Nice Planet 2011

[Old Pio]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

When we are at a table for 70 minutes and we don't even get asked once for refills and we literally had our bills thrown at us with a "HERE!", yeah, she had it coming. We weren't obnoxious. We weren't doing anything out of the ordinary.

I normally do 20% and round up. This was the single worst server I have ever had. She didn't even deserve a tip. Like Brent said, no tip wouldn't send a message.

It's up to you, of course, but if it were me, I'd stop bragging about being such a jerk. Bad service? How about not going back to the restaurant? Problem solved. But then you won't have your heroic annecdote to impress the kids, right?

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

It's up to you, of course, but if it were me, I'd stop bragging about being such a jerk. Bad service? How about not going back to the restaurant? Problem solved. But then you won't have your heroic annecdote to impress the kids, right?

I don't think he's bragging about it, it is just an experience that he had that is extremely relevant to the conversation that we were already involved in.

[Old Pio]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

I don't think he's bragging about it, it is just an experience that he had that is extremely relevant to the conversation that we were already involved in.

Again, we disagree. But complaining to management or refusing to go back doesn't have the sizzle of "showing that b*tch" does it? Maybe I've been fortunate or am just so stupid I don't realize what bad service is, but it's never crossed my mind to stiff a wait person as a way of sending her a message. Never. As a consequence, I'm apparantly deprived of spiffy annecdotes. Even so, stiffing a waitperson, to me, is bullying and not very mature.

[The Rube]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

Again, we disagree. But complaining to management or refusing to go back doesn't have the sizzle of "showing that b*tch" does it? Maybe I've been fortunate or am just so stupid I don't realize what bad service is, but it's never crossed my mind to stiff a wait person as a way of sending her a message. Never. As a consequence, I'm apparantly deprived of spiffy annecdotes. Even so, stiffing a waitperson, to me, is bullying and not very mature.

No one is entitled to a tip. That being said, I think we all agree that it would take bad service to leave a small/no tip. And who's looking for "sizzle?" dx wanted to send a message that the server was not up to snuff. A small tip sent that message. Hopefully she got the message, and she improved at her job. Yes, mentioning it to the manager in addition to the small tip is also an option. But why reward a bad server with a "normal" tip, and only complain to mgmt? Server might get reprimanded, but hey, she still got a decent tip.

[Almington]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

It's up to you, of course, but if it were me, I'd stop bragging about being such a jerk. Bad service? How about not going back to the restaurant? Problem solved. But then you won't have your heroic annecdote to impress the kids, right?

Why should he stop going to a restaurant just because of one bad server expedience? In MN where the servers are paid at the minimum wage of $7.25, I have no problem giving a really low tip (under $1) for truly bad service. In other states where the servers only make $3 (or so) I may (and have) cut the tip up to 50% of what I would otherwise have tipped as a result of bad service. If a server chooses to ignore me (as opposed to being swamped during a rush) I fail to see why I shouldn't let that influence what I tip. I don't see any reason I should have to reward a server for gossiping over actually doing his or her job.

[Old Pio]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

No one is entitled to a tip. That being said, I think we all agree that it would take bad service to leave a small/no tip. And who's looking for "sizzle?" dx wanted to send a message that the server was not up to snuff. A small tip sent that message. Hopefully she got the message, and she improved at her job. Yes, mentioning it to the manager in addition to the small tip is also an option. But why reward a bad server with a "normal" tip, and only complain to mgmt? Server might get reprimanded, but hey, she still got a decent tip.

I realize I'm an amateur debating a professional here, but I respectfully disagree. Besides, you're begging the question that a habitually bad server is going to "get the message." I'm not convinced of that at all. Hopefully you and the rest of the "stiffers" don't make a practice of this practice.

[Old Pio]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

Why should he stop going to a restaurant just because of one bad server expedience? In MN where the servers are paid at the minimum wage of $7.25, I have no problem giving a really low tip (under $1) for truly bad service. In other states where the servers only make $3 (or so) I may (and have) cut the tip up to 50% of what I would otherwise have tipped as a result of bad service. If a server chooses to ignore me (as opposed to being swamped during a rush) I fail to see why I shouldn't let that influence what I tip. I don't see any reason I should have to reward a server for gossiping over actually doing his or her job.

