Would You Have Tipped In This Situation?

[firecracker725]

OP, i probably would've felt guilty afterward, but, in this situation, i wouldn't have left a tip. the server totally dropped the ball.

once, when we went out to eat at cracker barrel, our waitress never showed up to our table. after waiting over 10 minutes, a waiter showed up and apologized, saying our waitress was "having a rough night", and took our drink and food order. he then brought us our drinks, and another waitress brought us our food. we never did see the waitress who was assigned to our table, even though she waited on the table next to ours. when it came time to leave, our waitress was a little dismayed when i gave our tip to the waiter who took our order and brought our drinks. i think she actually believed she deserved a tip, when she hadn't even bothered to say "hi" to us! the waiter may have given the money to her, or split it with her, but i gave the money to the person who earned it.

I did the same thing at a Cracker Barrel once, except we only had our card and the tip would have defaulted to our waitress of record. So, we chose to leave the restaurant after paying our bill, drove to an atm, and returned with cash in hand for the girl who actually provided service to us. I think our original waitress got the message loud and clear.

OP: I would have tipped nothing. You were more than generous in doing so.

 

[horseshowmom]

I wouldn't have tipped him anything. And frankly, I think the manager was a fool for not just comping your entire bill and sending you on your way with a freebie.

I really agree. The manager lost an opportunity to do some damage control and blew it.

Happygirl, the drink wasn't the big deal...if they hadn't messed up the submission of our entree order (as in not submitting it) we wouldn't have complained.Horseshowmom, that's okay...that's what made sense with what you said but I wanted to make sure.
Now I feel like a wimp for tipping but I would have felt guilty not doing so.

I would have felt the same way. It was "the rest of it" that made the difference.

OP, i probably would've felt guilty afterward, but, in this situation, i wouldn't have left a tip. the server totally dropped the ball.

once, when we went out to eat at cracker barrel, our waitress never showed up to our table. after waiting over 10 minutes, a waiter showed up and apologized, saying our waitress was "having a rough night", and took our drink and food order. he then brought us our drinks, and another waitress brought us our food. we never did see the waitress who was assigned to our table, even though she waited on the table next to ours. when it came time to leave, our waitress was a little dismayed when i gave our tip to the waiter who took our order and brought our drinks. i think she actually believed she deserved a tip, when she hadn't even bothered to say "hi" to us! the waiter may have given the money to her, or split it with her, but i gave the money to the person who earned it.

Wow, that waitress needed a wake up call if she thought she should get the tip when she did none of the work.

I respectfully disagree. We have no idea why the "order didn't go through". However, the server freely admitted to losing the handwritten copy. It makes me wonder if he lost it first and therefore never actually entered it. We do know the OP had to remind the server they did not receive their food. He should have noticed they were just sitting there and waiting.

As for complaining on the drink, I do understand it. It's not a major thing except when it's just one more thing on top of poor service and no entree. I would have brought it up, also.

 

[cornflake]

I'm confused as to what happened with the order - I don't know that anyone but the waiter knows what happened or why there.

I mean the didn't get put through thing could be a computer glitch, a kitchen glitch or his mistake. Then tossing the copy could have been his error or it could be the way it's meant to be done there, like put it into the system and then toss the paper after you input (which I get seems like you should keep backup but some places have more issues with repeat or confused orders than computer errors and move on. I dunno.

Because I dunno, and he seemed to attempt to do something vaguely about it (though according to the mgr, he was wrong about what he did there), I think I'd have done what you did.

Waitstaff has to be really, really, horrendously awful and it be very obviously them not the kitchen for me to not tip or tip very little.

 

[goofyintoronto]

So wait, not only do people tip when waiters do their job, they tip when waiters DON'T do their job?

Sorry, OP, to me this is the classic definition of when a tip isn't needed. The waiter should know you're not "stiffing" him. *HE* messed up... more than once.

Absolutely not. What part of that service deserved a tip? I know things are different in the States, but still.

I agree with the above. No way would I have left a tip in this situation.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

 

[MIGrandma]

Depends. If I see the server working really hard, I still tip 20%. A few times we've been out for dinner and haven't received the best service. If I see the server is working really hard, I still tip 20%. It's not their fault if the restaurant doesn't have enough help on duty.

I agree with this. I've been in the position of working hard but not being able to keep up with the demand and number of tables I was waiting on, mostly on the one night of the week where I was the only waitress in a restaurant that seats 100 people. At times I might have 10-15 tables, 50 or so people, to wait on. It's hard, if not impossible, to keep up with that many.

And I have been in that waiter's shoes before once or twice, forgetting to put the order in as I may have been stopped 2 or 3 times by other tables on my way to do that and being so far "in the weeds" that I thought I'd already put the order in, then realized I didn't! I would go to the table and admit my error and apologize to them, which I found that if you are just honest with your customers and own up to your mistake they would be very understanding. And would still tip.

Had I been in the OP's shoes, I still would have tipped a couple of dollars. Yes, the waiter made a mistake, but who hasn't made a mistake in their job?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This story reminds me when dh and I did a "dine and dash". Yes the service was so bad that is what we did.

