I understand the point of tipping, but it is just WAY out of hand. No customer should feel obligated to pay more sticker price for anything they buy. Has anyone else noticed the trend of "tip inflation", whereby some servers now feel entitiled to 30-50% instead of "merely" 15%. Although I am not, have not and likely will never be a waiter, I know many people in the "industry" but I am suer this not a local phenomenon.

Thes people think they are movie stars or something? The servers I know complain about crappy tips all the time and I ask for examples. Here are aq couple off the top of my head:

1) $23.xx tray of drinks given $30, so tip is $6+ for something that took what 3-5 mins, max. And this person is complaining!!

2) Friend is waiter and believes that tips start at $30 no matter how small the bill is and range from that to $1500(table of 20 in establishment for many hours and spends upwards of 10K+ on total bill) or so. I don't care if you slice that tip up between 10 people, thats $150 cash, tax free for one table....givme a break. Same guy would be royally pissed off if this same table tipped him ONLY $750 or so.

I woul like some objective opinions from you guys and gals about this and please say if you are a server or in a gratuity getting position. I am curious if my perceptions are warped and I am the only person that thinks tipping is getting seriously out of hand.