Originally Posted by
ElkeNorEast
It wasn't that I'm a "big tipper," it was the fact that I felt it was unfair to sit at a table that, had we not sat there, would most likely have been occupied by others who would have ordered / paid more, and would have resulted in a larger tip for her. Did I feel "guilt?" Yes, I did. Do I normally? No way!
As a miserly Scot I'm kind of split on this one, I have to agree that your friends were a bit on the stingy side with the $4 tip, but seeing as you explained that you were only going to have drinks before sitting down, I can't see any obligation on your part to make up for any potential tips that may have been missed.
It is almost like saying that you had salad and a glass of house wine for lunch but left a big tip as someone else may have had a three course meal and a couple of bottles of expensive wine and thus generating a larger tip than yours.