It is not that they are stingy tippers, it is because in their native countries service is included in the price. To them, tipping as we know it is the US is a foreign concept. A normal "tip" in most European countries would be to round up a $97 check to $100 for example.
Agreed. But servers in Europe also make a much higher wage, so that basically they get paid by their employer a working wage to begin with. I find it a much more rational way to do business than the way we Americans do it, but whatever.
Which points out a way to test the concept that the only way to get good service is to incentivize the servers with tips. Over the last couple of years I have been to Germany, Italy, and France (for business, business, and pleasure, respectively). I was in tourist-oriented restaurants, and off-the-beaten-path restaurants that were mainly frequented by locals. I found the waiters and waitresses to be uniformly attentive, friendly, and competent.
So maybe there's more than one way to skin a cat, or run a business.
Dan <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />
