How Bad Does Service Have To Be Not To Tip?

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

I've only intentionally not left a tip a handful of times, but it has happened. It takes a lot to get me to that point. I'm understanding if I can tell a waitress is new. I'm also a picky eater, so I remain level headed if someone gets my order wrong. It usually takes an attitude of not giving a ****. A mistake is understandable, but how you react to such a mistake can really set me off.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

I've only intentionally not left a tip a handful of times, but it has happened. It takes a lot to get me to that point. I'm understanding if I can tell a waitress is new. I'm also a picky eater, so I remain level headed if someone gets my order wrong. It usually takes an attitude of not giving a ****. A mistake is understandable, but how you react to such a mistake can really set me off.

 

The number one thing that gets a tip slashed is inattentiveness to drinks.

If they can't be bothered to come back and ask about refills, I can't be bothered to leave a tip.

 

[row_33]

I have never left zero tip.

 

i have always stated problems during my meal and rarely has it not been dealt with at the time

 

i know plenty of a-holes who enjoy picking on staff for no reason and lording it over people worse off than them, and they think they are doing a good thing

 

 

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

12 minutes ago, row_33 said:

I have never left zero tip.

 

i have always stated problems during my meal and rarely has it not been dealt with at the time

 

i know plenty of a-holes who enjoy picking on staff for no reason and lording it over people worse off than them, and they think they are doing a good thing

 

 

We had an absolutely rude, inattentive, and uncaring waitress once. Finally, a waitress who wasn't even assigned to our section appologized profusley on our waitresses behalf and took care of us. So we made sure that the tip went to her, and not the one who was allegedly our waitress.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

The server would have to be blatantly rude to me to get no tip (which thankfully has never happened).  For bad service, I will always leave a tip and then just never return to the restaurant.

[teef]

1 minute ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

The server would have to be blatantly rude to me to get no tip (which thankfully has never happened).  For bad service, I will always leave a tip and then just never return to the restaurant.

exactly.  someone would have to go out of their way to insult me not to get a tip.  i've worked for tips before, and i just hate the idea of leaving nothing.  i'm with you...i just wouldn't go back.

17 minutes ago, joesixpack said:

 

The number one thing that gets a tip slashed is inattentiveness to drinks.

If they can't be bothered to come back and ask about refills, I can't be bothered to leave a tip.

 

i can't handle drink inattentiveness too.  we were out a few weeks ago, got seated, and waited 25 mins to get a drink.  i had to go to the bar and get it myself.  the waiter picked up on it, and drinks were good after it.  once i actually had a waiter get upset because i ordered a drink at the bar as opposed to the table.  you want the money?  give me my !@#$ing drink.

[seregil42]

I've done it only a couple of times.  Both times, we had excessive waiting times at the table, waitress basically only showed up to take order (other people brought food) and drop off check (never asked how anything was, if we wanted anything else, etc.) and had an attitude on them. 

[stuvian]

only zero tipped twice ever. Both times were when I felt the server insulted me

[KD in CA]

15 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

The server would have to be blatantly rude to me to get no tip (which thankfully has never happened).  For bad service, I will always leave a tip and then just never return to the restaurant.

 

Pretty much this.  I can't recall specifically but feel like I may have zeroed a tip on one or two occasions in the distant past.

 

But if this sort of thing happens to a person frequently, it's not the servers.

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

Last season, at the Bills Backers Bar, the waitress totally messed up our order. Took forever. Gave us the wrong food. Didn't get the right food to us until the 4th quarter. 

That being said, she was totally apologetic, and did everything she could to make up for it, and even took the food off my tab. We didn't ask for this, and we weren't even that mad. We tried telling her it was fine, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. So we just tipped her the difference. Like I said, it's not that a mistake is made, it's how you react to the mistake. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Never. Always 20%.  More if PLACE (not service) is exceptional.

8 minutes ago, KD in CA said:

 

Pretty much this.  I can't recall specifically but feel like I may have zeroed a tip on one or two occasions in the distant past.

 

But if this sort of thing happens to a person frequently, it's not the servers.

Bingo!

