Chapter 39 Question ○ three three

Why do we tip for some services and not for others? (Dorapu Enaharo) In the United States, when people go out to eat, it is customary to tip the waiter who provides good service equivalent to 15%︱20% of the total bill.But many other service providers do not have the habit of tipping.For some services, tipping is even illegal.Why is there such a difference? Restaurants first introduced tipping as a way to encourage good service.Restaurant owners are willing to pay waiters higher wages if they provide thoughtful and courteous service because diners who have a satisfactory experience are more likely to return.Therefore, from the perspective of waiters, they are also willing to put in extra effort in return for higher wages.The problem is that it is difficult for shopkeepers to directly monitor the quality of service served.Reduce the price of the meal a little and tell the diners that they should leave a tip for the waiter if they are satisfied with the service, and this will solve the problem.After all, diners are in an excellent position to monitor the quality of service.And because most diners return to the same restaurant on a regular basis, a waiter who receives a generous tip for excellent service the previous time will generally provide better service the next time the diners come.

Competitive pressures in the restaurant industry make it difficult for waiters not to provide good service because customers don't tip well.If they did, people would choose to eat elsewhere. In other occasions, customers do not enjoy similar protection.Say, for example, that a driver is treated poorly by DMV staff and has no choice but to feel dissatisfied.People visit the DMV only when absolutely necessary.Besides, it's nice to get better service from the bureau, but we don't want the bureau's staff to ask for tips as a prerequisite for providing service.