The Ugly American At Home: Is It Ever OK Not to Tip?

A patron of an Applebee's in St. Louis recently refused to leave a tip, handwriting the note, "I give God 10%, why should you get 18?"

Although it was not her table, waitress Chelsea Welch took a photo of the receipt and posted it on Reddit.com.

Welch told Consumerist.com “I thought the note was insulting, but it was also comical. I posted it to Reddit because I thought other users would find it entertaining.”

Welch told the Guardian that she makes $3.50 an hour plus tips  and after splitting her tips with nonwait staff, she makes $9 before taxes.

There is no hard and fast rule for tipping in America.

It's supposed to be optional, but is it when some restaurants include a gratuity of 18 percent for parties of six, eight or more?

Is it time for restaurant owners to pay their staff a living wage, instead of leaving customers to make up the difference?

Would you rather pay a bit more for your meal than try to determine if your server should be paid 15, 18, 20 or 25 percent?

And, do you think restaurant owners, guest house owners, owners of hairdressing shops, taxi cab owners et cetera should be tipped, too, when they pitch in to help their staff?

When do you tip? How much is a good tip? Do you tip on tax? And, have you ever received excellent service or do you tip because it is expected?