[Seasons1992]

For me, who's worked in a few restaurants from the kitchen to serving to the bar, you have to really, REALLY be bad for me to leave less than 20%. For my regular places I tip 50% or more but I'm adding in all the drinks I'm getting and not being charged for. People remember that.

[Rockpile233]

Having worked in several restaurants when I was younger, I can typically make correct assumptions where a breakdown is occurring when I’m experiencing bad service. I have never left zero for a tip, but I have certainly docked the tip when I could say with certainty server laziness or rudeness was causing whatever problem.

 

I typically empathize with people who seem over their head busy, but if you’re just texting on your phone at the station and my drink is empty you suck at your job. 

 

What people often do, which I always hated, was penalize a server or bartender for an obvious kitchen issue. Happens all the time though.

[ExiledInIllinois]

8 minutes ago, Rockpile233 said:

Having worked in several restaurants when I was younger, I can typically make correct assumptions where a breakdown is occurring when I’m experiencing bad service. I have never left zero for a tip, but I have certainly docked the tip when I could say with certainty server laziness or rudeness was causing whatever problem.

 

I typically empathize with people who seem over their head busy, but if you’re just texting on your phone at the station and my drink is empty you suck at your job. 

 

What people often do, which I always hated, was penalize a server or bartender for an obvious kitchen issue. Happens all the time though.

Who really wants to excel in the waitering business... Unless one wants to be a professional waiter their whole life.

 

Make SOME $$$ and get the hell out.   Let it crush your soul, kissing ass for people... You gotta be kidding?

 

I expect the same when I go out.  Who cares?  People are so self-centered.  Food is dead or not moving, warm... I am happy.

 

"Perhaps I've grown a little cynical
But I know no matter what the waitress brings
I shall drink it and always be full, yeah I will drink it and always be full"

Edited August 6, 2018 by ExiledInIllinois

[Rockpile233]

5 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Who really wants to excel in the waitering business... Unless one wants to be a professional waiter their whole life.

 

Make SOME $$$ and get the hell out.   Let it crush your soul, kissing ass for people... You gotta be kidding?

 

I expect the same when I go out.  Who cares?  People are so self-centered.  Food is dead or not moving, warm... I am happy.

 

"Perhaps I've grown a little cynical
But I know no matter what the waitress brings
I shall drink it and always be full, yeah I will drink it and always be full"

 

I wanted to excel because to excel was to give great service, which in turn led to bigger tips. It was completely personally motivated to make some money as you say. People with **** attitudes usually maintain those **** attitudes in the professional world as well. I’ve grown with enough of them.

 

But yes, I was very cynical towards management when I was serving/bartending. Always was in a rush to get out of the industry. I see know they were just trying to work their careers as best as possible. I was in fact the !@#$ in that equation.

[frostbitmic]

I'm generally a 20% tipper ... 20%for fair to good service ... Less than fair service and I've left less ... Great service can get 30% tip.

 

Twice however I've left nothing. The first time we were halfway done with our entree and they made us move to another table because they needed the space for a party of 12, we were at a table for two, @*&! that, you don't make someone move in the middle of a meal, never went back there again.

 

The second time we went to a Mexican restaurant ( not Taco Hell) for one of my Daughters 10th birthday. She brought 3 of her friends, plus my other Daughter, wife and myself, we were seated and ordered drinks, received those and then ordered dinner. 45 minutes later I flagged down the waiter and asked what's taking so long ... he went into the kitchen, came back and said it'll be another 15 minutes ... 45 minutes later, again, still no food, I asked for the manager who came and promptly apologized and said it'll be out in 10 minutes ... half hour later still no food and I reamed this guys ass out in front of everyone ... 10 minutes later I got the food to go and wasn't charged ... Never went back.

[ExiledInIllinois]

25 minutes ago, Rockpile233 said:

 

I wanted to excel because to excel was to give great service, which in turn led to bigger tips. It was completely personally motivated to make some money as you say. People with **** attitudes usually maintain those **** attitudes in the professional world as well. I’ve grown with enough of them.

 

But yes, I was very cynical towards management when I was serving/bartending. Always was in a rush to get out of the industry. I see know they were just trying to work their careers as best as possible. I was in fact the !@#$ in that equation.

