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Comment by kif | Hacker News Reader

Tipping culture in the US is very weird. I would rather have the prices be 15% higher, and not tip. Otherwise, where does it stop? Do you tip bus drivers? Nurses and doctors? What about teachers? Why not tip at the grocery store? Perhaps you should leave 15% of the flight ticket as a tip to flight attendants?

People should get paid decently, and not rely on tips to make a living.

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It really is weird. I arrived at a hotel with a small bag. I checked in to the hotel and tried to carry my bag to my room. A staff member was all awkward and kind of took the bag off me to carry it 10 steps to the lift then 10 steps to the room. They then walked into room and wouldn’t leave until I realised it was about the tip.

It’s basically a standover extortion at that point.

I think most of us would prefer that.

Unfortunately the US has a tipping culture enshrined in law. So businesses can legally pay their employees who may potentially receive tips far below minimum wage.

Sort of. If they don't make enough in tips to bring their effective pay up to minimum wage, the employer still has to make up up the gap.

Not all states have a different tipped wage. I am from one of the states that doesn't have a different tipped wage. Servers get paid at least the state minimum with many making at least $15/hr. However, due to the majority of the country having tipped wages we are still expected to tip 15-25%.

People cant separate the cultural expectation of tipping from the reason the expectation exists. I find it mildly infuriating that the reason tipping exists isn't even present in my state but I am still expected to tip.

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