Having said that,in the early days,to avoid running out of cash,sometimes we would pay the total bill by card,in turn,although you need a good mathematician in group to work out who owes what. At times the same $20 went back and forth several times during the course of the trip.

Tips are usually included in the bill in America but if the service is really bad, as happened at one restaurant in May this year, you can refuse to pay the tip part of the bill.  They won't argue.

Except is New York state where the tip is considered part of the bill and in Manhattan if you attempt not to pay something it's considered not paying the bill and the restaurant will likely call the police for skipping out. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_tipping 

It happened to one of my group on a JY tour back in 2012. The person was adamantly anti-tip on principle until the breakfast diner threatened to call the police. It was at the beginning of the tour and it ruined their holiday because of the resent they felt at every mealtime for the rest of the trip "paying money for nothing". They simply did not get / would not accept that tips in the US form part of the minimum wage and the employer only pays extra to top it up to the minimum wage if it doesn't reach that level.

Some people just cannot leave their cultural preferences (or prejudices!) at home and accept that when you are in another country, their culture and customs apply - not yours, whether you like them or not.

This post gave me memories of St Louis, Memphis and New Orleans with you. Great times x

I do agree with you. In lots of countries tipping is a norm but I have also come across people who do not agree with this and some who will not tip at all. I personally believe in tipping and am generous especially when I have received a good service!

Jaya