Tipping--and I don't mean cows

[hyphenate]

Do you tip regardless if the service sucks?

I know wait staff depends on tips to supplement their wages, but honestly, to my way of thinking, tipping has always been related to the kind of service I've received. So if the service sucks, why should I give a "reward" to the person who isn't doing his/her job?

I can tell the difference between whether it's the waitor/waitress's fault and the fault of the cook or other member of the restaurant staff, and I take that into consideration. But things like requesting flatware or napkins or something like that, for example, and not getting it twenty minutes later is wrong, regardless if there are larger parties in the area. It shouldn't take long to get something like that, IMHO. And I always tip between 15-20%, depending on service.

How do others feel about the issue?

[TOhioLiberal]

1. I tip...

...I tip a whole lot less if the service sucks. It's usually not an issue, as I don't often get bad service. Usually around 20% because it's easier to do in my head quickly.

[MissMillie]

2. I'm with you

completely

if the wait-person is going to shun you in favor of the large party at another table, then let the large party at the other table take care of the wait-person.

When someone takes care of me, I take care of them... usually more generously than is customary.

[Mojambo]

3. Double the tax as a base.

Tax is 8.9% here.

Then I'll go up if I feel necessary.

[taterguy]

4. There's really no way to place accurate blame on poor service

Maybe the person is new and no one bothered to train them. Maybe the restaurant was absolutely slammed before you arrived and the whole staff is catching their breath. I never "punish" wait staff by stiffing them.

And yes, of course I used to work in a restaurant.

[Mojambo]

5. Yeah, unless they personally tell me to fuck off.

They are getting the standard base amount from me.

I'll reward with more, but rarely punish by giving less.

[nini]

6. "regardless if there are larger parties in the area."

You need to go wait tables and see how it is.

Unless someone is downright rude to me they get a decent tip.

[hyphenate]

12. Actually this happened to me and a couple of friends

We got served quickly, but then this group came in and was seated in our area. They were coming in after a basketball game or something, and suddenly our waitress was gone in a flash. We got several apologies from other staff members, but NO ONE came back to take the rest of our order, and it was about 40 minutes--yes, I'm not exaggerating--before our waitress came back to us. If she was going to be busy with a large group, she should have asked one of the other members of the staff to finish our order, or at the very least came over herself to apologize. I did complain to the management, but we left as base a tip as we could. I was royally pissed off.

[Christa]

7. I always tip about 20%

Waiters and waitresses earn about nothing - if they spend time helping me, they deserve to get paid for their time, regardless of how good or bad the service was.

[northzax]

8. Indeed.

If i get crappy service (which is rare) i complain to management. If it is a recurring problem (more than once, or really bad) i simply don't come back. But i pay that one time.

think about it, folks, if you go to a store and they treat you like shit, you complain or don't go back, you don't get the person's pay docked.

[querelle]

9. I Tip 20% As A Rule

If the service is exceptional, I will tip 30% or more. But I have to tell you that I went to a restaurant last summer where our waitress was a snotty little bitch that just ignored us until we complained to her manager. I left one penny on the table as a tip. I hope that taught her a lesson in customer relations.

Q

[S n o w b a l l]

11. I did that once

and she threw it at us as we walked out the door. :rofl:

[KamaAina]

14. I always wanted to try this:

the way I read it, it was a nickel, not a penny, but still:

Rather than just leaving the nickel:

1) Take the nickel and drop it in a glass of water.

2) Put a piece of cardboard or something over the mouth of the glass.

3) Invert the glass/cardboard assembly and place on table.

4) Quickly yank out the cardboard.

5) Run like hell!

[MistressOverdone]

10. I usually tip 20 percent

and I have never withheld it for bad service, but I would do it if the service was truly shameful. Hasn't happened yet.

[Inchworm]

13. Define sucks?

If they suck bad it shows in their tip. I still tip, just not as much as if they were good.

Outside of being completly ignored or being called any sort of name, of course.

:hi: