Tipping for bad service

[jarestel]

As likely as not, it simply is interpreted that the patron is uncouth or selfish. A deliberately small tip is a much more powerful message than no tip at all.

Maybe so, but even the dimmest bulb in the lamp will eventually begin to wonder why he/she gets all of the uncouth cheapskates while his/her fellow server goes home with pockets full of generosity every night.

 

[jann1033]

i tip no matter what since most servers are paid very little except tips and i know they have babies to feed HOWEVER they aren't going to make much if they are bad( by that i mean surlly,incompetent, things under their control, not if the kitchen is backed up ect which is not their fault ). husband tips 18% no matter what i would leave closer to 15% if they stink. ( usually we leave at least 20%) no tip could be interpreted as you forgot, someone picked it up( it happens) or something else while a little tip shows you knew what you were doing( although a truly bad wait person probably thinks you are just cheap due to their crummy attitude to begin with )

 

[jann1033]

When paying by credit card I've been told to try to leave a cash tip instead of putting the tip on the credit card. Don't know the exact reason, but I'm sure it helps avoid some financial penalty from the credit card company. Any other reasons???

cynic me thinks no paper trail for irs...i was recently told CC tips still come out of the till that night as cash for the server ( this was steak and shake, may not be the same everywhere)

 

[taylor1293]

I do not understand why people tip for rude service? I would never pay someone to be rude to me.

I always start at 15% (of the total bill) and work my way up or down depending on the service. All I ask for is a prompt and courteous server. IMO, DH and I are very easy to please.

When someone is rude to me or provides very poor service, they get anywhere from nothing to $1.00. However, so that they understand that we are not cheap, I will either speak to a manager or I will write a short explanation on their ticket. I think rudeness necessitates a manager and a zero tip.

Teresa

 

[WDWDennis]

The only thing I won't tip for is when they are avoiding my table. When I have to wait for a refill on my drink, I start to get upset. To allow for this, I now always order 2 drinks initially! Sometimes, I can see them in the dining room just laughing with others and not doing their job. If that is the case and it keeps up my entire meal, I will not leave a tip!! I work very hard for my money. Why should I give it some lazy person who is clearly not doing their job? Heck, I would rather them just tell me before hand, so I can go to the kitchen and get my own food! LOL

Other than that,(unless they are rude) I will usually tip at least a little. I will not hold them responsible if my food takes too long to come out or anything like that. I just want good service when i dine out! If they do their job, they will usually get more than 20% from me. I guess you could call me an emotional tipper! The more I like ya, the more you'll get! Although, that kinda stinks for the people who work hard, but have no personality huh!! Then again, they will still get their 15-20%, just not any more!!

 

[Thumper's Tara]

cynic me thinks no paper trail for irs...i was recently told CC tips still come out of the till that night as cash for the server ( this was steak and shake, may not be the same everywhere)

It depends on the restaurant. Some restaurants, you will see your cc tips at the end of the night, some come in your paycheck. It depends.

As for the no paper trail, you are right. Although, I believe that you are required to pay taxes on 8% of your sales. This is one way the government prevents people from not claiming their tips.

Sometimes it can be frustrating though - I worked in this one restaurant during grad school where the large majority of people would tip poorly (if I was lucky 10% - no, I wasn't a bad server, it was just the clientel ). So, if I have to tip out 4% of my sales to the buss boy and bartender AND pay income tax on 8% of my sales, it could get a bit frustrating. Oh well, needless to say, I didn't stay there long!

ttfn,
TT

 

[monty]