I agree.  I can see why people are jaded, especially more and more now.  Hard work alone will not get you ahead any more now than it did then.  Just chew people up, spit them out.  These honor and loyalty in an overly competitive world.  It's a vicious circle around the drain.  Pretty sad.

 

Great to have ideals though.

 

Why I tip 20% no matter what.  Even on take out when there is a tip line item.

[seregil42]

On a different note, I have gone out of my way to find a manager to praise a server for doing a great job when they have to deal with a miserable customer. 

[jr1]

I cut them slack if it's super busy. They have no control over how many people the manager called into work

[Logic]

I generally always tip somewhere between 20 and 25%.

"Zero tip" to me = 15%. No matter how bad things get, I don't leave less than 15%.

Now, I will absolutely speak with the server or manager or leave notes on the receipt about what I found less than satisfactory. I will also resolve never to return to a place if things are bad enough. But as someone who has many friends in the service industry, I simply can't leave myself to leave NO TIP AT ALL on the table. Can't do it.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

2 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

I agree.  I can see why people are jaded, especially more and more now.  Hard work alone will not get you ahead any more now than it did then.  Just chew people up, spit them out.  These honor and loyalty in an overly competitive world.  It's a vicious circle around the drain.  Pretty sad.

 

Great to have ideals though.

 

Why I tip 20% no matter what.  Even on take out when there is a tip line item.

 

How much do you tip your lady-boy prostitutes ??

[Bakin]

3 hours ago, Seasons1992 said:

For me, who's worked in a few restaurants from the kitchen to serving to the bar, you have to really, REALLY be bad for me to leave less than 20%. For my regular places I tip 50% or more but I'm adding in all the drinks I'm getting and not being charged for. People remember that.

Lol 50% tips. 

Insanity. 

 

I tip 15% for average service.

20% for exceptional service and that’s it. 

If the server sucks I will gladly leave them nothing. They would have to really suck and it’s happened a few times. 

I also never send back food in a restaurant. 

 

Fwiw I have worked as a server. 

Edited August 6, 2018 by Bakin

[Just Jack]

I can't think of anytime I've left no tip. I have left a restaurant though before even ordering. Went to a chain place near home, got seated right away. We weren't right by the kitchen, but we were in the main aisle where every waiter/waitress/manager going to and from the kitchen had to go by our table. We sat their for 20 minutes, with menus, and not a single person acknowledge us. As we left, the hostess, and I know it's just habit, says "Have a good night". Didn't say anything, we just left. Haven't been back there since. 

[TakeYouToTasker]

A bit of my background in order to establish my credentials:  I used to own and operate restaurants through my 20s and into my early 30s.

 

I always leave something, though if it's less than I would leave for average or excellent service, I explain to the server, in private conversation, why it was less. 

 

If the experience with any establishment truly angers or offends me, I ask to speak to whoever is in charge, and explain in great detail why they will be voiding 100% of my bill, and I leave.  This has happened twice in my life.

 

 

[Heavy Kevi]

4 hours ago, Rockpile233 said:

Having worked in several restaurants when I was younger, I can typically make correct assumptions where a breakdown is occurring when I’m experiencing bad service. I have never left zero for a tip, but I have certainly docked the tip when I could say with certainty server laziness or rudeness was causing whatever problem.

 

I typically empathize with people who seem over their head busy, but if you’re just texting on your phone at the station and my drink is empty you suck at your job. 

 

What people often do, which I always hated, was penalize a server or bartender for an obvious kitchen issue. Happens all the time though.

 

Many people also tip the waitress if they had a good meal, though. Kitchen gets none of that.

 

6 of one, half dozen of the other.

 

For what it's worth I know waitresees that will blame the kitchen for problems anyway because people won't penalize their tips. I had a waitress call it "a victimless crime". She's not the only one...

 

Obviously I'm biased having grown up a cook, but many people may not realize that aside from the owner, the waitresses/bartenders are the highest paid people in the restaurant and it's not even close. Not to mention their shift lengths are generally about half as long as the kitchen workers. I'm not jealous, I couldn't deal with people constantly and food is my passion, but it seems like nobody recognizes the dishwashers, prep cooks, etc. They have families to support, too and they work longer hours and make less money.

