>

Stability is definitely a big bonus for many people, I totally agree. If I was a parent or was living on a tight budget and worried about making rent, I would 100% rather have a predictable income rather than it fluctuating based on a bunch of factors I sometimes can't control.
But there's a big difference between saying "I think a lot of servers would benefit from a higher, but stable wage so some restaurants should do that" and "tipping shouldn't exist".
It's a little complicated. In an ideal world, tipping would not have taken root in the US like it has. But this is where we are. And eliminating it has proven difficult.
On the employee end, many employees like servers don't want tipping to end as they make more from tips than they would a living wage with benefits. Many restaurants have tried this (again with a living wage and benefits) only to see employees protest and quit (see here or here). So that's one complication.
The other is that unless it happens all at once, restaurants get put at a competitive disadvantage. Customers would often see the higher upfront cost and be upset, even if no tip was required afterwards. Psychologically it can be different to order at one price point and then to add tip after the purchase is already complete. It breaks up the cost. So if you have a few restaurants with higher prices with no tips and others with lower prices and tips, customers would prefer the latter.
So it really does go beyond employers being greedy and more institutional inertia that can't change unless there's a critical mass. >

Thank you for the imperial data. 
As you said I agree and wish this were more of a simple cause and solution type of problem to have.
Maybe it does start first with the more well known brands that target those with higher incomes. Maybe a 10-15% won’t really matter to these types of customers. 
Note: I’m loving the responses and alternative views I’m seeingZ >

Just a friendly FYI. "Empirical" not "Imperial" >

Raising prices by 15% and eliminating tipping would not increase wages for servers
also I think your title is just wrong if u point out that tipping is fine if the costumer wants to. Perhaps would be better to say "tipping culture" >

I would disagree on your first point: if there were no tipping allowed and prices increased without wage increase, I feel as those these jobs would be insanely difficult to fill. 
Regarding your second point: Aren’t tipping and “tipping culture” the same? Hmmm maybe a better title would be “Mandatory tipping”. >

That is assuming the 15% increase goes to workers >

They would need to pay them as much as other jobs pay or the workers would go there instead >

Sure, I am just saying it would actually decrease their wages >

My server friends make about 75 dollars an hour after tips. If you think that restaurants would pay them that much hourly, there's no way in hell that would happen. They'd be lucky to make half that. While some customers are stingy and willing to stiff you, it's true,  the majority of business owners will pay you the lowest possible wage. Servers generally make more in tips than they would otherwise. >


Servers generally make more in tips than they would otherwise.

This depends greatly on location and the economy.
My wife was a server in FL when she was in her late teens/early 20s.  There's no nice way to say this without sounding like an ass, but she wasn't only good at her job, she also has huge tits.  She crushed it at making tips and made more than she would have at a good hourly wage, just as you said.
But that can oftentimes be the exception.  It was a big city and there was money there, plus tourist seasons.
You're not taking into account a server that works in an Applebees in Youngstown, Ohio or some other random smaller or economically-depressed place (which is becoming more prevalent as time goes on).  Some folks, like your friends, are #winning.  Great for them.  Many servers out there are barely getting by.
Far more people would be helped by businesses being forced to pay their employees a suitable wage rather than the $2 an hour they're guaranteed.  Even those that would make less would be safeguarded against "bad nights" where you get people who tip poorly or not at all no matter how good the service is.
Overall, it would be a benefit for servers.  Just not your friends.  :P >

Excellent counter argument, and good anecdote evidence. 
Man Reddit is awesome for this kind of stuff (other people’s experiences) >

So tipping accomplishes two things
1) Makes the existing staff work harder. If you know that the better service you provide the bigger your tip. You are more likely to be attentive to the customer. You're going to want to learn the menu better. You're going to be fast and accurate.
2) Incentivizes talent to join the ranks. Someone who knows they can make a lot of money through tips. Is far more likely to go work at a place with tips.
Here's a crude example. A really hot chick can make good $ with tips. The likely hood of that really hot chick working there without tips is much smaller. Thus it's both good for the laborer and the business. The business gets a better quality staff. The staff gets paid more for their "talent". >

Thank you for your thorough response.
I 100% agree with you that a monetary incentive is powerful but I feel as though you’d equally incentive someone with a good stable hourly wage to do his or her job properly (assuming the job is in high demand) >

Just curious, have you ever worked as a server or in any other type of job that accepts tips? I think 99% of the time I hear this argument, it's from someone who never has. 
Totally agree that restaurants should pay a living wage. It's crazy that in so many US states the tipped minimum wage is like $2. I have a bit of a different perspective, I've only ever worked as a server in Canada, where the minimum wage applies to all workers, whether they're making tips or not. 
I'll tell you that for me personally, being a server is one of the most difficult minimum wage jobs I've personally experienced. There would be a sharp drop off in the number of servers willings to work as servers if they were just paid minimum wage without tips. In that case, I might as well go work in the mall somewhere, or as a cashier, or whatever. Many minimum wage jobs are easier than spending 9 hour shifts literally running off your feet and remembering a million specific guest orders all at once, all while maintaining your "customer service persona" which is very mentally draining.
I'm also a bit confused by your suggestion that instead of tips, the restaurant just raise prices by 15%. Wouldn't that equate to you spending the same amount of money as a customer either way? >

Oh 100% I agree with you that being a server or being in the service industry is extremely difficult.
So I worked as a bar back and then for a hospitality tech company where we would on a monthly basis work alongside our users to truly understand their experiences.
From my experiences, I concluded a stable strong hourly wage would be better (hence my middle ground solution) >

Not to be pedantic, but did you ever work for tips then? I've personally never come across a server or former server who is in favour of what you're suggesting, not to say they don't exist. But if servers aren't in favour of ditching tips, obviously the restaurant owners aren't in favour of it, and you're suggesting that prices for the customer will essentially stay the same (if the food prices are raised by 15% instead of tips) then who is benefitting really? >

Yup but mined you this was a college job so I don’t have experience like some redditers have mentioned of being “high end”. 
Some nights I would make a little some I would make more. 
Maybe I’m just someone who wants to know for sure what I’m going to make than hoping for an extremely profitable weekend.