Quote Originally Posted by quickdodge®
I'm not a non-tipper, but I'm not a $5 tipper, either. I pay $20 for a meal/s and I tip about $2-3. I typically stay in the 10% bracket. I'm not rich. I don't eat out at restaurants like that but maybe 2-3 times a year.

But I do believe that, tip or no tip, you should always provide the most excellent service that you can because it is, in fact, your job. If the diner doesn't tip, that sucks, but that's the nature of the business that YOU (the server) chose to get involved in. If you don't like your pay, find a job that pays what you do like.

Bottom line, to me, is there is no questioning when (or under what circumstances) should it be ok to demand excellent service. It's always ok. Later, QD.
I agree with most of your stance on the issue however...

Conversely, for the sake of playing devil's advocate, most adults eat out on at the very least, a semi regular basis...that being said, you know that the server relies on tips to make ends meet. You may or may not know the server gets paid $2.13 an hour so you operate on the assumption that they make minimum wage, which is hardly anything at all....Knowing these facts and knowing that most servers work hard to make sure that your meal is enjoyable, why would one not want to compensate accordingly?

Additionally, the argument could be made that if you do not feel tipping is something you should do (and when I say you, I'm not speaking of you specifically) then perhaps you shouldn't patronize establishments where tipping is someone's means of living.