We asked for the bill more than once and waited and waited. Finally we just left.

I had never, ever done that but in this case it was justified.

I would not have tipped since he forget to put in the order.

 

[sam_gordon]

Because I dunno, and he seemed to attempt to do something vaguely about it (though according to the mgr, he was wrong about what he did there), I think I'd have done what you did.

I'd be more willing to forgive the mistake if the OP didn't have to bring the mistake up to the waiter. If the waiter, after serving numerous tables around the OP, noticed their food hasn't come out, then realized the ticket got lost and told the OP himself, I can see forgiving him. The fact the OP had to seek out the waiter to ask what happened destroys that.

Yes, everyone messes up on the job. Own up to it. It's better for me to go to my boss and say "Here's what I did, it messed up 'x', here's what I'm doing to fix it." Than for him to come to me and say "'x' is messed up, what happened?"

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I'd be more willing to forgive the mistake if the OP didn't have to bring the mistake up to the waiter. If the waiter, after serving numerous tables around the OP, noticed their food hasn't come out, then realized the ticket got lost and told the OP himself, I can see forgiving him. The fact the OP had to seek out the waiter to ask what happened destroys that.

Yes, everyone messes up on the job. Own up to it. It's better for me to go to my boss and say "Here's what I did, it messed up 'x', here's what I'm doing to fix it." Than for him to come to me and say "'x' is messed up, what happened?"

I totally agree...my husband's main complaint was that we had to bring it up and ask where our food was. We decided to go out last night to a Cajun place (right next door to On The Border) to kind of make up for Friday night. We ordered two appetizers and two drinks and one of our appetizers came out before the drinks but the waitress showed up a couple of minutes later with our drinks and told us what had happened. She'd been standing at the bar waiting for our drinks and asked the bartender what they were. He asked her what she ordered and it turns out she forgot to order them. We never had to ask her where our drinks were and we tipped her 20% like we would anyone else who did a good job.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd be more willing to forgive the mistake if the OP didn't have to bring the mistake up to the waiter. If the waiter, after serving numerous tables around the OP, noticed their food hasn't come out, then realized the ticket got lost and told the OP himself, I can see forgiving him. The fact the OP had to seek out the waiter to ask what happened destroys that.

Yes, everyone messes up on the job. Own up to it. It's better for me to go to my boss and say "Here's what I did, it messed up 'x', here's what I'm doing to fix it." Than for him to come to me and say "'x' is messed up, what happened?"

I think he did own up to it, and offered to put in their order, and have it be free (which means the server would have to tell the manager about the mistake). He obviously didn't realize the mistake until they called it to his attention - it happens. The drink thing is a very easy mistake (strawberry vs. strawberry stripe), and I'm sure he would've made the correction if it was brought to his attention.

Busy Friday night? I think both the server and the manager bent over backwards to fix the situation. Free meals? Comped drink? Free anything they want? Coupons? I think most people who've worked in restaurants have accidently placed a wrong order, or forgetten to put in an order. It happens, they try to make it right.

Considering the OP took up to a table for at least an hour, I think the server was "punished" for his mistakes even with the tip. I would asssume he normally would've gotten at least $10 for a 2-top on a Friday night.

 

[Bob NC]

We asked for the bill more than once and waited and waited. Finally we just left.

I had never, ever done that but in this case it was justified.

Yeah, just keep telling yourself that.

 

[luvmy3]

I think he did own up to it, and offered to put in their order, and have it be free (which means the server would have to tell the manager about the mistake). He obviously didn't realize the mistake until they called it to his attention - it happens. The drink thing is a very easy mistake (strawberry vs. strawberry stripe), and I'm sure he would've made the correction if it was brought to his attention.

Busy Friday night? I think both the server and the manager bent over backwards to fix the situation. Free meals? Comped drink? Free anything they want? Coupons? I think most people who've worked in restaurants have accidently placed a wrong order, or forgetten to put in an order. It happens, they try to make it right.

Considering the OP took up to a table for at least an hour, I think the server was "punished" for his mistakes even with the tip. I would asssume he normally would've gotten at least $10 for a 2-top on a Friday night.

He owned up to it after the customer brought it to his attention, and that is just bad service. Busy Friday or not it was his job to make sure all of his tables were taken care of, and yes mistakes happen, but that doesn't excuse bad service. I think the OP was generous by giving him something, and I'm sure he learned his lesson from that punishment.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yeah, just keep telling yourself that.

We BEGGED for the bill and I am not joking. We were completely ignored, it was bizarre. Server kept saying yes, I will get that. We waited for almost an hour. This was in the bar area of a restaurant at Happy Hour.

 

[MrsDuck]

No tip on my end either.

 

[Hrhpd]

I agree with this. I've been in the position of working hard but not being able to keep up with the demand and number of tables I was waiting on, mostly on the one night of the week where I was the only waitress in a restaurant that seats 100 people. At times I might have 10-15 tables, 50 or so people, to wait on. It's hard, if not impossible, to keep up with that many.

