Do You Ever Leave A Bad Tip?

Of course I leave tips whose size depends on the quality of service. My wife, who had waitressed and managed a restaurant as one of her many side job while being a paramedic/firefighter, often talks about the "incredible shrinking tip", the more surly and mistake-prone a waitress becomes. There have been times when, not only have we left nothing for a tip, but informed the manager of the poor service, and in some cases, called the corporate 800 line to leave a detailed message on the poor service and attitude we've received.

I paid my way through college waiting tables, and I value good service...I'll let a server know that I appreciate how they care for their guests. I'll also let a server know when I'm not receiving the service I expect - but not in a malicious/mean way. I have severe food allergies, so when eating out, I'm relying on the care of my server to ensure that I can eat safely - so maybe I develop more of a rapport with servers than most people, but I think honesty about service is important.

That said, I will talk to a manager before I leave a truly substandard tip. I understand that tips are pretty much the only pay they receive (most paychecks I received, I actually *owed* money to the restaurant to cover taxes). I think customer service is as important as the food being served, and managers/owners should understand how customers feel about the service experience in their establishment.

I almost never undertip, because every server I ever knew never interpreted the tip as a reflection of their service, but rather a reflection of the generosity of the customer. In other words, a crappy tip doesn't make the waiter any better at their job. It's much more effective to go the manager and complain directly. If that doesn't work, then I use the power of the interwebs and let others know that the restaurant doesn't take its service seriously. Ultimately, it's the restaurants responsibility to manage their servers, and they have much more authority to both make sure their server gets it right and that you have a good meal in their restaurant.

I agree with some of the above comments. Leaving a small tip is pointless unless you actually can communicate that it's a reflection of the service and not your forgetfulness or stinginess. The quarter on the table might be the best gesture.

My baseline tip is 20%. If you get my order right, in a timely fashion, that's what you'll get. If you provide really good service, you'll get more. If you provide really bad service, you'll get less.

However, I think that the commenters who have said that explanation is needed are correct. A server isn't going to see my tip, by itself, as commentary. He or she is more likely to apply the stereotype that women are poor tippers.

Very good comments. I really agree with Jenn and Patty...right on! I was a server, so I definitely agree and understand. When I received a poor tip and KNEW the service wasn't that great, I didn't get upset. I knew what it was. When I thought the service was good and got a poor tip, I thought the customer was cheap. Communication is key. Maybe they were poor tippers. Maybe they had a standard I wasn't aware of and didn't reach...which would've been helpful for my development.

I definitely say talk to the server themselves, if you feel comfortable and talk to the manager.

I don't feel a way about not paying for crappy service. It's part of the job.

I don't feel like I owe it to the server or the establishment to "communicate." I'm leaving a bad tip and that's communication enough. It's not my job to explain my tip to a waiter or to alert management that their servers are mediocre.

I have indeed and boy do I have a story...

While vacationing in Lake George back in ’04 I was arrested for leaving less than an 18 % tip. I along with three other adults came to the conclusion that both the food and service sucked, so we left just little over 10 %. The owner’s wife was so pissed she followed us outside the restaurant into other shops and call the cops who happen to be right outside her restaurant. I stood my ground andon principle refused to pay. In fact, not only didn’t I pay the 18 % but I ask for the initial 10% I gave them back. I told them if you guys want to arrest me for this go right ahead. I know injustice when I see it..!! Well the police, nonchalantly took me down to the station finger printed me and took a mug shot of me. Needless to say, the story hit a local newspaper , then the news wire and then all over the nation the following day..!!

It was weird, It somehow struck a nerve in mainstream society and made it as far as Japan and South America! The charges were dropped after a few days by the DA and it actually forced a new interpretation of the law which made it clear that restaurants cannot mandate a gratuity. It has to be clearly stated as a “Service Charge”. Since then I've seen opinions go both ways. 50 % say it is wrong to leave a small tip, the other half say sure if there is a system in place which helps show your gratitude or lack thereof use it to the fullest of its ability, just as I did!!

Rgds,

The Notorious Tipskate

Sorry Anonymous, but it's not always the customer that is a jerk. Sometimes servers are pretty bad too and they don't deserve a very good tip.

That's the reality.

If you don't like it, get a different job.

Whoa.. Slow down dude. I hope you don’t carry that attitude around at work. If so you’ll never see a tip…!

First off I want to remind everyone, gratuity means: “a gift of money, over and above payment due for service”

The bottom line it is purely voluntary and no one should depend on it. Unfortunately tipping has evolved into something different. If an extra payment is to be mandatory, as many suggest, then it has to be labeled as an additional service charge, not a tip!

This system exists solely to, like you put it, “punish” for bad service and better still “reward” for good service. I do agree when things go south in restaurants as they often do, the waiter takes the brunt of it.

Please realize that customer satisfaction is based on the full experience, this experience includes everything from ambience, quality of food, timelines, respect, courtesy, cleanliness etc etc..

I personally don’t agree on the system and would rather a restaurant charge me a “service charge” than force me to volunteer any extra money :)

A “Mandorty Tip” is, simply put, an oxymoron .

Be cool, don't hate TipSkate.