Spinoff-Withholding A Tip

[RedAngie]

Since @ronandannette asked in the 30 minute pizza thread, I'll answer.

I've read these threads for years with fascination too. I wonder just how horrific a service experience would have to be before some of the pp's here would ever agree a tip had not been earned.

At a Chili's (or maybe it was a TGIF) in the Orlando area last spring, DH and I were seated and it took a good 10 minutes before a server appeared. She asked if we wanted something to drink, and when we requested Diet Cokes she rolled her eyes in disapproval and then asked about appetizers. We told her we'll decide while she gets the drinks.

It took about 5 minutes for the drinks to arrive, and she placed them on the table and left again without a word, even though we were ready to order. About 5 minutes later she reappeared to take appetizer and meal orders.

Then we never saw her again. Both the appetizers and entrees were delivered by food runners. She never checked back to see if everything was OK, to see if we needed drink refills (we did), or anything else. We did see her serving other tables.

After finishing out meals and waiting about 10 more minutes, still without a return by the server, DH had to go to the hostess stand to request the check. The server finally brought it and left it on the table without saying a word.

The bill with tax was something like $49.60. Not wanting to wait to pay by credit card, DH put $50 cash on the table and we walked out.

The place was moderately busy, but not packed and no waits for a table.

 

[ronandannette]

Since @ronandannette asked in the 30 minute pizza thread, I'll answer.

I've read these threads for years with fascination too. I wonder just how horrific a service experience would have to be before some of the pp's here would ever agree a tip had not been earned.

At a Chili's (or maybe it was a TGIF) in the Orlando area last spring, DH and I were seated and it took a good 10 minutes before a server appeared. She asked if we wanted something to drink, and when we requested Diet Cokes she rolled her eyes in disapproval and then asked about appetizers. We told her we'll decide while she gets the drinks.

It took about 5 minutes for the drinks to arrive, and she placed them on the table and left again without a word, even though we were ready to order. About 5 minutes later she reappeared to take appetizer and meal orders.

Then we never saw her again. Both the appetizers and entrees were delivered by food runners. She never checked back to see if everything was OK, to see if we needed drink refills (we did), or anything else. We did see her serving other tables.

After finishing out meals and waiting about 10 more minutes, still without a return by the server, DH had to go to the hostess stand to request the check. The server finally brought it and left it on the table without saying a word.

The bill with tax was something like $49.60. Not wanting to wait to pay by credit card, DH put $50 cash on the table and we walked out.

The place was moderately busy, but not packed and no waits for a table.

Makes perfect sense to me. And I'm not even judging what others would think is a justified reason - I've genuinely wondered if there's any depths to which a server could stoop that would prevent a DIS'ser from tipping. It seems to be a completely scandalous idea to so many of them. And I've often read something along the lines of "tip them anyway and complain to management if you don't like the service". Wait - what?!?

 

[kimblebee]

Tip them anyway..that'll teach 'em lol

I'm glad I don't feel obligated to leave a tip, no matter what.

In your example, OP, I would have done what your husband did.

 

[elphaba91]

In Australia we don't have the same tipping culture as in the States; leaving the waiter your change is totally acceptable as it's up to the business to pay them a decent wage.

In the States I think there was only one time I didn't tip and it was right after arriving! We had pre-booked a shuttle from Newark to New York and the service was absolutely appalling, including going a route that a local on the shuttle advised them against due to road works, terrible driving and then dropping us off half a block away because it would take too long and he was running late and would hold up our fellow passengers. As he was unloading our bags another Aussie asked the local what we were meant to do for tips and she said that if we thought the service was bad enough we didn't have to tip him anything - so we didn't!

 

[hereyago]

I'll play:
Most recent was earlier this week. My dd's friends were helping with the yard and gutters. So I bought them pizza, Domino's (eww).
The driver comes and barely says how much it is. I give him 40.00 and he asks me how much change do I want back. Wow, suddenly he can acknowledge me, more like my money.The bill was like 26.00. Well, I told him I wanted all the change. I gave him nothing. You don't ask the customer how much of their money they want back.

Oh, if a server decided that I didn't want my coin change, hands me my dollar bills and says oh I didn't think you wanted the coin change. Well, that is all they will get.

Years ago at Red Lobster: I ended up paying for the 2 sodas. They weren't busy at all. The waiter for sidetracked of getting out order to the cook because he is flirting with waitess. The people across from us for their food before us, becaise waiter comes back and had to retake order, he can't find slip.
Dd had to go to bathroom. We come back,our drinks are gone, table had been bussed.we had a jacket on the chair.
Waited comes back and was like oh I the bus boy thought you left. I said no but we are now, he is like no you food is almost done. I said i just want to pay for our sodas. I paid that. No tip, i told him and the manage why.

 

[DisneylandDarling]

OP, I like what your husband did. By leaving a $00.40 tip, she would definitely get the hint that her service was terrible (and from what you wrote, it was!). If you don't leave a tip, they can just pass it off like you were crappy customers who don't leave tips. But a low tip sends a message.

I can't think of a specific example where I wouldn't/didn't leave a tip before, but if the service was severely lacking I would absolutely not be giving the expected 15-20% tip.

