Poll: Have you ever left NO tip?

[Miss Stitch]

I know the in the US servers rely on tips and are underpaid, but if decent tips were only given for decent service, maybe the service would improve What incentive is there for servers to be diligent if they are gonna get a good tip anyway?

We usually tip quite well if we receive good service and very well if we receive exceptional service. If we receive below service we dont tip.

On our recent visit to Orlando, we visited Ponderosa twice (my kids love trying all the different things on the buffet) we had two completely different experiences.

The first visit, our server was very friendly, it wasnt very busy and she took the time to sit at our table and explain to my DS8, about the different things on the buffet, what his favs were and what she thought he would love. She brought our drinks very quickly and checked back at our table a couple of times before our meal came to see if anyone wanted refills. Whilst eating she came back to check everything was okay. She was brilliant. I think our bill was around $70 dollars and I left here a $20 tip.

The second time we visited a different Pondersoa, our server brought our drinks and then we didnt see him until our entrees came. It again wasnt busy. He never checked if we were enjoying our food and only came to refill us once we had finished. After having an ice cream my son suddenly became ill, I tried to rush him to the rest room but he couldnt hold on and was actually sick just outside. There were two or three servers just standing around nearby, they all practically ran away and were completely horrified. I was very embarassed and apologised and took my son into the rest room. We finally came out about 10/15 mins later to find that the vomit was still on the floor, with no signs around, no one seemed to be appearing to deal with it. We went back to our table, me still very embarrassed, and the server was there waiting and practically threw me the check, looking very snooty as if were were the lowest of the low. I didnt leave a tip, although I left several more apologies to other staff about the situation.

I know the situation was caused by my son, but this is a family resturant with lots of young children and things like this do happen. I feel the staff in this resturant could have dealt with it better. I think if this had happened in the other Ponderosa our server there wouldve been more sympathetic and helpful. The staff here made me feel so bad and I still feel that way about it now.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

No. So far I have never had that terrible of service.

 

[duffy]

Yes, at the Rainforest Cafe at the Animal Kingdom.

We kept asking our waitress for forks, and finally got some ourselves from the table next to us, that we had watched get re-set for the next diners. I forget what all we ordered, and we could have eaten with our hands, but we didn't want to. That wasn't so bad, but then she topped herself.

Our daughter had asked for water, and was ignored. We asked again, and the waitress said she'd get some, went over to a table that hadn't been cleared up yet and picked up a glass filled with someone else's abandoned drink!

If we hadn't been watching, we might not have noticed, but we saw her bring over another person's drink! In a used glass! And if that wasn't bad enough, it wasn't even water-it was a clear carbonated drink.

We left no tip, and when she came to ask "was everything ok?" we told her no, and exactly what happened.

 

[duffy]

dang double-posting!!

 

[rotlex]

Only a VERY few times in my memory, but yes, we have already not tipped. Reason? First one that comes to mind was a time at a local Ground Round where after our initial "serving" we never saw the waitress again, other than hanging around the bar talking to friends. Not only did we not tip on that one, we also received a free meal via the manager when we complained.

So yeah, while it is very uncommon for us, it has happened.

 

[jpolak]

I voted no. I would leave a small tip before no tip. IMO no tip maybe you forgot, small tip sends a message.

 

[rt2dz]

I have never intentionally stiffed a server. There was one time I did it on accident. We had paid the bill and I had the tip money in my hand and got to talking. I just got so completely distracted that I left with tip still in hand, set in my purse to get out car keys and just still didn't realize it. I felt so bad when I figured out what I did. I went back later, luckily she was still there, and left her a double tip and a big apology. Anyhow, that doesn't count.

I did come pretty close last month to stiffing an ESPN server at WDW. Amongst the most horrible service I have ever received. I don't even want to begin to list what all went wrong. Instead, I left a 10% tip on the discounted prices (DDE card). I would have told her why too, instead since she decided to go MIA--AGAIN--I wrote on the cc slip that it was overly generous with such horrible service.

DH told me that was the meanest thing I could have done. He was right, but by that time I was so angry I couldn't have even talked to a manager nicely. I think she knew what was coming though since I did ask if a manager was around during our service. Funny how one never arrived at our table though.

The Hollywood and Vine server probably would have been stiffed last month if DH had been paying. She was pretty bad too. I know the table next to us stiffed her and the other table by us (a large party) was talking to the manager about getting the auto-grat removed. I still left her 10% too.

