The "Tipping if the service is bad? How Much? How Little?" thread
#17
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
The one time I stiffed a waitress was at a family restaurant type place when I was traveling across upstate New York.
It took the waitress for my section a long time to even notice me, because she was flirting with some men who were seated at a large, round table.
Once she condescended to take my order, she did bring the food and the check but then proceeded to ignore me. No refills on water, no questions about whether I wanted anything else. In fact, I had noticed some wonderful-looking pies on the way in, and I had planned to order some pie.
But I could not get the waitress's attention. She was circling that table full of men, stopping at each one to flirt. I suppose she was angling for tips.
In doing so, she lost my tip. Maybe she believed the legend that women don't tip (this was about 25 years ago), but whatever the case may be, she ignored me. I left no tip, along with a note explaining that I normally tip unless the service is noticeably bad, and furthermore, that her inattention had cost the restaurant some revenue in that I had ended up not ordering that pie.
It took the waitress for my section a long time to even notice me, because she was flirting with some men who were seated at a large, round table.
Once she condescended to take my order, she did bring the food and the check but then proceeded to ignore me. No refills on water, no questions about whether I wanted anything else. In fact, I had noticed some wonderful-looking pies on the way in, and I had planned to order some pie.
But I could not get the waitress's attention. She was circling that table full of men, stopping at each one to flirt. I suppose she was angling for tips.
In doing so, she lost my tip. Maybe she believed the legend that women don't tip (this was about 25 years ago), but whatever the case may be, she ignored me. I left no tip, along with a note explaining that I normally tip unless the service is noticeably bad, and furthermore, that her inattention had cost the restaurant some revenue in that I had ended up not ordering that pie.
#18
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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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.
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.
#19
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I don't know about the rest of you, but if I'm being ignored in a restaurant and I'm "pot-commited" so to speak (already received the food), I get up and go find someone and tell them what I need. Sure, I shouldn't have to. But if it comes down to that or sitting there cursing the lack of attention, I'll make the trek.
Usually, the service picks up after that and a tip, even a smaller one, is earned.
Usually, the service picks up after that and a tip, even a smaller one, is earned.
#20
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I don't know about the rest of you, but if I'm being ignored in a restaurant and I'm "pot-commited" so to speak (already received the food), I get up and go find someone and tell them what I need. Sure, I shouldn't have to. But if it comes down to that or sitting there cursing the lack of attention, I'll make the trek.
Usually, the service picks up after that and a tip, even a smaller one, is earned.
Usually, the service picks up after that and a tip, even a smaller one, is earned.
#21
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: bouncing around
Posts: 1,274
I make it a point to reduce the tip, but the service has to be (> 60%) consistently bad throughout the entire dining experience to trigger this. Slow waitstaff, thing I ask for directly (utensil, refill, condiment) not delivered quickly, dirty wares, poorly prepped food, inability to cook steak precisely, bill arrive too early, etc.
Everyone has bad days, and the best waitstaff can be plagued by poor kitchen or management. The greatest annoyance for me instead are people who continue to tip 15% even with poor service. The second biggest annoyance are people who tip 20% and up because the waitress was pretty and fawned on them .. pathetic.
Everyone has bad days, and the best waitstaff can be plagued by poor kitchen or management. The greatest annoyance for me instead are people who continue to tip 15% even with poor service. The second biggest annoyance are people who tip 20% and up because the waitress was pretty and fawned on them .. pathetic.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Soon to be LEGT
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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!
When visiting foreign countries, please be considerate that in most parts of the world service is INCLUDED in the price. A tip is of course a good way to show appreciation for good service received, and I am in no way against tipping, but paying 30% on top of a bill that already included service is just contributing to the spread of the US tipping culture (waiters paid below minimum wage and expecting to make it up for a tip- something not good for the waiter nor the customer) all across the planet.
#24
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Join Date: Apr 1999
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The OP had bad service..............period. IMO bad service = no tip. If everyone tipped 10%, 20%, 30% etc after getting bad service everyone would be getting bad service all the time. Why is that so difficult to understand or comprehend.
MisterNice
MisterNice
#25
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I totally agree with this. Bad service always equals no tip from me... and usually a discussion with the manager.
#26
Join Date: Jun 2004
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#27
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#28
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Join Date: May 1998
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#29
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#30
Join Date: Jun 2006
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But to answer your specific question, dear colleague, "Would you tip for bad service there?", my answer is "Yes: a bad tip."
Excellent service: excellent tip
Good service: good tip
Bad service: bad tip
NO service: no tip