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It is interesting to think about the various ways tips are used:

1. User feedback: customer quality perception

2. Variable pricing: if customer can pay more, they do; customers without as much are not turned away

3. Untaxed earnings: tax authorities set a theoretical floor, but undocumented cash is difficult to substantiate

Are there others?

Obfuscating the total cost when the consumer is making decisions—-the menu price is like the listed price in Google Flights, then taxes and tips are kind of like the baggage and seat fees on low cost airlines.

It's not obfuscation if it's entirely at the customer's discretion.

Google flights doesn't allow me to choose what percentage in fees I feel is appropriate for the service.

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