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

[Ridgerunner]

Excellent point. Tip are often split, even down to the dishwasher who probably mops up afterwards. At least my son did when he was in school. He and his wife are still in the food service industry in a very popular tourist destination. They even get benefits, although tips are an important part of their income.

It is important to know what the policies are in your area. In most places I am familiar with, the salary for some of the service staff is half minimum wage. They are expected to make up the difference in tips. I'm sure other areas have other policies.

I usually tip fairly well, how much depending on the circumstances. One local Mexican restaurant is so inexpensive that I feel guilty only giving 20%. Food and service are both very good, so I tip according to number of people in our party, not a per cent. On the other hand, I have been known to leave a one penny tip for exceedingly bad service in other places. I had one waiter follow me out of the place to return the penny and mentioning that I had obviously forgotten it. I try to tip according to the dining experience.

If the gratuity is shown up front to be part of the bill, then it is simply part of the bill. Even in that case, if the dining experience is good, I will probably leave a little bit extra to let them know I appreciate the professional job. If the dining experience is bad, it is still shown up front as part of the bill. The proper recourse is to talk to the manager.

 

[ChickenToes]

I still leave a tip for bad service, but it's much smaller than a tip for good service would be. My mother waited tables for about 20 years on and off, so I always leave a tip.

 

[raroo]

Quote:
If the 10% comment was directed at me, I already explained its different here. They just recently changed the minimum tip to 15%. I have proof, if anyone really cares that much. Also at some restaurants you can easily drop over $50 and get nothing more than a burger dropped in front of you, and the bill afterward. How expensive the food is doesn't always mean great service. And we always tipped well above 10% anyway, usually 20%, for anyone who thinks my 10% comment renders me a cheapskate. I was simply a bit surprised to see that they raised the tipping minimum when, believe it or not, yes, it WAS 10% for a very, very long time.

I don't know exactly how all restaurants are down in the states, I went to Applebees once last year when we were shopping in the states for bridesmaid dresses for my sisters wedding, and we got a MOUNTAIN of food for very little. At any restaurant over here that much food would have cost at least twice as much, at the same class of restaurant. Over here, $100 does not get you a huge meal for six people and waiters clinging on your every need, it gets you two entrees and a couple drinks each. This is why everybody goes down to the states for shopping and gas. Its EXPENSIVE to live and eat in lower mainland BC. Your food amounts are huge compared to over here, even at Mcdonald's your fries are like three times the size. Maybe the fact that American restaurants provide their customers with twice the food at half the cost is the reason why your tipping expectations are higher.

 

[EweSheep]

We eat out quite a bit before the recession really hit us this year so I have to agree with SimpleLife on her views of tipping.

When we get bad service from our waitress, we do give a dollar but it is rarely we ever get that.

If we do get excellent service, we will tip the highest 25% and compliment her/him on her job. If there is a comment box, USE it and mention their names in the card that she/he is a great waiter. And you will come back to patronize the resturaunt again as well as word of mouth for friends and relatives about the resturaunt.

Once in a blue moon, when we KNOW of this food that we ordered isnt up to par or finding your steak a little too well done, it happens. Either call on your waiter and let them know whats wrong with your steak OR you can eat it anyway because it is still good tasting knowingly next time, you will get the one you want. I have done both! Cheddars is one I remember only one time I got a well done steak when I wanted med rare but it was delicious anyway, tipped the waitress well and let her know about the chef done a good job.

One pet peeve of mine for waitresses are constantly refilling our glasses when we really didn't need that much soda, tea or water...just trying to save the business some money there as well with less waste going out.

Also patience to your waitress is greatly appreciated! I never waited on tables but I can understand how she would feel if they get yelled at, or she sucks simply because it is not her fault when your food isnt cooked properly. Remember she is not a chef but her job is to double check orders to make sure it goes to the correct table. One time at Steak and Shake, a waiteress ordered a snack pak hamburger meal and she brought out a double cheeseburger with everything. I ate it without even checking it out and a little later, she brought out my snack pak and she apolozied about her error. Heck, we took it home for our DD to eat after school and the waitress did not charge us for the error. Now that's great service!

Next time when you eat out, remind yourself to tip the waitress for good service accordingly how she did her services. Not the chef!

 

[that_crazy_lady]

me family is full of big tipers, one time my brother had a lady in tears over her tip. 15%-18% is what they go buy most of the time, but I think he gave her a $20 and the bill was less then $30. that kid is so kind

if the servise is bad my grandma said leave 0.02, never done it though. now if the food is bad the manager gets to come out and tell us he just cut the bill in half.