And I have been in that waiter's shoes before once or twice, forgetting to put the order in as I may have been stopped 2 or 3 times by other tables on my way to do that and being so far "in the weeds" that I thought I'd already put the order in, then realized I didn't! I would go to the table and admit my error and apologize to them, which I found that if you are just honest with your customers and own up to your mistake they would be very understanding. And would still tip.

Had I been in the OP's shoes, I still would have tipped a couple of dollars. Yes, the waiter made a mistake, but who hasn't made a mistake in their job?

Yes, everybody makes mistakes.

But in life, there are consequences to actions, even mistakes.

If the server had been the one to figure the mistake out and come to the table to apologize, I would have left a small (around 10%) tip to cover what they had to share with others.

But in this case, since the OP had to point out the mistake and the server never contacted the manager to smooth things over, I would not have left a tip at all. The most telling "mistake" is that the server continued to serve the tables around the OP. It is the basics of the servers job to at least glance at another of their tables and realize there is something wrong and that they had made a mistake.

I think it is absolutely crazy in this world that servers expect tips even when they do a horrendous job like the OP described.

TIPS - original acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. No service, no tip.

Now, if I had taken the server up on the offer of a free meal, then yes, I would have tipped.

 

[disney1990]

When you drink was wrong the first time, you should have mentioned it to the server so that a correct drink could have been brought out. The server gives your drink order to the bartender to make - the server does not make the drink. Also, your server put the order in, but it did not go through. Again, your server did perform their job. I think you are holding the server responsible for things that they do not control. I am sorry that you had problems, but blaming the server is not always the problem. I would certainly have tipped my server on the entire order that I received, not the lower price. I have great respect for the job that the server performs and this is what I would have done.

 

[MIGrandma]

This story reminds me when dh and I did a "dine and dash". Yes the service was so bad that is what we did.

We asked for the bill more than once and waited and waited. Finally we just left.

I had never, ever done that but in this case it was justified.

I would not have tipped since he forget to put in the order.

You can actually laugh after stealing from the restaurant? Wow. Just because you waited what you felt was too long for the bill doesn't make it right that you skipped out without paying. You could have flagged down any server, not just your own, or asked for the manager. Wasn't there a hostess who was seating people? You could have asked that person. Or heck, even the bus person. But to just walk out without paying? Wrong.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Wow, can't believe the manager didn't clear your tab. I wouldn't of given a tip.

 

[mickeysgal]

When you drink was wrong the first time, you should have mentioned it to the server so that a correct drink could have been brought out. The server gives your drink order to the bartender to make - the server does not make the drink. Also, your server put the order in, but it did not go through. Again, your server did perform their job. I think you are holding the server responsible for things that they do not control. I am sorry that you had problems, but blaming the server is not always the problem. I would certainly have tipped my server on the entire order that I received, not the lower price. I have great respect for the job that the server performs and this is what I would have done.

You don't know this. The server could have put the order in for the wrong drink. The bartender could have made what the server ordered. The server also has the responsibility to check what they are delivering to the table as being correct. The server said the order didn't go through and that he lost the paper. Could be the server never put the order in. Plain and simple, the OP got a bad server. A good server knows how to operate and check their orders even given a busy night.

I wouldn't be tipping either.

 

[sam_gordon]

When you drink was wrong the first time, you should have mentioned it to the server so that a correct drink could have been brought out. The server gives your drink order to the bartender to make - the server does not make the drink. Also, your server put the order in, but it did not go through. Again, your server did perform their job. I think you are holding the server responsible for things that they do not control. I am sorry that you had problems, but blaming the server is not always the problem. I would certainly have tipped my server on the entire order that I received, not the lower price. I have great respect for the job that the server performs and this is what I would have done.

We don't know if the server put the order in or simply forgot to. Again, to me, the big problem is the customer had to tell the waiter there was a problem.

I agree with the OP on the messed up drink. If that happened on it's own, no big deal, not worth complaining about. On top of everything else, it adds another problem to a bad experience.

And no, the server is not always the problem. However, they are the "face" customers see and are responsible for getting things right. If a cook makes a steak well done when you ordered medium rare, do you go back to the kitchen and complain? No, you tell your waiter, and they "make it right".

 

[Hrhpd]

When you drink was wrong the first time, you should have mentioned it to the server so that a correct drink could have been brought out. The server gives your drink order to the bartender to make - the server does not make the drink. Also, your server put the order in, but it did not go through. Again, your server did perform their job. I think you are holding the server responsible for things that they do not control. I am sorry that you had problems, but blaming the server is not always the problem. I would certainly have tipped my server on the entire order that I received, not the lower price. I have great respect for the job that the server performs and this is what I would have done.

No, it is the server's job to notice that one of their tables is sitting idle for a long period of time without food when their other tables are getting their food.

The server is the customer's connection to the kitchen. If the server notices that their customer has been there for quite some time without food, it is THEIR job to contact the kitchen to see what the heck is wrong. Then go and get the manager to make amends.

No passing the buck here. The server did not do the basics of their job.

There are consequences to being too busy to notice your customer idling at their table. One of those consequences is not getting paid.