Tipping for bad service

[Aliki]

Here is my opinion. It is important to realize what part of the restaurant has given you bad service. If you order a steak medium rare and it comes out well done, that should not be held against the server. If the food is cold when it is brought to the table, that is a server issue.

From working in the food industry I have noticed little things and I remember them. Those folks that wait on tables make about half of minimum wage and rely on tips to pay bills, car payments or anyhting else they may need or want.

Try to remember the next time you receive bad service to stop and think about what is wrong and then decide if it was a server issue or a cook issue etc.

Good point! Don't penalize the server for slow service or cold food-- most of the time, it's beyond their control!

I normally tip 20% for regular service (on pre-tax amount), 25-30% if they were exceptional, and never less than $3 regardless of how much I order (e.g. sometimes if you go to a diner and get a drink and fries, it's only $5 but you sit there for an hour! I give them a $3 tip).

If the service is bad, I'll ask to speak to them about it. If they can't give an explanation, I'll let them know that I was dissatisfied and it's reflected in my tip. I give them 10%.

 

[scrapperjill]

But....your not just tipping on the service from the server....but the WHOLE dinning experience...including but not limited to wait time, turn around time, how clean the place is kept, how the food and beverages are...well EVERYTHING.

Of course the server may not be able to control everything that goes into a dinning experience...but they can add to or take away from it.

And on the thought...the server can't control mistakes made by the kitchen...true...to a point. But not true if they didn't relay your order correctly to the kitchen in the first place or double check the order prior to bringing it to the table. I don't know how many times we've sent orders back because of simple things like ordering a burger without veggies or with cheese...only to get the order with the burger loaded with tons of veggies or without the cheese. IMO those are easy things that should and could be noticed before it's even brought to the table.

 

[dbenlee]

Like many in this thread, I also tip according to service. I know that it can be a hard and thankless job and that pay scales are based on servers receiving tips. I will tip above what is considered normal for above normal service. But I also will lower the tip for poor service. I don't believe in tipping for poor service and if the service is so poor that I won't tip, then I definitely speak with management. If that isn't possible, then I leave a few pennies and probably never return to that establishment. In turn if I get truly outstanding service I will speak to management to let them know that as well.

I don't feel that people should be paid extra (tipped) for poor service, but when someone goes above and beyond, I believe they should tipped extra.

 

[trvlr4301]

What do most people leave for buffets. If the waitstaff is only bringing you a beverage do you still leave 15 to 20%?

 

[Aliki]

What do most people leave for buffets. If the waitstaff is only bringing you a beverage do you still leave 15 to 20%?

I tip 15%, which is below what I normally tip for table-service. They may only bring you the beverage, but sometimes they get you forks/knives that you drop, extra napkins, free refills, suggestions for best food, and 'extra' dessert items and such!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I always leave 20% for good service, and above that if it's anything special. I'll tip at least 15% if the restaurants crowded, or some other condition, that delays service.

If there is bad sevice, I'd leave a very small amount, like one dollar, to show that the tip was not forgotten, that they just don't deserve one.

 

[reginaastralis]

To the OP *Monty I believe*

Here in Florida, the min wage for servers is 3.13 an hour. The min wage for all other jobs is 6.13 an hour. Yep, servers make $3 less an hour than any other job, but believe me, we make a lot more than that *if you're a good server that is* My point is, we don't make as much as the kitchen staff. The busboys in our restauant make $7, the cooks anywhere from $10-15. I work my hiney off for my tips, b/c I know the better the service I provide, the better money I will bring home. I don't know how Disney does it, but there is a chance that the servers have to "tip out", meaning they will give a portion to the busboys, hostess and bartenders.

I personally believe that working for tips is the best way for servers. No offense, but if I knew I was going to walk out with a certain amount of money everynight, I wouldn't work as hard as I do. I love kids, so I make sure to play with each of the kids at my table. I've been asked to babysit kids many times b/c of the way I treat their family at my job. I know to not expect $5 per table, but I do expect SOMETHING.