In a perfect world it should work to the customers interest. Which do you prefer having the choice to pay someone yourself for a service rendered, or someone else deciding what it's worth. However, much of that choice has been removed by social pressure so that instead of it reflecting good-excellent service it is expected for someone just doing their job. I think I could make a very good argument that all parties would benefit if waitstaff were paid a slightly better base salary, so their reliance on tips to pay their gas to get to work was reduced and customers were to get back to the habit or rewarding BETTER THAN ADIQUATE service. QUOTE]
You hit the nail on the head with "social pressure". Because we are under no social pressure to tip in our own country, that is why a lot of people wouldn't bother when travelling overseas, unless they are in a personal habit of tipping for outstanding services.Another point is that people here if they are "tippers" tend to tip more or only to restaurants that they frequent. In my opinion, I believe it would be fairer to be paid for doing your job then relying on social pressure to make up your wages. I don't quite get what is the difference if the restaurant puts up their prices by 15% to cover staff wages or customers, under social pressure, "tip" the 15%. It seems to me that people feel like they are having some "control" over the service they receive if it is left to them to tip or not but do people in other jobs have to rely on tips to provide them with an adequate salary. What happens to the chef who burnt your meal? Do you get to take off 15% off his pay? If you are "bad" at your job don't you end up one way or another without that job? I have never heard of tipping for bad service until I read others comments on this forum.If we receive bad service not only would we complain (to the manager usually) we would expect the restaurant to compensate us in some way, be it taking the burnt meal off the bill or a free drink, etc.
And you are so right....I have noticed that gratuities are SOMETIMES listed as included.It is extremely confusing and worrying that you have to check everything so carefully and be "on the ball" all the time.
Now there was just one other thing that confused me :"If it is truly bad, leave one penny under the plate." Cannot Wait 4Disney, please explain!!! Are all tips meant to be left under the plate ( is this a standard place for tips??) or just the "bad" service ones!!
You know what.... after thinking about this, I'm not sure if I could bring myself to leave a penny....it really does seem insulting.Hopefully, we will be treated nicely and with respect and it won't be an issue.Thanks everyone for your comments. They have given me a much better insight into your social customs.

 

[dngrmys]

I was a server for about 3 years and know that the only money made are those in tips. Since we only get paid 2.13 per hour, all of that money is taken out for taxes, so we receive no paycheck. I will tip 10-15% for horrible service..... but I will always leave something because I know how hard the job gets at times!

 

[tomerin]

if the service is good and the food is lousy i tip the appropriate amount. if the service is lousy and the food is good then the tip will not be the full amount but still not too bad. if they both are bad i will leave a lousy tip. a lousy tip sends more of a mesage the no tip at all

 

[Skroops]

started off very poorly. We were seated quickly and asked for a high chair, the hostess asked if a booster would work and we agreed (our DS is 1, but tall). After getting to our table, our DS didn't want to sit in the booster so we requested a high chair.We were told that a high chair couldn't go at the table we were seated at and there wasn't another table at the moment. So, our toddler was getting kind of wild in the booth. This all took a few minutes and we looked at the menu and decided what to order. Still, no visit from the server. The server was chatting at the next table and checked on another table but never greeted us. When she finally came by, I told here straight away that I felt a little neglected. My DH was embarrased, but I tell ya, it worked. The server then gave us too much attention (almost sarcastically too much) but who cares! I got what I wanted, and I was happy. I still left 20%. I thought about not telling her and letting it bother me through dinner and then leave very little for tip, but I'm glad I spoke up.
I think that if something isn't right with your dining experience, you should speak up. If they make it right, all is fair and you should still tip fairly. I think the server should get the chance to make it right to keep a good tip. If you speak up and it still isn't right and they don't care they don't get a tip.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Now there was just one other thing that confused me :"If it is truly bad, leave one penny under the plate." Cannot Wait 4Disney, please explain!!! Are all tips meant to be left under the plate ( is this a standard place for tips??) or just the "bad" service ones!!
You know what.... after thinking about this, I'm not sure if I could bring myself to leave a penny....it really does seem insulting.Hopefully, we will be treated nicely and with respect and it won't be an issue.Thanks everyone for your comments. They have given me a much better insight into your social custo

No. Most tips aren't left under the plate. They're usually left in the little bill fold or the tray the place gives you. If they don't give you either, it's usually just left in the middle of the table.
Merely leaving no tip without explanation or complaint will usually be brushed off. But a deliberate act such as leaving a penny under the plate sends a message.