 

[tvguy]

Every server starts with a 20% tip when I walk in. I would never tip less than 10%, because I think that would send the message, and the person did provide me some service, just not the level I expected. I want to send a message, not starve the server.
HOWEVER, my problems in restaurants always are clearly NOT the fault of the server. We had one server pulled off the floor SO SHE COULD COOK because things were so backed up in the kitchen. She, and the server who took our table over did a good job, and it wasn't their fault the owner under scheduled cooks. Or this week, great service at a restaurant where the owner had dropped 3 items from the menu, but hadn't reprinted the menus yet. As luck would have it, my first, second and third choices were those three items. I say, reprint the menus, until them, keep the items in the kitchen. Oddly, it was a grill and they dropped all 3 steak selections from the menu.

 

[ronandannette]

Every server starts with a 20% tip when I walk in. I would never tip less than 10%, because I think that would send the message, and the person did provide me some service, just not the level I expected. I want to send a message, not starve the server.
HOWEVER, my problems in restaurants always are clearly NOT the fault of the server. We had one server pulled off the floor SO SHE COULD COOK because things were so backed up in the kitchen. She, and the server who took our table over did a good job, and it wasn't their fault the owner under scheduled cooks. Or this week, great service at a restaurant where the owner had dropped 3 items from the menu, but hadn't reprinted the menus yet. As luck would have it, my first, second and third choices were those three items. I say, reprint the menus, until them, keep the items in the kitchen. Oddly, it was a grill and they dropped all 3 steak selections from the menu.

Who would even consider this the server's fault and lower their tip because of it?

 

[Elle23]

 

[ols386]

If I receive very bad service, I tip nothing.

 

[hereyago]

Tipping has gotten out of hand. You make me a overpriced coffee, then have a tip jar out. Here's a tip; stop being tacky and unprofessional.

 

[Elle23]

Tipping has gotten out of hand. You make me a overpriced coffee, then have a tip jar out. Here's a tip; stop being tacky and unprofessional.

I'll admit I don't get the tip jar thing when I walk up for counter service.

 

[Disneylover99]

For me, attitude is everything when it comes to tips.

I can look past slow service if it's busy and I can see the server is busting their butt. If they are apologetic about being slow and they continue to be courteous and friendly they'll be tipped well.

 

[scrhsa]

A friend and I went to a Chilis and the waitress was ok. There was maybe 15 cents leftover. We told her to keep the change while planning to get our ones together to leave the tip on the table. We were young and new to money and didn't think about giving it all to her at once She comes back to the table and drums on it sarcastically and tells us thanks for the tip. Well, she didn't get the rest of her tip. At an Applebees once, I had a guy ask our table of 8 (3 adults and 5 kids) if we could skip our dessert because he needed to get to his other job. I think we were so shocked that we just said ok and paid and left. I'm pretty sure I didn't leave a tip. Not sure about my friend though. If she did it certainly didn't reflect the bill!

 

[Hikergirl]

I have never not tipped, but there were a couple times where the tip was around 5%. Both were because the servers had attitudes, ignored us and messed up our orders. I can look past one of those things happening but when its a combination then your tip is going to reflect your service.
I also don't feel guilty, a tip is not a requirement, if you want a decent tip then make sure you give decent service. Also, in my state if the employee isn't averaging minimum wage with their salary and tips then the employer covers the difference, so they aren't really working for only $2 an hour.

 

[Aliceacc]

If I receive bad service, I speak to the manger... during my stay, not after it.

I still tip, though if it were as bad as some I'm reading here, it would be 10-15% instead of my normal 20+

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

In Australia we don't have the same tipping culture as in the States; leaving the waiter your change is totally acceptable as it's up to the business to pay them a decent wage.

In the States I think there was only one time I didn't tip and it was right after arriving! We had pre-booked a shuttle from Newark to New York and the service was absolutely appalling, including going a route that a local on the shuttle advised them against due to road works, terrible driving and then dropping us off half a block away because it would take too long and he was running late and would hold up our fellow passengers. As he was unloading our bags another Aussie asked the local what we were meant to do for tips and she said that if we thought the service was bad enough we didn't have to tip him anything - so we didn't!

Same in the UK

 

[Darcy03231]

I used to be a server so I absolutely will tip when I know something wasn't the servers fault (i.e., food not cooked properly, kitchen running slow, etc.)

There have been a couple of time over the years where the service was so poor I haven't tipped. In both cases I did speak to the manager before I left. They can't fix a problem they don't know about.

I also didn't tip a limo driver once. He was late coming to get us (we found out he forgot he had a pickup when we called the main office) and when he finally arrived he made us wait another 45 min so he would be on time to pick someone else up (after we have already paid for private limo service). I called the company and the ended up completely refunding our roundtrip cost. We also found out that he wasn't driving for them anymore when we called to book for another trip and said we didn't want him as our driver again.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We sat down in Olive Garden once and heard the server say behind our backs 'omg British no tip for me tonight' then she was quite frosty with us. We left a good tip anyway to demonstrate that we do understand the rules of US tipping even though our culture is different. When in Rome! The food was good, on time etc and the service was not neglectful just not friendly. I am sorry if she has had a bad experience with British folks I hope it showed her we aren't all the same!

 

[Meriweather]

We have left a low tip several times over the years.
We leave less than a dollar, if the server deserves nothing. Our feeling is if you just leave nothing, they will think you just forgot and not that the service is bad. If you leave a small amount, they will know.