 

Just a little love for the dishwashers of the world that never get mentioned or tipped, or anything. Kinda got off topic

[Johnny Hammersticks]

19 minutes ago, TakeYouToTasker said:

A bit of my background in order to establish my credentials:  I used to own and operate restaurants through my 20s and into my early 30s.

 

I always leave something, though if it's less than I would leave for average or excellent service, I explain to the server, in private conversation, why it was less. 

 

If the experience with any establishment truly angers or offends me, I ask to speak to whoever is in charge, and explain in great detail why they will be voiding 100% of my bill, and I leave.  This has happened twice in my life.

 

 

 

Having been a server, the only thing worse than getting a ****ty tip, is having some !@#$ tell you why you got the ****ty tip ?

[TakeYouToTasker]

1 minute ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

Having been a server, the only thing worse than getting a ****ty tip, is having some !@#$ tell you why you got the ****ty tip ?

 

Which is why I do it that way.  I tell them that the next time I'm in, if I have them for a server, I want to be able to give them more.  I will tip up to 30% for excellent service.

 

My standard tip for poor service (and I absolutely differentiate between poor service, and screw-ups that are not the servers fault, or are just unlucky, like a back of the house issue, a spilled drink, etc) is about 8%, because I understand their job, and how they're paid, and I don't want to leave them what amounts to nothing for their time.

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

Also, I always try to tip cash when I can so they don't get taxed on it. 

[Fadingpain]

I tip 20% pretty much across the board.  Waiting on tables is a really ****ty job, these people have to deal with !@#$s all the time, and they are getting paid nothing by the places where they work anyway.

 

Something really odd has to take place to not tip a waiter.  Like once every 10 years odd.

 

 

[Augie]

4 hours ago, frostbitmic said:

I'm generally a 20% tipper ... 20%for fair to good service ... Less than fair service and I've left less ... Great service can get 30% tip.

 

Twice however I've left nothing. The first time we were halfway done with our entree and they made us move to another table because they needed the space for a party of 12, we were at a table for two, @*&! that, you don't make someone move in the middle of a meal, never went back there again.

 

The second time we went to a Mexican restaurant ( not Taco Hell) for one of my Daughters 10th birthday. She brought 3 of her friends, plus my other Daughter, wife and myself, we were seated and ordered drinks, received those and then ordered dinner. 45 minutes later I flagged down the waiter and asked what's taking so long ... he went into the kitchen, came back and said it'll be another 15 minutes ... 45 minutes later, again, still no food, I asked for the manager who came and promptly apologized and said it'll be out in 10 minutes ... half hour later still no food and I reamed this guys ass out in front of everyone ... 10 minutes later I got the food to go and wasn't charged ... Never went back.

 

After the Bills game in Nashville a couple years ago we walked into town and sat at the bar (no tables available). The bartender was whacked out on something. She was a mess, and it was clear.  Our food took forever, but it did come out eventually, and we understood how busy they were on a game day. She came back, even more messed up this time, and we couldn’t wait to get out! We asked for the check and she wandered off again....this time for a loooong time. I never saw her again.

 

I had to walk around the place to find an employee, ANY employee, and tell them if we couldn’t get the check we were just walking out. A few minutes later we got our check, and I just rounded up to the nearest full dollar. It was extremely awkward and uncomfortable. 

 

If it’s not completely atrocious like that, I’ll leave at least a decent tip, but then i vote with my feet. I just don’t go back. 

[Just Jack]

38 minutes ago, Shotgunner said:

Just a little love for the dishwashers of the world that never get mentioned or tipped, or anything. Kinda got off topic

 

Both restaurants that I was a dishwasher for, they would split the tips with the entire kitchen staff. 

[Heavy Kevi]

55 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

 

Both restaurants that I was a dishwasher for, they would split the tips with the entire kitchen staff. 

 

I have worked in more than a dozen restaurants and have only seen tip splitting in one (which is now closed).

 

Either way our illustrious governor made tip-splitting illegal. We are no longer allowed to force our wait staff to share tips with anyone.

