So the "real" cost of the $40.00 dinner is actually $46.00. As a business person that has to figure my labor cost (and now breakage and insurance) into my product or service, it bugs me that the establishment does not charge the real cost of the item offered.

Prices have certainly not gone down in the recent past and many on this and other boards reflect on the rapid increase. It almost seems that owners have discovered the American's willingness to just keep digging into their pocket to insure the wonderful people serving us are taken care of, and they (owner's) do not have to pay the "help".

I would much rather have them pay a reasonable wage and price their food or other service/product we are now being obligated to tip for, correctly. Then we could get back to the above poster's mention of it's meaning.....T to I insure P promptness, rather than a way for the establishment owner to price things at whatever the market will support, but expect the consumer to pay the help on top of it. The "system" has gotten out of control.

The vast majority of the service people are extrememly good, and I would have no problem knowing that the price for the goods purchased provided them a basic living, and what I was rewarding them for excellent service, was nothing more than an expression of my appreciation for a job well done. Just MHO. Sorry if it offends anyone, but just looking for truth in pricing, so I can be generous when it is appropriate.