I travelled to the US some time ago and I made a mistake with tipping. I neglected to tip the cleaning lady who cleaned the hotel room each day, I simply didn't realise it was required. On the final day of my stay there was a knock on the door. "Hello sir, is everything ok" she asked, "Yep just fine thanks" came my reply, "Ok well I hope you enjoyed your stay and let me know if you need anything".

Gee I thought, what a nice lady, making sure I had everything I needed, how friendly! I packed my bags and headed for the elevator a few minutes later. She was cleaning a room quite a distance up the hall and must have been listening for me. I pressed the button for the elevator when she started walking towards me, she smiled as she passed and kept going, and then went into the room I had just left. A few seconds later she came back out, walk passed me and gave me a look that would skin the hair off a brass monkeys balls. It hit me then, "Oh shit", I said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't realise I was meant to tip you!". I pulled out some cash and pushed it into her hand (I didn't even count it but it was at least $60, I still have no idea if that was enough). She took the money and smiled but said nothing, I'm sure she thought I was trying to skip out without paying her.

Damn elevator took ages and I had to stand there like an asshole for several minutes.

Frankly, I don't like tipping. I just want to know the price of something, pay it and move on. "You mean I gotta pay you some arbitrary amount based on your ability to do your job and smile at the same time?" It makes the whole interaction revolve around money. I'm paying you for that smile, I'm paying you to act pleasant, It's a façade, an act. How about instead you get paid a fair wage by your employer and then we can have a real interaction. You get to do your job without acting like a trained monkey dancing for coins and I get to enjoy my drink without being asked "Is there anything I can get you sir", "Is everything ok sir" every 30 seconds.