Why do we tip waiters?

I don't. Its a symptom of american culture seeping into ours and is something that has absolutely no place in this culture. The reasons for tipping as in America don't exist here. All waiters and waitresses must by law be paid at least the minimum wage, and it also to me seems a bit perverse that Even in cases of exceptional service that it is customary to tip the person who brings me my food but not the person who has made it.

The whole situation in America is in itself a bit bizarre to be honest, but because the system is as it is there with service I wouldn't not tip purely because that person does need to get paid and it's not happening unless I tip.

I feel that those who have done a particularly good job should be rewarded for their extra hard work.

The best and most well received way of showing your appreciation is with a tip. I do not tip those who give a satisfactory service.

I hate it when you pay with notes and they say 'do you want the change?'. I would have tipped you anyway, but the fact I now feel like I have no choice and will look tight if I say yes is annoying

Really? I've never tipped and I never will. I pay for the service, not for someone doing their job at the standard they're already being paid to adhere to. If they feel they're not paid enough; they should find another job. Why do I need to show 'appreciation'? That makes no sense to me...

So they don't spit on your food the next time you go there

So we are compensating for their poor pay...shouldn't we therefore boycott tips to pressure their employers to pay them proper wages so that we don't have to make up for it?

I'm sure the person that put time and effort into creating the meal would like a tip too.

But how does it make sense to apply this to waiters but nothing else? Do you also tip hairdressers who give a particularly good haircut, or baristas, or taxi drivers?

Actually the person who made the food is more deserving of the tip since they are the one who made the food but even they don't/won't get any tip. They have a tip, it's called a salary!

Why tip someone for a job I’m capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair.

How is it expected to tip taxi drivers? I'm paying for them to drive me from point A to point B and if they do that successfully they get paid the agreed upon amount. Like any other business transaction. I mean I might think differently if they'd gone out there way to do something I would t reasonably expect them to do (like driving me to the airport at 4am or something), but in the case of normal service it makes no sense.

Tipping waiters in the UK is ridiculous.

Firstly, you rarely ever get good service in the average restaurant. It's just not the British way. Compare to American service, and it's just embarrassing.

Secondly, in both US and UK, it's symptomatic of poor wages in the first place, which ought to be main priority. The cost of a meal incorporates the expense of running a restaurant, which includes wages. Or it ought to. That's why whipping up your favourite dish at home is nearly always less expensive than eating out. To then ask for a pittance to supplement the wages is poor.

Finally, I've travelled, a lot, and know that tipping etiquette here is entangled with our class system, and the notion of 'dining out' which is a massive deal for Brits, in a way it is isn't on the continent, to take an example. We don't eat as well here generally, and the mere fact of eating a meal in a restaurant is seen as a mark of class and distinction which is quite amusing. So therefore, you must tip the waiter, because you can afford to, and it's the thing to be done. Not doing so is considered to be classless.

I'm fine with tipping in average restaurants Italy, or elsewhere, maybe because I'm not Italian, but also because they offer a level of service you don't get here, unless you go somewhere exclusive.

Hahaha. I don't consider Nando's to be an average restaurant, or a restaurant at all, for that matter.