Tipping Question

I would honestly not leave anything. A tip, IMO, is an acknoledgment of good service, and clearly - this was not good service. Tipping for this kind of behavior will just show him that he can get away with it again.

erica1989

I would honestly not leave anything. A tip, IMO, is an acknoledgment of good service, and clearly - this was not good service. Tipping for this kind of behavior will just show him that he can get away with it again.

 

Yep.  But I'm cheap.  And bitter, b/c I work in a service industry where I am not *allowed* to accept tips or gifts.  My standard restaurant tip (for a "family" chain type place like Applebees) is 15% and it goes up or down from there.  15% means you were nice enough, you got the order right, you refilled drinks and were timely about checking in.  Ironically, I often tip *more* when something goes wrong b/c it's usually the kitchen's fault and the server is apologetic and accommodating.  For crappy service, I'll tip less or none.  My exception was one time it was the kid's very first day.  He messed up almost every table and we were all leaning over our shoulders and laughing with each other.

None.  Nor would I have hunted him down for the check.  I would have gone to the register and told the cashier that the waiter couldn't be bothered to bring the check, or our drinks, menus, etc  I would have been blunt that the service, regardless of the food quality, wasn't likely to bring me back a second time. 

Crappy service really makes me cranky.

 I would leave a tip, but a very small one. Maybe $1. I don't want the server to think that I FORGOT to tip, or just don't tip out of principle. I want him to know that even though I know he makes $2 or whatever an hour without tips, that's what his service was worth to me - tipping is for servers who actually do their job!

I also start at 15% for standard restaurants, and usually give around 20%. I've never had service as bad as you described, but I have had a couple of really really unresponsive waiters, and I usually give them around 5-10%. (The 5% was when I pointed out that my salad contained a rotten tomato, so she said, "Here, I'll take the tomato off." Um, no, I don't want salad that has been mingling with rotten food! Disgusting! I want a new salad at the very least, and a free salad would be nice!)

I agree I use to waitress and my pet peve is if my drinks run out. I go pretty much by the same guidelines as Liesje.

Can I make a small semi-related thread hijack?

Do you guys tip for takeout? (Like you call a sitdown restaurant to order takeout, and pick it up yourself?)

I've never left nothing- even when service was bad (but it's never been as bad as your experience). Servers are depending on tips for their pay (they only make roughly $2 hourly and they have to tip out bus boys, bartenders, host). So, while some consider a tip a "sign of good work", to them it's really their pay check. Sometimes people are having a bad day, we all do, and unfortunately sometimes is comes out in our work (especially if you're dealing with the public, lol). And while I've never left nothing, I've barely left anything if service was that bad. Would I be pissed? Yup. Would I go back? Probably not, unless the food was amazing, lol. Would I say something to the manager? Yes, defiantly. This server was terrible, no doubts about it.

BlackLabbie

So, while some consider a tip a "sign of good work", to them it's really their pay check.

Right. But - think of it as 'commission'. If you are selling cars, making a certain percentage per car, you don't sell any cars - you don't get that commission. You don't serve your table, you don't get that 'commission'.

I've never not left a tip, but I will make it known if my expierence was less than pleasurable. I've never had service as bad as the OP, but if I did - no tip would be left, you can bet on that!

And, re take out - no. I don't tip. I'll leave my change in the jar if I pay with cash, but I rarely have cash on me. I'm also a 'cheap' person, I guess, when it comes to things like this.

I left a note on a table once that said "here's a tip, take care of your customers".  That was back in my meaner days. lol  I hate the fact that without tips food servers make next to nothing.  It leaves me feeling obligated to leave "something" even when I don't think they earned a penny of my money for bad service.  Having said all that, I don't know if I would have tipped in this case or not.  I would have to have been there.  Did you tip? 

erica1989

BlackLabbie

So, while some consider a tip a "sign of good work", to them it's really their pay check.

Right. But - think of it as 'commission'. If you are selling cars, making a certain percentage per car, you don't sell any cars - you don't get that commission. You don't serve your table, you don't get that 'commission'.

Yeah, but the guy selling cars hourly pay is way more than a servers (just like the commission). I just think about someone making $2/hour (so, an 8 hour shift, being on your feet all day, dealing with cranky people, babies, etc, you only bring in $16!) and depending on customers for your pay. And don't forget tipping out the host, bartenders, bus boys. The guy selling cars doens't tip anyone out. The guy selling cars can still pay his bills on his hourly pay (or at least some of them).

I left him a note of "tips" of how to better serve his customers, & a penny.  It is an expensive restaurant, & I could not convince myself that leaving a 15% tip was appropriate.

I talked with the manager tonight, & he insisted that we come in for dinner tomorrow night so that we can have a true " experience."  I feel like tomorrow night will be a huge improvement over today.

Courtney, I tip delivery drivers.  I rarely tip if I am picking the food up, though. 

BEVOLASVEGAS

Courtney, I tip delivery drivers.  I rarely tip if I am picking the food up, though. 

Same here.

Cita

Can I make a small semi-related thread hijack?

Do you guys tip for takeout? (Like you call a sitdown restaurant to order takeout, and pick it up yourself?)

Welllll, it depends. There is a local greasy spoon that BF and I frequent, so if I get takeout from there instead of sitting down, I'll still tip...mostly because they always get our food juuust right and they put napkins, silverware, ketchup, etc. in the bag for me every single time :)

I also still tip if it's someplace like Outback or Applebee's with 'carside carryout', especially if it's raining! I usually go for 10%.

Cita

Can I make a small semi-related thread hijack?

Do you guys tip for takeout? (Like you call a sitdown restaurant to order takeout, and pick it up yourself?)

I don't.  I order straight off the take-out menu, nothing on the side or special.  They don't have to serve drinks, come back to check in, etc.  So no, I never have.  Nor for places like Subway either.  I tip pizza drivers $5 (our pizza is usually $8-$13).