What is the reason (historical or other)for why we tip based on cost rather than effort?

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I was originally thinking about delivery (isn’t it basically the same effort to deliver 1 or 2 pizzas?). Shouldn’t delivery tipping be based on distance/effort rather than cost of food?

The same goes for restaurants, of course. If I go with a friend and we have the same meal but I have three glasses of wine, and she has three cokes, I am expected to tip more, but the server’s effort is the same for each of us.

Was it always like this or did it change with time?

Note: I’m only trying to understand this aspect of Us tipping culture. I know that tipping isn’t the norm everywhere.

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22 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Because cost is a numeric value while effort is subjective.

Because cost is a numeric value while effort is subjective.

Further refutations

> Shouldn’t delivery tipping be based on distance

Why? Why is it fair to reduce someone’s tip just because you live next to a pizza place?

> the server’s effort is the same for each of us

Is it? There’s a lot more things the server has to worry about when serving alcoholic beverages. In particular, in most places the server or bartender serving alcohol is responsible to cut off a guest if they are too drunk even if the guest continues ordering alcohol. Plus checking ID, etc

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