 

I have cooked for 18 years, run kitchens, and now own one... And have gotten probably $80 total throughout my career in tips.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

The server would literally have to drop their pants at my table and fart directly into my dinner.

[Augie]

23 minutes ago, Shotgunner said:

 

I have worked in more than a dozen restaurants and have only seen tip splitting in one (which is now closed).

 

Either way our illustrious governor made tip-splitting illegal. We are no longer allowed to force our wait staff to share tips with anyone.

 

I have cooked for 18 years, run kitchens, and now own one... And have gotten probably $80 total throughout my career in tips.

 

That’s interesting. I worked VERY briefly in a new restaurant while in college. I left for greener pastures after not getting a penny for some soft opening parties with large groups. That was a couple nights of my life I’ll never get back!  

 

I thought the busboys and dishwashers shared the tips with the wait staff. I had a buddy in college who was head waiter at some nice place in Clarence, and he KILLED it, but he also shared. To be illegal makes no sense at all to me!  Those guy$ need some $$$. 

 

 

.

9 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

The server would literally have to drop their pants at my table and fart directly into my dinner.

 

Does that happen to you often? ?

Edited August 6, 2018 by Augie

[Just Jack]

28 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

The server would literally have to drop their pants at my table and fart directly into my dinner.

 

If she's young and cute would that get her a bigger tip?

[Johnny Hammersticks]

3 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

 

If she's young and cute would that get her a bigger tip?

 

I....hadn’t thought about that.

[Bad Things]

There's no tipping down here in New Zealand, thank goodness.

 

I'll never forget when we first moved down here, we had a couple pizzas delivered to our house.  I paid the guy and gave him a $5 tip.  He looked at the money and then up at me with a puzzled look on his face.  I said, "It's your tip.  Thanks."

He handled the fiver right back, smiled and said, "no thanks, have a nice day!" and left!

 

Kiwi's are known to be world travellers, and whenever they come back from visiting the States the two things they always mention is, 1)... having to always wait in lines and 2.) Having to tip.

[ExiledInIllinois]

4 hours ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

How much do you tip your lady-boy prostitutes ??

Two fitty...

[RaoulDuke79]

If the service is that bad I usually leave a crumby tip and never go back. I'm generally a pretty good tipper, especially with drinks. If I have more than 2 or 3 the tip is usually between 5 or 10 bucks. I generally go in planning on spending a certain amount. If I get a break on drinks the rest goes to the tip. If I don't get a break it goes to the tab.

[Heavy Kevi]

2 hours ago, Augie said:

 

That’s interesting. I worked VERY briefly in a new restaurant while in college. I left for greener pastures after not getting a penny for some soft opening parties with large groups. That was a couple nights of my life I’ll never get back!  

 

I thought the busboys and dishwashers shared the tips with the wait staff. I had a buddy in college who was head waiter at some nice place in Clarence, and he KILLED it, but he also shared. To be illegal makes no sense at all to me!  Those guy$ need some $$$. 

 

 

.

 

Does that happen to you often? ?

 

They do share with busboys and bartenders, but not with back-of-house. Also this is a very new, NY specific law. Idk if it exists elsewhere.

 

The law started with a sob story about how tough it is to be a waitress and since they raised the waitress min wage, they didn't want employers forcing tip-pooling to avoid paying more to back-of-house. The fact is the growing chasm between front and back of house pay has left a dearth of folks willing to work in the kitchen when they find out they can work 5 hours instead of 8 and make 2x or 3x the money out front. Not to mention they generally only pay tax on 5-10% of the tips.

 

And it CAN be tough to be a waitress, customers can really suck, but if a waitress works 40 hours at a decent restaurant, they often make $700-$1000 or more weekly. Typically only 1 person in the kitchen gets paid that much. 

 

If it was up to me, everybody would get the same hourly wage, and split the tips evenly. Waitresses get tipped for two things, 1. Service, and 2. Food... so it makes sense to tip everyone involved. No matter what job you do, if your pay is directly related to how good of a job you do, you are a much better, more productive, happier employee.

 

Like you said... Those guys need some $$$