The best thing as a server is not expecting anything, and getting something. The worse is working your bumm off and getting nothing. It's insulting and you have to wonder what people are thinking. Personally, I believe that most guests treat their servers worse than they do other people in their life. I mean, really, would you raise your glass and shake it to your own mother? To a friend? From across the room? I think not. Servers *and anyone in the service industry* have to put up with a lot of bull, that's for sure.

On the subject of token tips. I know one thing is to leave $1.01 as the tip. I THINK it started in the Depression, but I can't be quoted on that. Anyways, the point is that you go out of your way to leave a penny for the server who went out of their way. There is also one where if you leave a penny face down, it's bad service, and face up is good.

Question, I recieve $5 in quarters the other night ... did they like me, since they left me $5 ... or did they not b/c I had to pick up $5 in quarters? LOL. Why people leave tips in change like that, I will never understand.

Amanda

 

['Canes Fan]

I also live in Brandon, reginaastralis, and we always leave 20%. unless our table is left to die. my wife and I met as servers out of college, so we know how it works. keep up the 'tude, because I know how hard it is.

 

['Canes Fan]

Question, I recieve $5 in quarters the other night ... did they like me, since they left me $5 ... or did they not b/c I had to pick up $5 in quarters? LOL. Why people leave tips in change like that, I will never understand.

Amanda

or are you working at Barnacle's and the lobster grab wasn't working?

 

[reginaastralis]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan]or are you working at Barnacle's and the lobster grab wasn't working? [/QUOTE]

LOL ... nope. I work at Cracker Barrel off 60. I've made about $50 in change this month, I'm blaiming it on gas prices.

Amanda

 

['Canes Fan]

LOL ... nope. I work at Cracker Barrel off 60. I've made about $50 in change this month, I'm blaiming it on gas prices.

Amanda

next time we're there, we'll ask for you. but you're absolutely right. I'd rather get stiffed than have someone shake a glass or snap their fingers at me. stupid northeners.

 

[jann1033]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan]. stupid northeners.[/QUOTE]

????????huh ???????? stupid southerners if they are only leaving a $5 or less tip for an entire meal at Cracker barrel.

 

[InnerStrength]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan]stupid northeners.[/QUOTE]

WOW 'Canes Fan,
Perhaps you are trying to be funny with your comment, however coming from the northern state of MA, I basically found it as ignorant. I have always been a fair tipper, I enjoy people, look them in the eye when talking to them, and have spent our hard-earned vacation dollars in your fine state many times - and I certainly do not appreciate your "tude". Have a nice day.

Enough said.

 

[BBGirl]

Does anyone here honestly believe that a good server is DW is not making good money?? I have a friend who works in a tourist place in DC-- she averages 200-250 a night she works. More on the weekends, sometimes a $1000 less on Monday and Tuesday 100. Yes folks that's a night. Think about it you tip 15% or more on a bill of $100, most servers handle anywhere from 5-10 tables depending on type of resturant. OK say the server has 6 tables at $100 each that $15*6=$90 that's an hour folks not a night then add in that most severs work a 4-8 hour shift. Don't get me wrong they work HARD for that money but it's still good money. $90 a hour think about that. Teachers in most places do not make that much or anywhere close to that much. A server at LC, CR, CRT and CG could make that easily. At the buffets it's proably a little less, but they would have more tables. THose who aren't good severs need to not be tipped as well so that they go into a different type of job. Those that are good and get the dream job of a disney fancy resturant make good money trust me. Don't tip or leave very little if the service was that bad. That's the only way the server will know they are bad unless you tell them. They will either quit or get better. But do NOT use the we need this money to make ends meet for tips that aren't deserved. If a server needs tip money to get by and most do then they should give good or better service if not I tip accordingly.

 

[BBGirl]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan stupid northeners.[/QUOTE]
I have news for you coming from the north only makes us smarter. I really have a problem with saying this. WOW talk about stupid.

