Yes, I say this categorically.
I know, I know. This is a contentious issue. There are those who will argue that because majority of those in the industry, in particular the restaurant waitstaff, valets or the hotel bell hops are not paid well enough (or oftentimes cheated by their employers) that this is their only other means to supplement their income. Undoubtedly, but I do support the notion, however, that a tip should be a reward for good service not a dole out.
One best example of a negative effect of forced tipping is Miami. Nowhere is bad service so glaring (outside of American Samoa!) than in this tourist capital of Florida. Every single establishment one walks in, at least one of these scenarios will almost always happen - 1) your server will have a laissez faire attitude, 2) get one of your orders wrong, 3) food will take too long to be ready 4) your bill is wrong and if luck is not on your side, at least two of those scenarios will happen.
Then you ask for the check and there's the mandatory 15% service charge already included in your total bill. You as customer weren't given a choice. I've experienced this whether in a 5-star hotel/resort, at any of the restaurants lining up Ocean Drive, a dive bar and even (and worst) the airport! Simply because whether you, the customer, liked the service or the food or not, you are already obligated to tip the staff. So what's their incentive to delight?
You will experience this to be also true for most other cities and/or establishments outside of FL that implement mandatory tipping.
Compare the above scenario to other parts of the world where the people employed in the industry regard their job as a profession. I bet my tip that you will find service to be exceptional. Case in point, in Japan, Korea, France, Germany or in resorts like Aman. Tipping is discouraged yet you get the best service for your money. More of an exception rather than the norm, some US establishments in particular NY's +Sushi Yasuda, +Alice Warers' Chez Panisse or +Grant Achatz's Alinea where a zero tipping policy is implemented and opted instead to pay their staff salary plus benefits. What type of service did you get there versus other similar joints enforcing mandatory tips? Now you get what I mean.
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| Photo courtesy of +Neetzan Zimmerman on +Gawker.com |
Sadly, in the desire to "protect," we've lost the true art and reason for tipping. Conversely, the very people being protected had lost the art of service.
I'd rather subscribe to +Fabrice Pepino's policy at his +La Petite Syrah in Nice, France where he charges higher prices for grumpy, impolite customers!
