Do You Still Give A Good Tip...

[CamColt]

When the waitress isnt very good, but trying?

We went out to dinner tonight. First we sat for a good 10 minutes before our waitress arrived. Then she would only take our drink orders. We waited another 10 minutes for drinks(I even had to send mine back since it was like a glass of milk and supposed to be a white russian...I know, not her fault, but I just thought Id add that in since it added to our experience). We had to ask for everything from napkins, to silverware. Even the napkins, she gave us 4, for 4 people(2 young kids) with nachos, buffalo wings, fries, onion rings(it was a platter), etc... We then had to ask for more napkins and ketchup too. I felt bad asking her for stuff because she seemed so frazzled, but it was all stuff we needed. She was very pleasant and she kept apologizing. We even heard her constantly apologizing to the tables around us.
In a way I felt we shouldnt give our usual 20% because the service wasnt very good at all, but then I felt she was trying and it wasnt like she was standing around talking or something like that. In the end we gave a little more than 15%, which is low for us. How much would you have given?

 

[nativetxn]

I would have given her 20%, I'm such a push over. I know that I could never do her job-it just seems so hard. So if the server is trying really hard and being pleasant and acknowledges problems we leave 20%.

If they try really hard, are pleasant <b>and</b> do a great job we leave 25%. I told you...both my dh and I are push overs.

I think it's because my sister was a waitress many years ago and worked so hard for so little that I empathize with our servers.

 

[helenabear]

Well we normally give 15% for good service and save the 20% for the outstanding service we get. If it really truly seemed like the server was trying I'd give 15% still. So if it is the way you made it sound she'd still get 15% from me. You have to be pretty bad though to get below that.

 

[CamColt]

LOL nativtxn, thats just it. DH used to bartend and wait tables so he is usually pretty good about tipping. He knows how important these tips are to people. I think the thing that really pushed us was that we had to ask for everything...including silverware(this was after being at the table for a good 1/2 hour). DH mentioned to me a good waiter would have scanned over the table when they first arrived there and checked for the basics, like napkins & silverware. That sort of justified us lowering to 15%

 

[EROS]

15%

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I usually give 20% for good service. In this instance I probably would have taken it down to 15%, then would have felt bad because she has to settle up with the bartender on the mixed drinks. I'm a sap.

 

[Lucky4me]

A good server will know when they are in the weeds and need help. Giving good service is a must even if you have to give away a table to give it. I think you were generous with the 15%. I was a server for 20 years and while I can empathize, there's no reason for the kind of sloppy service you got, given apologetically or not.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

I'd go with 15%. I wouldn't go lower, because she seemed to be really trying. But the 20-25% tips should be for outstanding service.

So, 15% and a word of encourgement!

 

[Serena]

15%

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I usually use 15% as a base and go up or down depending on the service.

It's hard to say ... was the restaurant exceptionally busy or were they short-staffed? If so, and if the waitress is frazzled because she's a little overworked, and if she has a good attitude (pleasant, apologetic, and not taking it out on customers), I'd go over 15%.

 

[JasonLyons]

i almost allways tip 25-30 % evn when the service isnt that good, I know that is stupid

 

[shep]

We always try to tip at least 15%, unless service is really bad, then it's 10%....

 

[browneyes]

If it was me, my kids and my SO, I'd tip 10%. If I was with my brother and SIL, they would've insisted on 20% regardless.

 

[ASFCurly]

I am not sure really what I would have given, probably 15%, but my grandmother informed me a month or so ago that the amount that you are supposed to tip has gone up from what it used to be at 15% to 17%.

 

[shortbun]

We routinely tip 20%. I might have gone to the
short side of 20 for this waitress. She sounds new
and overwhelmed but everyone has to put in their
time before they make the "big bucks". Dh and I
have both waited tables but we know that the
big tips come from the best service-normally. Waiting
too long to get the first drink order is "no no".

 

[tiggerlover]

For us the norm is 15%, but often times we do give 20% because we are generally pleased with our server. In this instance, since she was trying, but the service wasn't great I would have given her 15%, if she wasn't trying and the service was bad I would reduce it to 10%. I don't believe that tips are entitlements, I believe people in the service industry need to work for their tips, the harder they work the more I will tip. I have been known to tip more than 20% for services that warrant the extra tip.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

It depends on the resturant & the situation.

I waited tables for 6 years, so I know how to tell when a server is busy even if they don't look busy (or vice-versa). I'm especially sympathetic if I can see managers & other staff just standing around, though it's obvious that the waiters need help.

If they're trying & it's a cheaper resturant like Chili's, Fridays, I'll still give 20%.

If they're trying & it's a more expensive resturant, I'll give 15% because the waiters are more experienced (or should be) & should know the needed steps to insure that a customer is satisfied. They also usually have a lot more support help, such as a host that can see that a table needs drinks (instead of a 16yo girl that is only paying attention to the chart at the host stand).