Just Another Tipping Rant

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Tipping has become complicated because it seems to be requested more and more, and sometimes in places that leave me scratching my head. For instance, once a week I load my truck with different things and drive more than nine miles to the transfer station. I weigh in, unload everything myself, and then go to the window to pay. Sitting there is a tip cup. A tip for taking my money? It can start to feel less like appreciation and more like an obligation. With restaurants, I understand the importance of tipping. What I have never understood is why the tip should be determined almost entirely by the price of the food rather than the service received. If one person orders a shrimp dinner and another orders a burger, why should the server automatically receive a larger tip for carrying the shrimp dinner to the table? The amount of service may be exactly the same. Then there are hotels. Housekeeping tips in the U.S. are generally optional, but those envelopes left in the room can still make things feel awkward. Hotel stays are expensive, and you're often paying a high rate for a room you're in for less than 24 hours. I decline housekeeping during my stay and leave my room reasonably tidy. The room was cleaned before I arrived because the previous guest left and it had to be prepared for the next paying guest. If someone goes out of their way to help me during my stay, I'm happy to tip them. But sometimes the name on the housekeeping envelope isn't even the person who helped me. Last night here in Oregon, I took my grandson out for dinner. We ordered fajitas and drinks. The food was wonderful, but we couldn't get anyone to come back and refill our drinks. Then, before we were even finished eating, not even 15 minutes into our meal, another waitress came over and started picking up our plates. As we were literally mid-bite, she asked, "You done?" I looked at her and said, "Apparently so." She mumbled an apology, and thankfully my grandson asked for two to-go containers before our food disappeared. Then came the payment machine and, of course, the request for a tip. I did leave a tip, but I certainly didn't leave 20% or more. I tipped according to the service we received. Tipping will probably always be with us, but I think we need to get back to the basics. The tip should reflect the service, not simply how much something happened to cost. What do you think? Do you tip according to the percentage you're "supposed" to leave, or according to the service you actually received?