Funny thing is, the only other time I've ever considered stiffing a server was also at WDW at Crystal Palace. Where is all this wonderful service everyone else is always receiving at WDW?!? We have only had rotten, horrible service four times out of hundreds (the four worst times ever), but we've only had excellent service about four times too. Most of the time it is adequate. I don't think my standards are very high either. Worked in the industry for years, so I tend to be pretty forgiving. We eat out all the time too, so I have a lot to compare it to.

 

[inkkognito]

I will shame-facedly answer yes, as it was totally unintentional. We live near WDW, and our snowbird neighbors took us to Ohana as a thank you for watching their house. DH used our DDE card to get the discount and then told them to put back the 20% (amount of the discount) as the tip. Something got miscommunicated somehow and our neighbor did not put ANY tip!! We had no idea till the following year, when his wife confessed to us that she had found out after they got home. I wish they would have told us right away, as I would have called or run over there if it was within a day or two to give a tip. I felt sooooooooooooooooooooo bad!!!!!

 

[Terk-1]

Only twice and both times at WDW.

Once was at dinner one night at Chef Mickey's. The service was horrible to non-existant. Waited 20 minutes to get a drink, then the server never came back. Ended up bothering another server to get a refill. Waited 30 minutes for my check and ended up asking another CM to find my server, as I wanted to leave. Another 15 minute wait, my server shows up, throws the bill on the table and leaves again. Took the bill with the total of just the food & tax, left a penny as a tip, found the manager and told him what had happened & why there was no there was no tip left. He discounted my meal, apologized, then went to find the server, as I was not the only guest to make this complaint.

The other time was at dinner at the Rainforest Cafe at DTD. Food was awful & service extremely slow. Again, another server who took 20 minutes to take my order, 20 minutes later my drink showed up (lemonade), 30 minutes after that the food showed up ice cold (chicken with mashed potatoes which should both be hot food). Waited another 20 minutes for the server to appear again to which he left the check and took off. Took the check to the manager, explained about the horrible service & food. He apologized and did not charge me for anything. Left a penny as a tip that time too.

These are the only times that that has ever happened to me at WDW. I usually tip 18%, maybe 15% if the service was just ok or 20% if the service was great.

 

[sandym718]

Yes, at the Rainforest Cafe at the Animal Kingdom.

We kept asking our waitress for forks, and finally got some ourselves from the table next to us, that we had watched get re-set for the next diners. I forget what all we ordered, and we could have eaten with our hands, but we didn't want to. That wasn't so bad, but then she topped herself.

Our daughter had asked for water, and was ignored. We asked again, and the waitress said she'd get some, went over to a table that hadn't been cleared up yet and picked up a glass filled with someone else's abandoned drink!

If we hadn't been watching, we might not have noticed, but we saw her bring over another person's drink! In a used glass! And if that wasn't bad enough, it wasn't even water-it was a clear carbonated drink.

We left no tip, and when she came to ask "was everything ok?" we told her no, and exactly what happened.

OMG, that is AWFUL!!!! Did you tell the manager? She should've been fired on the spot!

 

[Disney_luvin_family]

I know the in the US servers rely on tips and are underpaid, but if decent tips were only given for decent service, maybe the service would improve What incentive is there for servers to be diligent if they are gonna get a good tip anyway?.

I couldn't agree with you MORE!!!! It makes me mad that these crappy waiters and waitresses EXPECT something that they didn't work for. I waited tables for 3 years in college...I KNOW and UNDERSTAND that it could be the kitchen or other reason why service is slow- but when a server is RUDE or isn't comming to the table regularly- then it's the servers fault. We've had two experiances where our server is SICK, comes to work to serve people food and we've seen them cough or sneeze or something on the food! That is UNACCEPTABLE! Not only should they not get a tip, they should be told to go home if they can't stop spreading their nasty germs to everyone they serve!

I do like the idea of leaving a few pennies or a quarter or something (instead of leaving absolutely nothing) I think that would make them understand that I didn't just forget to leave one.

When a server has not done a good job, they kind of know that right? At least I did. If I messed up a table with the wrong order, I NEVER expected a tip...nor should anyone else.

