[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

You clearly don't understand how small businesses function. In order to make a profit and thus stay in business, you have to charge, in aggregate, more than the total cost of your expenses. Those expenses include wages. So let's hypothetically say that tipping was not customary (Japan is like that, you are expected NOT to tip). So instead of gratuities, the restaurant owner pays the waitstaff 20% more than they currently do. What do you think happens as a result? They raise the price of EVERY ITEM on the menu in order to still make the same profit. So does every other sit down restaurant. So you end up paying that "tip" either way. If you understood that, you wouldn't consider my "BS crack" to be passive aggressive, but rather, common sense.

You're welcome, and yes, I am a former small business (not restaurant) owner.

Yes, if they raised the prices, that would be honest and transparent. I’m good with that.