Tipping, automatic gratuity for large parties

[Austiger]

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I think auto-grats are the gayest thing ever. However I don't understand the argument about tipping less cause they are just pouring the wine. It's easily the same amount of work carrying a few dishes as opening and pouring the bottles. Service is service.

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I was just about to say that. The waiter doesn't just swing by the restaurant, pour a couple of drinks, grab the cash and leave. They are there for setting up and closing down the restaurant. They have a job to do to make you're experience a good one. If you are spending X amount, you should tip at least X x 15%. It shouldn't matter if X is mostly wine, or mostly food. If that's what you are spending, then that's what you should tip.

Automatic gratuities are simply necessary to avoid situations where a waiter gets shafted. It's one thing to get stiffed on a party of 2, but when a big party takes up a waiter's section all night and leaves him like $5 or something, it's just not right.