Tipping is absolutely baffling for those of us who live in a country where tips don't really happen. Minimum wage here would be around $12 an hour - tipping does happen sometimes usually for those serving tables or taking orders at restaurants - but is seen more as a choice than anything else. Occasionally restaurants will add a 'service charge' - and we've had odd legal battles about chains of restaurants pocketing this service charge. Raise the minimum wage, that's the only real answer to solving the problem of servitude.....

And yes, independently of tipping, the wealthier a client of mine is - the less likely they are to pay a) on time and b) pay without a fuss or quibbling something. This is presumably why they're rich and also why I'm a socialist.