In my mind, the word "tip" means something you get when you've done a good job and you deserve it. My grandma waited tables all of her life, she said "If I don't do my job, I don't get a tip"...So, when did it become something that is expected? Maybe the service would start to get better at some places if everyone tipped according to how good their service was?

I consider my self and my husband to be good tippers. We tip more than the average people, but we base in on the services that we received from the server- We go to a lot of the same restaurants in our town and we get NOTHING but good service. Servers remember us, because our town is small- we have 10 restaurants. NOW- if we tipped the same whether we got bad or good service these servers would just say "oh, I can slack off on this table, because they'll tip no matter what!"

Tips are to be EARNED not expected! A bad server who expects a tip from EVERY poorly served table should find a new job that doesn't rely so much on tips...JMO

 

[jarestel]

Have I ever left NO tip? Absolutely. The tip is for services performed, it is not my own privatized welfare system. It hasn't happened often, but when the situation warrants I will summon the manager and give a complete explanation as to why the wait person will not be receiving any compensation from me on this particular occasion. I leave it to the manager to deal with the employee as he/she sees fit.

 

[danielle782001]

Never have not left a tip... Have given less if service was bad... we always give aorunf 20% but we have cut that in half for poor service. Poor service does not include not getting food fast. We would like to think that is the kitchen not the server.

 

[bubba]

I have absolutely no problem leaving no tip for really bad service. This has only happened a couple times and both times I have asked to speak to a manager to explain the problems. I agree everyone has bad days. However in a service position you need to be able to put that aside as much as possible and carry on in a professional manner. My feelings anyway (and yes I have always worked in service positions - waitstaff, retail, reservation agent for a hotel chain)

 

[jlima]

At a Tony Roma's once, it took forever to get drinks and the table next to us was seated after us and got their salads before we got anything. I had to find our server and ask her what happened and literally 30 seconds after we got our salads, our dinners were served. I asked her if their timing was off and she VERY sarcastically asked if she could take the dinners away and keep them warm. I said no, we've waited long enough. She offered take the salads off the bill, and when we got the bill, they were still there. I rounded up the bill to the next dollar so it was maybe a 70 or 80 cent tip.

 

[jlima]

At a Tony Roma's once, it took forever to get drinks and the table next to us was seated after us and got their salads before we got anything. I had to find our server and ask her what happened and literally 30 seconds after we got our salads, our dinners were served. I asked her if their timing was off and she VERY sarcastically asked if she could take the dinners away and keep them warm. I said no, we've waited long enough. She offered take the salads off the bill, and when we got the bill, they were still there. I rounded up the bill to the next dollar so it was maybe a 70 or 80 cent tip.

 

[inkkognito]

In reading back on this thread, I noticed an interesting point: Sometimes slow service is not the fault of the server, but rather of the kitchen or the fact that they have been overburdened with tables. We will reduce a tip when service is bad, but not when we know that it's due to something being out of the server's control.

We once actually tipped a server more because her other table was loaded with jerks. They were at a restaurant call's Lawry's the PRIME RIB, with the menu posted prominently outside, and they were reading her the riot act because there was only prime rib, not steak, on the menu. They were totally drunk and speaking to her in such an insulting and disrespectful manner that I really believe a manager should have asked them to leave. She went to get a recipe for us and had to run upstairs to get it, and that other table laid into her because she was gone for what they deemed too long of a time. I felt awful for having asked her to get it. I just know those jerks stiffed her (they were loudly saying things to that effect), so we really upped our tip.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We've always tipped but we've been lucky and have never encountered the service (or rather lack thereof) others have described on this thread. Sure we've had some servers who were better than others and we've tipped accordingly but never anything bad enough to warrant leaving a reduced tip or no tip at all.

Our answer would have been different had we stuck around one restaurant here in Edmonton a few years ago. We were seated by the hostess then waited over 1/2 hr without anyone even taking a drink order before we finally walked out.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

I've left no tip before but we really enjoy leaving a penny

 

[Aliceacc]

I used to waitress. For a while I worked in an Irish Pub.

One night we had a new singer booked. I was the only waitress on that night.
Who knew he had a huge following? Before I knew what hit me, I had a full house.

As much as I would love to say I gave great service, I must admit that it wasn't true. I ran my legs off, but I know the service was awful. (The one chef in the kitchen was as overworked as I was.) People waited for everything from bread to drinks to dinner.

The people were great though. They did all in their power to help me, and were incredibly generous with their tips.