Up to you. I disagree. You guys who advocate stiffing wait staff "when they really deserve it," give off the faint whiff of intolerance and Barney Fifism, IMO. As I just said to Brent, I hope you don't make a practice of this practice.

[Almington]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

Up to you. I disagree. You guys who advocate stiffing wait staff "when they really deserve it," give off the faint whiff of intolerance and Barney Fifism, IMO. As I just said to Brent, I hope you don't make a practice of this practice.

Why should I tolerate poor service or REWARD bad service with a tip? It happens once every few years, far from a common or regular occurrence. It's not like I'm expecting bad service when I go out, most of the time the service is completely acceptable given how busy the place is, on rare occasions it isn't and that is reflected in the tip (much of the time it is more a question of if I round up or down to the nearest dollar (for example: do I leave $29, $30, or $31 on the $25.54 bill). I don't think any of us are advocating leaving a 1% or even 5% tip as a matter of general practice.

[gmann]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

FWIW........ While in high school and during the summers I worked at a resort. That summer I was a waiter. One evening I waited on a family, table of twelve. This family is well known and very very wealthy. They were very demanding. In fact, they took their sweet time and spent nearly three hours in the dining room. I busted my butt and IMHO provided exceptional service. From start to finish their dining experience had no issues. Their bill was hundreds of dollars. I was expecting a decent tip. Instead I was left a bunch of pocket change. Frustrated, I grabbed the change and started yelling "sir, sir". The customer stopped and turned towards me. I approached the customer and mentioned for the entire restaurant to hear "here sir I think you forgot your bus fare."

Needless to say my career as a waiter ended that evening. However, after numerous issues with that family the owner of the resort asked that family to never return to his resort.

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

FWIW........ While in high school and during the summers I worked at a resort. That summer I was a waiter. One evening I waited on a family, table of twelve. This family is well known and very very wealthy. They were very demanding. In fact, they took their sweet time and spent nearly three hours in the dining room. I busted my butt and IMHO provided exceptional service. From start to finish their dining experience had no issues. Their bill was hundreds of dollars. I was expecting a decent tip. Instead I was left a bunch of pocket change. Frustrated, I grabbed the change and started yelling "sir, sir". The customer stopped and turned towards me. I approached the customer and mentioned for the entire restaurant to hear "here sir I think you forgot your bus fare."

Needless to say my career as a waiter ended that evening. However, after numerous issues with that family the owner of the resort asked that family to never return to his resort.

So you fall into the "Waiter screwed over on a tip by a complete *******" category.

[LynahFan]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

Again, we disagree. But complaining to management or refusing to go back doesn't have the sizzle of "showing that b*tch" does it? Maybe I've been fortunate or am just so stupid I don't realize what bad service is, but it's never crossed my mind to stiff a wait person as a way of sending her a message. Never. As a consequence, I'm apparantly deprived of spiffy annecdotes. Even so, stiffing a waitperson, to me, is bullying and not very mature.

But at least now you have some spiffy anecdotes about bullying people on a message board about their tipping practices, so you have that going for you...

There really, truly is such a thing as horrible service. Just as a generous tip sends a message of appreciation, a low tip sends a message of dissatisfaction. Now, if a particular person is habitually tipping 5%, what are the odds that he just happens to get crappy service *all* the time vs. the odds that he's just a jerk looking for any possible excuse? Pretty clear to me.

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

Question: What do people tip in a buffet setting, where the waiter/waitress really only brings you a drink and the check and just leaves you alone to stuff yourself the rest of the time? I always feel like I tip too much in those situations.

[The Rube]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

Question: What do people tip in a buffet setting, where the waiter/waitress really only brings you a drink and the check and just leaves you alone to stuff yourself the rest of the time? I always feel like I tip too much in those situations.

The only time I've gone to buffets, I've paid before eating, so I never tipped. Never thought about it, I guess.

[Twitch Boy]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

Here's a question I'm not sure about.

I go to a Chinese place and get something for pickup (not like a lunch special, an actual meal for pickup.) Do I need to tip?

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: Nice Planet 2011

A good take on tipping. Very NSFW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHi8P85augw