And note only do this if the service is truly bad, but doesn't rise to the level of contact the manager. If it's not bad, butr just not quite up to what you would consider good service, cut the tip down from 15% accordingly but leave it in the middle of the table, in the tray, or in the billfold as usual. Of course good service should get 15% and superb service a bit more.

If the place charges a gratuity, then you don't have to leave a tip. It's already covered (unless you'd like to reward superb service.)

 

[JennaTX]

I have rarely left nothing, or the "token tip" to let them know that I was dissatisfied, but I have a few times. I do not believe that the tip is a "given", I believe as a waiter/waitress you must do your job to get the tip. And yes DH worked for 3 years as a waiter while we were married and going to school, so I understand that they really do no make much else. You would have to be completely rude, ignore our table, etc. for me not to tip at all or not to tip well. On the other side, I have easily given 30 -35% tip when I had great service.

One thing that I heard/read (do not remember where, and have not ever done) was when you sit down at the table and order you have an approximate idea of what your meal cost and tip will be. You should put down in cash the amount of tip that would be owed for your meal/drink costs. Whenever you experience bad service, rudeness, etc. during this meal you should take away money from the tip, and by the same token when you recieve great service you should add to the tip, then at the end of the meal, your server will get the tip based on the service they supplied to you.

 

[C.Ann]

I have rarely left nothing, or the "token tip" to let them know that I was dissatisfied, but I have a few times. I do not believe that the tip is a "given", I believe as a waiter/waitress you must do your job to get the tip. And yes DH worked for 3 years as a waiter while we were married and going to school, so I understand that they really do no make much else. You would have to be completely rude, ignore our table, etc. for me not to tip at all or not to tip well. On the other side, I have easily given 30 -35% tip when I had great service..

-------------------

This is pretty much the way I feel.. If a hairdresser gave me a lousy cut - or lousy service - my tip would reflect my feelings.. Ditto for a housekeeper.. When a person is employed in a service where they expect a tip, then they should perform their service in a manner that would result in the type of tip they would like to receive.. Seems like a no-brainer to me...

 

[Lewisc]

if the service is bad enough to warrant a low or even no tip (below 10-15%) then it's bad enough to also warrant a complaint to the manager.

It is very rare that service justifies a tip below 15%. If you find that happening to you even once a year either; you should pick better restaurants, your expectations are too high or you're cheap and looking for excuses to stiff the waiter.

 

[mlwear]

I generally tip 20% for good service that is expected. I add more if service is great or if the server went above and beyond.
15% for service that was lacking. Ex. a few nights ago a server said she'd be right out with our kids' plates after delivering ours. She stopped at 3 other tables, went to the back, came back to dining area...still no dinner for our kids. After at least 10 minutes had to give her a loud "excuse me". She then got the kids' meals. Few other minor problems. I whispered to DH don't give her a dime over 15%.
I have never left less than 10% and that was for very bad service. But, I wondered if the server would think we were just being cheap or if she would know she wasn't doing a good job.
I really like the idea of writing comments on the receipts both good and bad.
As far as credit card tips, I'm sure all of the other reasons are valid, but I am concerned more that they are trying to avoid paying taxes. The last time I was at my hairdresser another lady said that she always tips in cash so they don't have to report it. My hairdresser agreed. I always write her a check and include the tip in the check. I even write +tip in the memo section. I did that day as well and will continue to do so. I believe everyone needs to pay their fair share of taxes. When they file taxes, if they have paid too much then they can get refund.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have never left less than 10% and that was for very bad service. But, I wondered if the server would think we were just being cheap or if she would know she wasn't doing a good job.

A. If the server gives bad service and you leave a sub-minimum tip why do you have any reason to care what the server thinks of you. You may never be coming back to that restaurant again, and if you do you probably will not have that server.