 

[the simple life]

Quote:
If the 10% comment was directed at me, I already explained its different here. They just recently changed the minimum tip to 15%. I have proof, if anyone really cares that much. Also at some restaurants you can easily drop over $50 and get nothing more than a burger dropped in front of you, and the bill afterward. How expensive the food is doesn't always mean great service. And we always tipped well above 10% anyway, usually 20%, for anyone who thinks my 10% comment renders me a cheapskate. I was simply a bit surprised to see that they raised the tipping minimum when, believe it or not, yes, it WAS 10% for a very, very long time.

I don't know exactly how all restaurants are down in the states, I went to Applebees once last year when we were shopping in the states for bridesmaid dresses for my sisters wedding, and we got a MOUNTAIN of food for very little. At any restaurant over here that much food would have cost at least twice as much, at the same class of restaurant. Over here, $100 does not get you a huge meal for six people and waiters clinging on your every need, it gets you two entrees and a couple drinks each. This is why everybody goes down to the states for shopping and gas. Its EXPENSIVE to live and eat in lower mainland BC. Your food amounts are huge compared to over here, even at Mcdonald's your fries are like three times the size. Maybe the fact that American restaurants provide their customers with twice the food at half the cost is the reason why your tipping expectations are higher.

Actually this was NOT directed at you. I was pointing out how the restaurants put on an 18% tip for parties over 6 but who cares because 10 and 15 percent is not enough of a minimum tip in my opinion.
Also, I am not impressed with Applebees and that is what you get at a chain restaurant a bunch of cheap food and that is not representative of the kinds of restaurants we have in the states anyway.
The only one I ever saw around here went out of business so I don't know how popular it could have been.
I highly doubt we get twice the food at half the cost at all our restaurants.

The $100.00 I was referring to was just for when my husband and I go out. NOT for 6 people.
While there are those chain style restaurants around and are good for families who want to take all the kids out without spending a ton of money I can assur you it is not all we have here.
I don't know why you think all food in the states is so cheap, a good dinner in Boston is going to cost you a minimum of $100.00 for two people and you usually don't get off that easy.
If I go out and spend $100.00 as a couple then the waitstaff is still going back and forth bringing appetizers, salads, drinks and dinner.
I live near Boston and they have some of the best restaurants in the state, Newbury Street is known for their restaurants, but usually anywhere there you are dropping more than $100.00 for a dinner, last time I ate there it was $175.00 for dinner and I left a 25% tip because the service was excellent.

Not sure what this had to do with anything, as I said it was not directed at you but I hope this clears it up.

 

[lengel]

We tip 15% on the rare occasion of really bad service but then we don't go back. Our typical is 20% and 25% for great service. However, during this recession, we find that we are getting worse and worse service so we stick to the places where the servers know us and take breaks if we get bad service from people who don't know us there.

What we are finding is that servers who don't know us are resentful and occasionally rude about 50% of the time. It's as if they are guessing whether or not we'll leave a good tip before the end of the meal. So if something goes wrong, they start to blow us off because they assume the tip is going to be bad. Very frustrating.

It's annoying because we go out to relax, not to reassure the staff.

On the other hand, we went out tonight and the people next to us were talking about what they were going to tip for most of their meal. One of the things that they talked about was that if the owner served them, they wouldn't tip anything. So ridiculous. This is a small, family-owned restaurant where they split tips and the owner regularly participates in service along with her staff of three. Presumably, if these idiots know she's the owner, then they won't tip at all.

 

[McCord6]

I didn't know there was something in the law that says tipping is REQUIRED. Yeah, paying the bill is but tipping is an OPTION. There have been quite a few times that hubby and I didn't leave any tips because of bad service, believe me there is alot here expecially with us being hearing impaired.

 

[the simple life]

I bet the restaurants are taking a big hit in this economy.
I know what you mean about that bad vibe you get from some waitstaff.
I hate when money is tight and people go out to eat but then try to cheap out on the tip to save money.
Sounds like what they may have been doing.

 

[Beekissed]

If the bad service was poorly cooked food, slow to come from the kitchen, etc.~I still tip the waitress. But plain out rudeness and neglect? Nope....no tip.

If someone working in a customer service area like waitressing~ who is aware that part of her income is from tips~ cannot put forth the effort of basic friendliness and willingness to do the job correctly then she/he can suffer the consequences.

You can generally tell when someone is just having a bad day or if they are consistently rude and lazy.