 

[Ang1e]

Does anyone here honestly believe that a good server is DW is not making good money?? I have a friend who works in a tourist place in DC-- she averages 200-250 a night she works. More on the weekends, sometimes a $1000 less on Monday and Tuesday 100. Yes folks that's a night. Think about it you tip 15% or more on a bill of $100, most servers handle anywhere from 5-10 tables depending on type of resturant. OK say the server has 6 tables at $100 each that $15*6=$90 that's an hour folks not a night then add in that most severs work a 4-8 hour shift. Don't get me wrong they work HARD for that money but it's still good money. $90 a hour think about that. Teachers in most places do not make that much or anywhere close to that much. A server at LC, CR, CRT and CG could make that easily. At the buffets it's proably a little less, but they would have more tables. THose who aren't good severs need to not be tipped as well so that they go into a different type of job. Those that are good and get the dream job of a disney fancy resturant make good money trust me. Don't tip or leave very little if the service was that bad. That's the only way the server will know they are bad unless you tell them. They will either quit or get better. But do NOT use the we need this money to make ends meet for tips that aren't deserved. If a server needs tip money to get by and most do then they should give good or better service if not I tip accordingly.

Our 1st night we ate at Chef Mickey. When DS9 saw the tip we left he said ' I want to be a waiter at WDW'........he's still saying it now Hope he gets his wish

 

[nwdisgal]

I am a bartender/server and I bet my hourly equivalent would floor some of the posters here

You know it. Hey that's were all the money is here in a tourist based economy. The wise ones work the high end server jobs and send their kids to private school.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Once a waitress...you always feel for them. In high end restaurants, servers can get paid pretty well. If you are at a place with no alcohol/minimal alcohol, your server probably isn't making that much.

It's a rare night that I don't leave a tip, but I have done it. As a former server, I can usually tell the difference between a bad kitchen, bad management, and a bad server. I won't fault a good server for bad support. (Most people do though).

Just today, I had a sever who neglected us for about ten minutes after my companion requested a glass of water. My companion was a little upset. Normally, this would indicate bad service, but I know the place, and it was VERY busy today, and the guy was working his butt off. Then he apologized profusely. That means a lot to me. IMHO, he still deserved a decent tip.

The last truly bad server I had, left us waiting for our food for over an hour, wouldn't even make eye contact, never apologized, and came off as incompetent - really incompetent. She only had two other tables and our food was dryed out from sitting under the heat lamps too long. Additionally, we had three kids who were crying for their food! I was driven to leave her nothing. (though I was tempted to hand the manager something -as he tried to rememdy the situation at the end) Something about hearing kids crying out for food really made my blood boil!

I also remember people who thought I should tolerate their overt sexual harrassment just becuse they flashed a dollar bill at me. Ugh! I worked at a place that didn't charge that obligatory gratuity for large parties, and I remember well getting stiffed by a large group of teens that I served very well.
Waiting on large groups is hard work!, and if the large group is the only table the server is waiting on, they are depending on your tip. Waiting a section with small tables is also much more luctrative than large groups because the small groups have higher turnover.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan] stupid northeners.[/QUOTE]

I hope you were just joking when you said that, and even if you were, it's not funny.

Usually when me and DBF eat out we leave a 30% tip.

 

[LiteBrite]

About not penalizing the server for the cook's mistake -
The server is the customer's advocate in the kitchen. If I ask for my dinner a certain way (no onions in my salad, sauce on the side, whatever), I personally have no way of checking with the cook to make sure it gets cooked and plated the way I requested. That's part of my server's job - he or she is supposed to check my food before it leaves the kitchen to make sure it's right. If he or she fails to notice that my order isn't right, then yes, I think that's their fault.

That being said, I've been a server, I know how hard it is, and I am a good tipper - my base line tip is 20%, and goes up or down from there. I leave extra if I occupy the table longer than normal (I think of it as "rent" on the table, since the server could be turning that table if I wasn't lingering there to talk or whatever). I do subtract from the 20% if the service is really poor.