B. If the server gives bad service, tell the manager also. That way the server will definitely become aware of the problem. If there are several people who complain about a particular server, all of a sudden that server will no longer be able to damage the restaurant's reputation.

 

[mlwear]

A. If the server gives bad service and you leave a sub-minimum tip why do you have any reason to care what the server thinks of you. You may never be coming back to that restaurant again, and if you do you probably will not have that server..

Not so much that I care what server thinks of me, I should have worded better. I want the server to know that the smaller tip is because he/she didn't do a good job not think he/she had a cheap customer.

 

[melindaandrob]

This thread reminded me of some horrible guests I've seen in WDW, treating the servers like they were beneath them.
In POR a large family at the next table and the Mom flipped out on the waitress. The reason? She had brought child #1's breakfast out before child #2's, child #2 FREAKS OUT!!! So Mom berates waitress and tells child that she was dumb! So I wonder what kind of tipper Mom AND the child will grow up to be. Things that make you go hmmmm.
The waitress worked her butt off for this table of about 10 people and probably got diddly!
ps, child #2's breakfast arrived about a minute later in the hands of another server who was obviously helping.

 

[mlwear]

This thread reminded me of some horrible guests I've seen in WDW, treating the servers like they were beneath them.
In POR a large family at the next table and the Mom flipped out on the waitress. The reason? She had brought child #1's breakfast out before child #2's, child #2 FREAKS OUT!!! So Mom berates waitress and tells child that she was dumb! So I wonder what kind of tipper Mom AND the child will grow up to be. Things that make you go hmmmm.
The waitress worked her butt off for this table of about 10 people and probably got diddly!
ps, child #2's breakfast arrived about a minute later in the hands of another server who was obviously helping.

Not sure if you are referring to my post about having to wait for the kids' meals or not. But, if so, let me clarify...waitress brought out our food, then indicated that the kids food was right behind that she couldn't carry it all. She stopped on her way back to pick it up to take an order, refill some glasses, bring salads to another table and chit chat a bit. We didn't just wait one minute. We patiently waited for at least ten minutes with our food in front of us and kids with none. DH and I won't eat until everyone is served so our food is getting cold the whole time. If kids food wasn't ready she shouldn't have brought out ours. She clearly indicated that she was headed straight back to grab theirs. She wasn't even coming near our table, so I had no choice but to give her a loud "excuse me" to get her over to our table. A few other minor things with her service that was poor, and we gave her a 15% tip (often a standard). I won't give a "good" tip for mediocre to poor service. Her service was less than average so she got an average tip.

I don't really see anything that indicates others think they are better than the servers. Posters are just expressing what they will give as a tip in relation to service. Servers are doing their job. They should be treated with respect (the ex. you cited was terrible behavior on the part of a guest). We also ask for things kindly, say thank you, clean up whatever mess our kids have made. We demand that our kids say please and thank you ,also. If we see that a server is trying their best and have too many tables or problems with the kitchen, we are understanding. I think we are extremely courteous and we don't feel that we are better than them. But, everyone who is employed should be held to some standard. A server who hardly does his/her job and has a bad attitude shouldn't be rewarded for it. It would not be rewarded or likely tolerated in any other profession. IMO, that is what most are writing about.

 

[Chicago526]

I tip 15% for average and 20% for great service. Only once have I ever left a nickle tip, and that was a really bad experiance.

Maybe I'm lucky, but with the exception of that one time, I've never really had bad service. Most of the time, the server is quick and efficiant, doesn't chat much, but is in no way rude. I actually like that type of server, since I hate having my conversations interupted every 2 minutes with "how's the food" and "would you like a refill". Of course they need to come back and check after a few minutes of being served, but after that, I don't want to see them again until our plates are empty and they stop by to ask about desert or coffee before handing us the bill. If we need something in between, I don't mind flaging them down.