Not to stray too far off-topic, but what does a server do when they've given good service yet gotten stiffed on the tip??

I remember an incident a million years ago when I was a kid. Parents and I went to an upscale steakhouse for an early dinner. Restaurant was not crowded but we were given a seat by the kitchen door. Service was slower than slow. Orders were all wrong. Drinks were removed from the table before they were finished. Check came and it was wrong. Waiter was quite angry when it was called to his attention and returned to slap the check down on the table without a thank you (and yes, he did slap the check down).

So...my Dad left no tip (very unusual for him; he was a good tipper).

I remember it like it was yesterday. The waiter came out into the parking lot and said "was there something wrong with the service?". My Dad turned around and said "as a matter of fact, there was". He proceeded to itemize to the waiter all of the negatives (most of which he had already pointed out as they occurred at the table).

The waiter apologized profusely. I don't recall if he tried to make any excuses or not (frankly, I was mortified and cringing in the car). My Dad offered the waiter 5 bucks for having the nerve to come out and at least ask (remember this was in the early 70s at most). Waiter refused it and told us to come back and ask for him and he'd take care of us. Needless to say, we never went back.

Funny what you remember....

Maybe that's why both my brother and I are overly conscious of tipping for good service (my brother routinely tips 40-50% especially if the waitress is blonde and pretty).

And just to get back to the topic of tipping by percentage, if you stop into a diner and have a cup of coffee for $1.50, do you really only leave a quarter or less???