That being said, you are also supplementing an hourly wage, which I think is part of the reason why it’s based on price. Eating a quick salad doesn’t take as long as eating a steak and sides, two people together will be at the table longer, and thus their higher check creates a higher tip. Also ordering an appetizer and a dessert mean you are their longer, and also mean a higher check. The longer you sit, the more the waitress must do for you, ergo the more you tip. It’s not perfect but the math generally works out.

I suggest you read the whole book in context. Remember it’s humor. And he’s not looking for waiters to be paid less, he’s more looking at a system like what I described in Australia where your employer pays you for the work that you do and tipping isn’t done.

I walk into a Dunkin Donuts and they have a tip jar. I walk into a McDonalds and there is no tip jar. How much do those jobs really differ and why is the Dunkin Donuts’ employee more deserving of a tip? Can’t each employer just pay the employee fairly for what they do?

I also agree, with an earlier commenter, that saving money is great, but not if it is at another’s expense. I love Netflix, by the way, and even though they are a successful company, I don’t think it’s okay to advocate ripping them off.

thanks for the book review-
Little House

Then tip the waiter for the steak based on the salad price.

Here’s what I was responding to:
“Waiter Tipping – Why base your tip on percentage of the bill. Villarreal makes the point that a waiter has to do the same work to bring you a salad or a steak – one shouldn’t garner more tip.”

http://www.sbrg.irs.gov/sections/section4/howtoreporttips.htm

“As an employer, you must ensure that the total tip income reported to you during any pay period is, at a minimum, equal to 8% of your total receipts for that period.”

George Carlin was a funny guy, who sometimes made a lot of sense, but he would have been the first to tell you he’s joking if you tried to take it too seriously.

I, on the other hand, have stated numerous times, that I’m not a writer (software engineer), I have no editor, and my content is free to access.

To confuse things more, if you go to Australia and try to tip, the waitstaff will chase you down the street with your money. Some consider it insulting and it’s not part of their economic system.

Phil Villarreal’s view on tipping even goes a step further, which I think, you, Kosmo, may have insight on. Uncle Sam assumes certain tip for waitstaff and taxes based on that – whether you actually received that tip or not? I may have to read more into the argument again, because there’s a high chance I got that wrong.

Earlier in the same paragraph: “because I’ve never to properly skim books.”

Glass houses, Lazyman…. Glass houses. ;)

I had a catalytic converter replaced on my car several months ago. The bill was $600ish, including labor. I pay the bill and leave – I don’t tip the guy who did a great job on the car (and I don’t think it is customary to do so, unless I’m missing something).

Should the place have quoted me $522 instead, with the assumption that I’d tip the employee 15% ($78, bringing the total to $600)

I play the game, but I don’t understand the origin of the rules.

I’m a firm believer in frugality. Consume less. Save more. Etc.. But from the review it sounds like this guy is trying to consume more, and get everyone else to pay for it.

Much like the folks who check out CDs from the library, and then rip them into iTunes. It amazes me that people don’t see the harm in these types of actions.

That leads to the point that I think that Villarreal is trying to make – the system of using a percentage of the bill is flawed.

I know a waitress who drives 45 minutes to a bar because the tips for the work are much better there than the 150+ or more places that are closer.

As a former waitress, I’m also not going to cheat a server out of a tip they’ve earned. Don’t assume that all a server does is bring your food. Servers also prepare a lot of the food – it’s pretty standard for servers to be responsible for preparing drinks, desserts, and salads. At an Olive-Garden-like restaurant where I worked, servers were also responsible for preparing and baking the bread sticks. While what’s on the plate might not make carrying it more or less work, the server doesn’t just carry the plates. Tip your waitstaff. In many state, they’re earning $2.13/hour. Seriously.

Actually, on The Centsible Life, Phil commented that he did indeed have info on how to get the book for free, but his publishers made him take it out.

“I’d also like to add another tip. Start a personal finance blog so that authors of books will send you books to review for free.”

Hey, Phil – I’m not a PF blogger, but I do review books from time to time (really, I do -> http://www.observingcasually.com/category/review/books-and-authors/ ) so if you’re looking for another reviewer …

This is the third review I’ve read for this book in the past few weeks. All have been positive … might be time to buy the book.

(Wouldn’t the remastered DVDs have a different unique ID, btw?)