning a tip" creates some of the uncomfortable "service" I have ever received. So you end up paying more for a poorer service - everyone loses. And not paying your employees for the work they do is just unacceptable, in particular when skin colour or gender has an impact on how much you earn from tips.