The Culture of Tipping

This post will probably be as popular as the ones on gift cards and was motivated by this Op-Ed from the WSJ.

Bottom line: I don't get the culture of tipping.

Perhaps it is my overly economic-based view of the world, but I guess I feel like there is a price for a good or service, you agree to pay that amount and you get the good or service in return.

That's it.

Why do you need to give "something" on top of it?

And, if a tip is only for truly spectacular service, why don't we hold off when the service isn't so good or really lousy?

The Op-Ed summarized it well.