I'm Canadian. I've always kind of stood by the 'tipping should be for good service' rule. If I get poor service in a restaurant or other such place, I don't tip. I completely disagree with automatic tips being added for large parties or high bills. Some places do this. Some places will even happily sit there and let individuals add their own tips on top of the included one...which is sometimes kinda hidden on the bill.<p>Though, my sister was a waitress for a long time. She worked hard to earn tips, I understand being a service person, especially a server, kinda sucks. You have to deal with assholes, you're constantly moving your whole shift, breaks are limited, there's a bunch of shit to keep track of and again...you have to deal with assholes.<p>I also like tipping places I frequent with people i've come to know. People in these places always treat me well and makes me happy to leave something extra for them...especially because again...they talk about the shit they deal with.<p>I don't think tipping should be expected or mandatory and I don't think many of the places that have a tip option really should. Though again there's a few places I go that I kind of wish did because the people that work there work hard and go out of their way for me when I come in.<p>On another note, i've gotten some pretty decent tips after doing install work and other things at people's houses. I've always really appreciated those. They've never been asked for or expected, they come out of nowhere and when it's like that it does help show that the person you've spent a bunch of hours doing some hard work for appreciated it.<p>Though then again...sometimes better than a cash tip were the offers of coffee or food. That's very greatly appreciated.
The user experience / payment flow on the payment terminals (in Canada at least) to make a tip is insane.<p>Every terminal is different.<p>The prompts on screen, rarely correspond to a button that says anything similar. “Yes” usually means press the green button. Although often the yes / no on the prompt are in the opposite positions to the red and green buttons on the keypad. But sometimes it means the small button closest to the on screen “yes”.<p>And sometimes they’re touch screens.<p>Regardless, paying in Australia is actually tap and go.<p>In Canada you may as well insert the card, you’re going to be here a while selecting a bunch of options for tipping.
Tipping should be made illegal. It's the only way to remove this broken system. No restaurant can go first in abolishing tipping, because it would make them look more expensive than everyone else.<p>If you don't like the service, complain to the manager, write an angry review, and never go back. If you like the service, do the opposite. This is how capitalism works in every other industry.