When you eat out do you leave a tip for bad service?

[chickendude]

One time My entire family was at a buffet style brunch for Mothers day. We helped ourselves to the buffet. The only work any of the waitresses had to do was clear our plates. Well when the bill came there was a 20% gratuity added to the bill. Long story short we fought the owner ( verbally ) he threatened to call the police and we told him to do so but he never did. We did not pay their mandatory tip and never went back in that restaurant again. My feeling on the situation was the owner should have been paying his waitresses a larger salary that day. They did not wait on us or perform any duty for us. The restaurant business gets away with low salary's because of tipping.

 

[chixie]

It really depends how bad...my only request for a tip besides good polite service is please refill my drink at least once...

 

[Whispering Winds]

I read once where you should always leave something, because if you leave nothing, they just might think you forgot. Three out of four DD's were waitresses, and I tip good because I remember how they would get fumin' mad over a cheap tipper for good service. One DD is still a waitress, and those quarter coffee drinker tippers really get her goat.

 

[teach1rusl]

Wow! Talk about some really bad publicity for that restaurant!! They're idiots if they pursue charges...LOL. We are generous tippers normally. Service has to be pretty crappy for me not to leave a tip at all; only twice that I recall. I always try to consider whether it's the waiter/waitress's fault, or a kitchen issue if service has been poor.

 

[seismic wonder2]

Most of the time there is a sign or note in the menu or on the wall that clearly states "A (XX)% gratuity will be added to party of (X) or more." If it is stated ahead of time it becomes part of the bill.
Best thing to do is request separate checks then have one guy with the credit card pay for the lot. That way you can tip what you want.


THe manager should have said "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Of course you should not pay the gratuity. " Then taken the money from the waitresses paycheck.

 

[the simple life]

I was a waitress for years, luckily I worked in decent places and had good clientle, apparently I was a good waitress too because I never got stiffed or complaints, but when I think I am getting lousy service somewhere I will tell the waitress flat out before it continues.
I will ask her if there is a problem or if she needs someone to give her a hand, obviously they are flustered and say what do you mean and I reply that I feel that she is neglecting our table, not coming back with what we asked her for etc.
Usually it gets better right away, the only time I had exceptionally bad, bad service I talked to the manager, you should not wait until the dinner is over to do that, get ahold of a manager before it gets to that point and tell him/her what is going on.
They will send different waitstaff to take over the table and comp part or all of the bill.
Then you won't mind tipping the person that takes over.
I see tipping as a service you are paying for. If people don't like the idea of having to tip someone then there is always take out but having someone wait on you is a service that you pay for.
I don't go out to eat that often so I really appreciate someone waiting on me and I don't mind paying for it.

Now here is a piece advice that everyone should pay attention to. I once reported a waiter where I worked because he was ripping people off.
When you eat at alot of restaurants they will add the gratuity on tables over 6 or 8 depending on what their policy is.
Its to prevent scumbags from booking a big party and tying up someone's station all night and then leaving a lousy tip.
I don't mind it when I go out because I expect to tip them anyway, if the service is bad then you report it to the manager.
Not everyone is aware of the tip being added in so our policy was to circle the gratuity on the bill and write below it, tip has been included so that they would not tip on top of that, its amazing how many people do not actually look over their bills, they see the total and reach for their wallets.
Well, anyway this guy was not telling people and he was getting double tipped, when you have large tables its not uncommon for the tip to be $40.00- $100.00 all over the place.
He was bragging one night that he made $160.00 off that party he had. Then he told everyone how he does it all the time.
A waitress got caught once because the guy that paid her didn't look at the reciept at the restaurant but he took it with him because it was a business expense on his account, he went over it when he got home and he was ticked that he paid the tip twice and they had to return his money.
So take the time to read the bills.

 

[the simple life]

Quote:
They won't do seperate checks on large parties, precisely for the reason that you stated.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

TIPS stand for "To Insure Proper Service" at least that what I was taught when I waitressed years ago.

I leave a 15-20% for good service and very little to none depending on how poor the service was. If they were rude, no tip.

 

[Stumpy]

I cannot imagine the manager calling the police -- I would think he could expect a lot of backlash and lack of customers as a result. Shame on him!!!

I don't remember when I've had bad service, but I would certainly not leave a tip.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

When ever we go out to eat at a nice restaurant that has waiter/waitresses.....we tip for excellent service, we tip for good service and we tip for poor service.

Excellent service---the waiter/waitress gets a nice tip and the cook also (excellent means the food was just as ordered)

Good service----the waiter/waitress gets a tip and (if the food was just as ordered) the cook also

Poor service---waiter/waitress gets a tip written on a napkin and if the food wasn't just as ordered the cook gets one also

Usually poor service restaurants we steer clear from. I was amazed when I seen though that this couple was arrested. If the tip is such a big deal with this establishment it should have been added into the total of the bill and then there probably would not have been any issues.