She wasn't getting my money......

[Eliza32]

Right or Wrong???
We had a 'bad experience' with a server at the Cape May Cafe Breakfast. She was A1, brilliant, brought us juice, coffe, the works....then it came to bill time, and DH puts a line through the 'gratuity' bit. This is because I like to tip in cash, not add it to the CC bill.
Anyway, she picks up the bill and tells DH that he's 'done it wrong' and he's supposed to put an amount there!! Like, er no!!!
She takes the bill away in a huff and brings back another one for signature. Yet again, she points out to DH (totally ignoring me now) that he's filled it in wrong and that he's supposed to tip her!!
Before I can explain that I prefer to tip in cash, she bangs the coffee she's carrying down on the table and snatches the signed bill before walking off. By this point I'd had enough of her tantrum, so we left her nothing.

So flame me...did I do the right thing??

The server at Chef Mickeys the next day was fab, so I gave him double!!!

 

[tinka-belle]

Can't comment on wether it was right to do or not, that is your personal preference. Rude service should not be rewarded, but you got good service up until bill time when the CM turned into an alternate personality and demanded to be tipped. That would kinda turn me off too and the tip might be smaller but not zero.

We avoid the issue by writing "cash" on that line so it's crystal clear to the CM. Been doing that since the DDP took off the included tip for both DDP meals and OOP meals and have not had any misunderstandings.

 

[catne]

We also write "cash" on the tip line of the receipt so the server has no misunderstanding. Putting a line through it may very well appear that you're not going to tip at all, and definitely could cause some upset on the part of the server. Some people think there should be no tip at buffets since you fetch your own food, so the server may have jumped to the wrong conclusion when your husband lined-through the tip area.

Did you actually tell her you would be tipping in cash? That would have been the first thing to do when it was apparent she thought you were not going to tip at all and perhaps she would not have voiced concern for the way the receipt was being written up.

I would have tipped some amount based on the good service, and figured the rudeness was her worrying about getting paid properly...these people do depend on tips to make a decent wage.

 

[mytripsandraces]

You could also tip her as you hand her the credit card, so she gets the cash in hand before she charges your credit card for the meal.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I wouldn't have tipped after that, and I also would have spoken to the manager on my way out.

 

[pkondz]

IMHO, tips are earned, not guaranteed. Having said that I usually tip at least 20%. I have left more if service was poor, I've left more when it's exceptional. If a server was to demand a tip, I think I'd be hard pressed not to demand a manager. On the other hand... sounds like the server was doing a really great job. Perhaps this person was hustling just a little more and felt it wasn't appreciated? Does that excuse the reaction? Nope. But it might explain it. If there's no tip, smile, move on. Life's too short.

 

[magicaldisney]

No flames, but curious, when she told your husband he had filled it out wrong, why didn't he explain to her right then and there that you pay your tips in cash?

 

[robinb]

Yeah ... I agree with magicaldisney. Why didn't your husband speak up for himself? She obviously thought that you didn't know proper US tipping procedure and was trying to make sure that she got her tip after her hard work. I probably wouldn't have tipped her after her snit either, BUT I would have told her (and/or her manager) exactly why I wasn't leaving anything. By stiffing her without telling her why you didn't tip her you simply reinforced her prejudices.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Because of the content, this thread belongs on the Disney Restaurants board. However they have specific rules on threads about tipping found here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858

Because they will just lock this thread and refer you to the thread linked above, I am going to lock it here with the same referral.