Tipping a server

[sgluckadoo]

Do you tip when you have had awful service?

[laurindat]

I still tip... only because I feel it's proper etiquette. I just don't tip based on the whole percentage thing and only give them $1 for being a bad server, no matter what the total bill is.

[mhleming]

I still tip because I relied on tips at one point in my life too and some things are beyond the servers control, but if the service is very, very, very bad and the server has an "I don't give a Sh**" attitude, then I will either leave nothing or very little. This usually never happens though and I am quite generous with gratuity. 

[froggylover227]

I will tip but it certainly won't be the 15% it should be. If you gave me awful service you don't deserve my money! Of course, I try to look at the bigger picture....maybe he or she is having a bad day, or maybe it's really busy and they are running around like crazy. In those cases I try to base it on their attitude towards me. If the service sucked but the person was really nice, then I might be more inclined to leave a better tip.

[Cuppycake]

If the service is bad no I do not tip. Tips should never be expected but given as a reward for excellent service. If people would stop tipping for no other reason then it has become a tradition then employers would be forced to pay more then slave wages.

[Mykat]

If the service is bad no I do not tip. Tips should never be expected but given as a reward for excellent service. If people would stop tipping for no other reason then it has become a tradition then employers would be forced to pay more then slave wages.

If the employer had to pay more then the consumer would pay more too because they will pass those costs on to you. If they ever did that, most people probably couldn't afford to eat out.  To me to not tip in an establishment where it is customary to tip is stealing because it is a well known fact at least here in the US that servers rely on their tips for income. It is expected but the amount is subject to the quality of service. If someone doesn't want to tip, they should go to a Burger King or somewhere where tipping is not expected.

You are right about slave wages though. Some of the most popular restaurant chains are the worst at taking advantage of the servers with all the extra "side work" that is forced on them for a lousy $4.00/hr and often times it is at the expense of the service they wants to give their customers, but they have a manager breathing down their back forcing them to do other things.    Many of these companies also take a portion of the servers tip money to pay for credit card charges and tip outs to the bar, the  food expeditors and to  food runners/bussers (even when they don't have them or the server has to do the work because they aren't doing their jobs but they still get paid from the servers tips.)    Not to mention how many times servers who have given excellent service only to be stiffed but still have to pay to all the above because they have to pay according to the ticket totals and sometimes lose money for the shift.

I agree I might tip less if the service was horrendous and would probably not go back to that restaurant or particular server but knowing what I do about the restaurant industry I do believe that not tipping in general is wrong.

[sgluckadoo]

I still tip because I relied on tips at one point in my life too and some things are beyond the servers control, but if the service is very, very, very bad and the server has an "I don't give a Sh**" attitude, then I will either leave nothing or very little. This usually never happens though and I am quite generous with gratuity. 

that was pretty much the attitude, lol. the server was truly awful, he never came around, we had to keep asking other servers for service. when i did see our server, he was sitting in the booth with the young girls who were folding the napkins. his priorities were pretty obvious-socializing.

we didnt end up tipping him, but did hand a few dollars to the server we kept flagging down, who did helps us.

[raven1114]

It has to be really, really bad service for me to not tip at all. i think in my 34 years this has happened maybe twice. Well actually once since the other time we just gave the tip to the other waitress since our waitress couldn't bother with us and the other girl had to get our refills and such. The time we left no tip was when the waitress decided to completely ignore me while thinking that if she shook her rear end enough at my husband she'd get a big tip. She got zilch from us for that.

Advice for those who waitress. In most cases it is the woman who decides if you get a tip or not and how much not the man. Overly flirting with the woman's husband/date and ignoring her will usually not get you a bigger tip. Sure he may enjoy the attention and watching you wiggle your bottom but it's her he has to go home with. If she says no tip, then guess who he's gonna side with.

Other than that I leave a tip. I get that people have bad days, don't feel well and can't always be on top of their game.

[lizandhobbes]

I have never not tipped a server, however if the service was just absolutely horrible, I have given about 10%.  Usually I like to give 20%.  Also if the service is so horrible, I will tell the manager.  That rarely happens, though.

[dwggs]

I always tip 20% + because I am in the service industry and have waited tables before.

I know that a lot of times it is not the servers fault for the bad service.  It could be the
kitchen's fault or that they just overloaded the server with too many tables.

[maxinmotion]

If the service is good I always tip, usually when I am eatting out my best friend is with me and she tips no matter what. 

[lgemini]

No, I do not tip when I have terrible service.

[Cuppycake]

If the service is bad no I do not tip. Tips should never be expected but given as a reward for excellent service. If people would stop tipping for no other reason then it has become a tradition then employers would be forced to pay more then slave wages.

If the employer had to pay more then the consumer would pay more too because they will pass those costs on to you. If they ever did that, most people probably couldn't afford to eat out.  To me to not tip in an establishment where it is customary to tip is stealing because it is a well known fact at least here in the US that servers rely on their tips for income. It is expected but the amount is subject to the quality of service. If someone doesn't want to tip, they should go to a Burger King or somewhere where tipping is not expected.

You are right about slave wages though. Some of the most popular restaurant chains are the worst at taking advantage of the servers with all the extra "side work" that is forced on them for a lousy $4.00/hr and often times it is at the expense of the service they wants to give their customers, but they have a manager breathing down their back forcing them to do other things.    Many of these companies also take a portion of the servers tip money to pay for credit card charges and tip outs to the bar, the  food expeditors and to  food runners/bussers (even when they don't have them or the server has to do the work because they aren't doing their jobs but they still get paid from the servers tips.)    Not to mention how many times servers who have given excellent service only to be stiffed but still have to pay to all the above because they have to pay according to the ticket totals and sometimes lose money for the shift.

I agree I might tip less if the service was horrendous and would probably not go back to that restaurant or particular server but knowing what I do about the restaurant industry I do believe that not tipping in general is wrong.

You are acting as if we don't already "pay more" by tipping. WHEN my husband and I do tip (which is the majority of the time) we tip very well. I do not care if the cost to the company is more. Why should they be the only industry allowed to not pay their employees? I have run my own company before and you can be damn sure I had to pay my employees properly! It is and insult to everyone that does pay properly and an even bigger insult to those that are "paid" that way.
And just to address your "stealing" comment... The ONLY stealing going on is on the part of the so called "employers" that are NOT doing their part. And to the burger king comment... Those waiting tables can go work at burger king if they want proper hourly wages. 

[brum7814]

Yeah, unless he drops an F bomb, shoves food down his pants, and does the Hokey Pokey all the way out the front door; I'll just assume it's a bad day or a new job. =-P

[acurtsinger2]

i worked in a restaurant for 20 yrs. occasionally over the 20 yrs i'm sure i had a bad day, once in  awhile, whether it was something private, or a nasty customer, or the cooks not doing a good job, but i was always friendly and dedicated.  when i go to eat, i always leave a tip.  these people are working for 2.50 an hour, and no where on earth can you support yourself and or a family on that.  leave a tip always, and give extra when you feel the server has done a great job.