Solve a debate in my home...

[dakcp2001]

Tha part about telling us he told the manager when he hadnt...that made me so angry!!!!! He left us sitting there for way too long waiting on someone that was never coming.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree with everyone else. I wouldn't have tipped either. I wouldn't write to corporate though.

 

[disneychic2]

I agree. A tip should not be automatic when something that blatantly wrong is done by the waiter. We are glad to tip 20% most of the time, but if the service was lousy, the waiter surly and rude and deceitful on top? Forget it. I think the manager should have comped your meal as a good will gesture, myself.

We had a similar experience with a waitress while on vacation. We were eating lunch at an off time in the off season, so the place had only a couple of other families there. Our waitress acted like we were interupting her day by wanting to place an order. Lots of sighs and body language. Then, she forgot to bring the milkshake I ordered and my DH finally got her attention and told her, she huffed away and no kidding, 20 minutes later, she literally slammed the glass down on the table not even within arms reach of me. I probably shouldn't have drunk it, she probably spit in it, but I didn't think of that at the time. When we were leaving, my DH went over to her, standing around talking to other waitresses and calmly explained to her why he left a penny on the table and said he was sorry she was having a bad day. Most wait staff work really hard for their tips and put up with a lot of crud from people. My hat is off to them!

 

[Disneefun]

3 Thoughts:

1. You were right not to tip.

2. I too think you should write corporate if it was part of a chain. Let them know that the manager did address your concerns, but that they need to check that the server was disciplined so he doesn't pull this on someone else. I doubt you're the first he's done this to and I would question how many people have just paid for it, either not wanting to make a scene or just figuring they owe it. Lying isn't cool and that's what he did by not getting the manager. (That's the part about the whole thing that really would bug me.) If he lies about this, I wonder what else he lies about. If I was working in corporate, I wouldn't want someone like that on my payroll.

3. I wonder if there was some sort of "incentive" going on such as if servers get people to order a certain drink, or drinks above a certain amount that they would get a bonus or something. That's the only way I can come up with to explain such bizarre behavior. He was trying to get to a quota and didn't want to get the manager b/c he knew he'd get in trouble for faking it. Either that or he's padding tips by inflating the bill and hoping that people will just pay for the drink and tip on the total bill. Either scenario makes him slimy.

 

[Dacky619]

I don't think I've ever not tipped, but this would make me do it. Or as others mention, tip a penny.

 

[shortbun]

As I was not there, I can't say yes or no. By your description of the server, I might have been tempted to stiff him-which I have never done. I've never had a server push an expensive drink on me then lie about not being able to have it taken off the bill either.
That was a weird experience, no?

 

[dakcp2001]

As I was not there, I can't say yes or no. By your description of the server, I might have been tempted to stiff him-which I have never done. I've never had a server push an expensive drink on me then lie about not being able to have it taken off the bill either.
That was a weird experience, no?

I honestly thought it just ended up on the bill by mistake. I was shocked when he wanted us to pay for it. It was totally bizarre. I have no idea what would make a server choose a drink for someone. The whole thing was weird. It was an expensive drink too! 12 bucks!!

 

[ccgirl]

I never not leave a trip as I don't want them to simply think I forgot. I have left as little as a 50 cent tip before so they know I did not forget...their service was beyond poor. The only thing about tips is the tip is not just for the server they get split (bartender,busboy etc) so the bad thing is others had to "pay" for the awful waiter. I have also been known to leave a few dollars on the bar if I had been drinking so the bartender still gets a tip. I usually tip 20%. I can probably count on one hand the times I have tipped less than 15%.

 

[mtblujeans]

Nope....no tip for you!

 

[ChisJo]

I was a waitress for 12 years and I would never have had the gull to do that! Terrible service! When you go to a restaurant, and a server gives you bad service, you choose what you want to leave. If the food is good, but the service is bad, I will leave 10% (because probably tip-out is 5%, that leaves 5% for the server). However, if a server doesn't even want to make the experience worth the money you are spending, no matter how great the food is, you won't enjoy it because of your servers attitude! Furthermore, for the manager to have no idea about what was going on and you had to hunt him/her down just solidifies that a no tip was prudent in this situation.

We just went through a similar situation in a very high class restaurant that we waited months to get into. Long story short, there was an automatic tip out on our bill that we complained about because our server didn't even deserve a tip...that was reversed and we left a very minimal tip.

When I was a server, if I gave bad service, I knew it. And if I didn't get a tip afterwards, I also knew it was my own fault. Not saying your server did that night, but he probably knew his service wasn't stellar. Generally, if a manager is involved in a complaint, you should expect a smaller tip.

 

[Kies99]

I went to the hostess & asked for the manager. The manager came right over, advised he was not asked to come see us by our server. I showed him the full drink and explained what had happened. He took it off the bill and apologized for the mix up. He didnt really seem to care all that much.

Now why in the world would you write to corporate? All you would do is get the manager in trouble, who actually took care of it as soon as they knew about it. What more do you want them to do? The server never told the manager. they can't solve a problem unless they know there is one.

And we don't know what the manager did or didn't do to the server, they may have disciplined them for the incident already.

The bolded section above is why the OP should write corporate. She should explain the whole situation including the part where the manager did take care of the issue, however she should also indicate that she felt he didn't really care. Corporate will want to know about this type of behavior from their managers.

 

[CarolinaMike]

I agree under those circumstances I wouldn't have left a tip either. Maybe that server will think twice before he pulls it on someone else. Seriously I'd have to give a lot of consideration to eating there again especially after the way the manager handled the situation.

 

[mom2val]

WOW- I just got angery myself reading the OP's post. No tip for that waiter and personally I would never eat in that place ever again. What jerks!

 

[csharpwv]

Tipping is in appreciation for good service - which you did not receive.
Not only was what the server did very rude - the rudeness was multiplied by his dishonesty.

Not only would I not have tipped - I would have discussed the situation and advised him why he did not - and would not receive a tip.

You didn't ask for a drink suggestion, and you didn't drink his suggestion - so in no way were you obligated to pay for the drink, that he suggested and took it upon himself to make.... for you... the customer who didn't request it.

My wife and I are very generous tippers when we receive good service. We rarely tip 10% - we almost always tip 15-20% or often times more. It all depends on how good the service was. If we had to wait for drinks, if our server didn't show up for 20 minutes - etc etc.

Last week we had HORRIBLE service at our local Applebees - we had to wait over an HOUR for our food. The table across from us had to wait about 20 minutes longer than we did - and they were there before us! The kitchen was WAY under staffed.
My wife didn't order shrimp - but it came on her plate - and we told the waitress about it - and she said she would take care of it. Well - the shrimp was on our check when she bought it - and then she tried to argue that since they had given us a discount - we should go ahead and pay for the shrimp - and we said - we didn't order it - we didn't eat it - we aren't paying for it - take it off our bill or get a manger for us!

She took it off the bill.

I don't know how people can't stand up for themselves - we were tempted to get up and just leave the check on the table - unpaid. Our service was horrible. And the food wasn't good either!

 

[walkdmc]

I've never stiffed a waiter entirely but in this case, I wouldn't have left him anything. I probably would've told the manager why but I wouldn't have even wasted my time telling the creep of a server.

That was one obnoxious server you had!

 

[PrincessBelle09]

Wow, OP! Your server's behavior was absolutely atrocious! Most of my jobs thus far have been in the food service industry and I have never not left a tip either, but there is a first for everything and this is one of those firsts. I definitely would have not tipped and would write corporate detailing your experience. You should also contact the head of the restaurant (franchise owner, proprietor, what have you) and tell them what happened and the server's name. He at least needs to be reprimanded and watched closely for further transgressions.

 

[indimom]

Not a chance.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

We went out to dinner to celebrate my new job. I wanted to order a drink. The server was a bit pushy and obviously in a hurry. I told him I needed a minute to look over the drink menu, he huffed a little. He ran off and came back with a drink that he said he knew I would love. I never ordered it, I told him no thank you (I dont drink tequila) and told him what I wanted. He left his drink suggestion on the table, but did go get what I ordered. I told him we didnt want the suggested drink & he could take it away. He just left it and said not to worry about it. It sat there for the whole meal, untouched.

Anyway when the bill arrived we were charged 12 bucks for his suggested drink, which was still sitting on the table. I called him over & thought it was a mistake since we obviously didnt order or drink it. He said drinks were not returnable and he could NOT take it off. He said it is not his fault I didnt drink it, and someone had to pay for it.This really ticked me off, since I didnt order it and didnt want it. I asked to speak to the manager. We waited over 20 minutes and the server came back and told us the manager was too busy. At this point I was getting more angry.

I went to the hostess & asked for the manager. The manager came right over, advised he was not asked to come see us by our server. I showed him the full drink and explained what had happened. He took it off the bill and apologized for the mix up. He didnt really seem to care all that much.

Now here is the debate. I did not leave a tip. My other half thought I should have left something. I was so angry I didnt even want to pay for dinner, but obviously I did.

First time I have ever not tipped in my life. Would you have tipped this little twerp?

I would not have tipped, the nerve of him is unbelievable. If you tipped he would deem is behavior as acceptable and keep doing it to others.

 

[ICF]

First time I have ever not tipped in my life. Would you have tipped this little twerp?

Nope....we'll, maybe a few cents...just so he knew it wasnt forgotten about.

 

[w0rM]

You did the right thing. A tip is supposed to be a reflection of the service you recieved. Considering how it went, I'd say zero may actually have been too much.