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Do you tip if bad service received?
When we were visiting my mother last weekend, we ended up at a local chain restaurant for dinner on Sunday. While they were busy, they weren't swamped, and we had bad service. The server dropped off our food and check at the same time, and after brining drink refills then, she didn't stop back during our visit. There were two other employees, including a manager, who were at tables next to us after our drinks were empty, and neither offered drinks, or said, "I'll tell your server." Since we were with my mother, I didn't want to make waves, so I didn't say anything during our meal. Really, it wasn't anything that demanded that management know, but just enough that I'd ask not to be seated in that server's section again.
At this chain, you pay for your meal at a register near the door, and a manager was running that. He asked, "How was your meal and service?" I explained the situation, gave him the credit card, he took 20% off of the check, I paid, and put in about a 10% tip. He asked if I wanted to leave a tip, and when I said I felt bad not leaving anything, he repeatedly told me that if I didn't receive good service, I shouldn't leave a tip. I didn't leave a tip then, but I'm still having the, "Should I have left something?"
Would you leave a tip if you received bad service?
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Actually, it doesn't sound like all that bad service to me, really. It's a chain restaurant: not fine dining. The server took your order (you didn't mention that); brought your correct order - didn't mess it up - cooked properly, I gather, and dropped your check at the same time - not so unusual at chain restaurants; and refilled your drinks: a nice touch. Since it's not a white tablecloth establishment, what exactly was so "bad" about it? Sounds pretty typical for a chain restaurant. What am I missing? Clue me in, please!
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We sat without drinks while eating for at least 10 minutes. We drank the refills she brought right after dropping off our food, as we'd already been without drink refills for a few minutes before she brought our food.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kipper
We sat without drinks while eating for at least 10 minutes. We drank the refills she brought right after dropping off our food, as we'd already been without drink refills for a few minutes before she brought our food.
Judge kaukau rules : 20% discount from management was in good faith and appropriate - very nice; in the Court's opinion, service was spotty - but not bad: ergo, no tip was too harsh a penalty, for the damages incurred by plaintiff, since services were rendered and received, though in a below average manner; hence a below average - 10% - tip would have been appropriate. Case closed. (Gavel down! )
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaukau
Judge kaukau rules : 20% discount from management was in good faith and appropriate - very nice; in the Court's opinion, service was spotty - but not bad: no tip was too harsh a penalty, for the damages incurred by plaintiff, as services were rendered and received, though in a below average manner; hence a below average - 10% - tip would have been appropriate. Case closed. (Gavel down! )
Bon appetit!
I was initially going to give about a 10% pre-discount tip, but the manager basically informed me that I shouldn't give anything. He also told me to call the GM of the location on Monday. I'm thinking they'd had other issues with the server or some such, and this was just more ammo.
__________________ “The church is near but the road is icy, the bar is far away but I will walk carefully”
---Russian proverb
I recently ate at a restaurant and had little service and when we did have service it was bad.
When the check came, in the "tip" section I explained why I didn't leave a tip, as I always do, then had the manager come over and explained the situation to him.
"Bad" service is still service. In most restaurants, you're not just tipping the server: you're tipping the maitre d', the servers, the bartenders, etc.
If the entire group was dismal, I could see leaving no tip. However I've never run across a situation where everyone was horrible.
@ the OP:
If you're dining at a place where you bring your bill to a cash register to tab out, I think you have the explanation for the service right there. Sometimes the service isn't the issue, it's the expectation.
Personally, I feel that leaving a small tip sends a stronger message than no tip at all. Some folk don't tip; by leaving a small tip (eg $1 on a $30 check) IMO you send an unmistakable message.
...but to me that still doesn't mean you should leave the people who gave you lousy service a bonus.
Notice the word I emphasized. How was the service of the greeter, the bussers, etc. in any way the problem in the OP's situation? What people gave the lousy service? Only the waiter/waitress you say? Hmm. Is it necessary to completely exclude the tip?
Now, I can understand the idea that capitalism in action would be to omit the tip completely. Then, the others who split the tips with would notice a pattern in the truly substandard waitstaff and eventually replace them with someone else.
But I'm not going to punish everyone for the action of one person.
Bring the problem to the attention of the mgmt, and drastically reduce your tip. If the mgmt is obtuse or acts defensive instead of understanding, leave no tip then.
I read the post as nobody offered them any assistance, including the manager. And if you did give a smaller tip, the odds of it going to anybody else is about zero, the waitress would just keep it.
One of the posts reminded me of the funniest Adam 12 (for those who remember the show).
They were in a diner and got lousy service. When the bill came, Reed paid it and left a penny tip. The waitress asked "Hey, you call that a tip" And Reed looked at her and said "No, I call it a Hint"
Restaurant service is a group effort. I don't see anywhere in the post where anybody in that group, including others who could have offered service, did anything to do so.
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I drink a lot of water, and expect not to have to sit with an empty glass for 20 minutes. It's been years since I left nothing, but there have been a few $1 tip for a $15 meal. I tend to go to places where they take care of you, even if it's not real expensive (P.F. Changs).
For normal service I tip 15%, very good 20%, mediocre 10%. Sometimes if I'm in a foreign country, I'll give 20-30% if the bill is quite low ($2-$5), if the service is good. I've gotten great service at small cafe's in Bali, where you have a 5 course meal for $3.25!
: 20% discount from management was in good faith and appropriate - very nice; in the Court's opinion, service was spotty - but not bad: ergo, no tip was too harsh a penalty, for the damages incurred by plaintiff, since services were rendered and received, though in a below average manner; hence a below average - 10% - tip would have been appropriate. Case closed. (Gavel down! 
)
