How much would you tip for poor service?

Germanshepherdlova · 12-27-2011, 11:35 AM

I went to Red Lobster for dinner yesterday and our service was pretty good. The week before I had went to IHOP and the service was terrible. The coffee was cold-when I complained the waitress said she would bring a new pot out and then completely forgot about it-I had to remind her 20 minutes later. She never noticed when one of us needed a refill and then I'd flag her down and tell her and she would forget and had to be reminded again. She also got my order wrong! She did have a pleasant attitude though. My DH suggested that we reduce her tip to 10% for poor service-I declined to do that because of her good attitude but what would you do? The following are different scenarios….

When you go to a restaurant and the service is not excellent but not awful, lets say that you have to keep telling the waiter/waitress that you need a refill and it is difficult to get her/his attention because she/he doesn't check on your table very much-would you reduce the amount of tip that you give her/him-if so by what percent?

Now lets say that instead the service at the restaurant is awful! The waiter/waitress took your order wrong-brought you the wrong thing and had a bit of an attitude when you pointed it out. You had to ask her/him for a refill but they forgot to bring it and you had to ask twice and still it took forever, and the server spent a good deal of time talking and joking with other servers instead of being attentive to their patrons-would you tip at all? If you did-how much would you tip for bad service?

And finally, if the service is excellent at what percent do you tip?

Stories of experiences at restaurants are welcome on this thread-just make sure you include the amount (percent) you tipped.

billsharp · 12-27-2011, 11:40 AM

Super service above and beyond gets 20
Good steady service gets 15
Inept but trying hard gets 10
Bad service with attitude gets 0

**lhczth** · 12-27-2011, 12:01 PM

I usually tip 20%.

If the service is very slow, but it is because the place is very busy and understaffed I would still tip 20%. If the service is very slow because the server just isn't doing her job, then the tip will be lower.

AWFUL service, wrong food, tude, etc I would leave no tip. I have only done this once.

I do hate that when you go into a restaurant with a large group you are forced to leave a tip. This just gives the staff a free excuse for poor service. I understand why they do it, but I don't think someone should be rewarded automatically for bad work. I have had this happen a few times at restaurants that normally provide good service so know they can do better.

A man my husband used to work with never tipped. Didn't matter if the service was good or bad. My FIL was a fantastic tipper and the restaurants he frequented often treated him extremely well. He had specific waitresses he asked for because of how good they were at their job and they knew that they would be rewarded for excellent service.

GSDolch · 12-27-2011, 12:02 PM

I tip based on service, performance and attitude.

When I was married to my ex, his cousin and a friend came down to the island for spring break, we went out to eat. It was alot of us and spent well over 100 dollars.

We went in, sat down....waiting about 15 min. for her to come, another 10 or so for our drinks, she took our orders then, then we waiting 30 minutes for our food, only have of the order came out..she didn't write down the whole order..so we have to wait another 30 minutes for the food to come out..except it sits in the window for about 10 or so minutes. She was rude, snotty and didn't care about serving us. We didn't even GET refills after we told her I don't know how many times.

The change from the bill was 75 cents, THAT was her tip. I did not pay for the bill, it was a treat from my FIL. well, I'm the one that got the attitude from her. She walked out to mine and my ex husbands care, yelling at us and THREW the three quarters at me. I.was.livid. My ex didn't want me to get out or say anything..none of them ever complained.....

I vowed then I would NEVER EVER let something like that go by again without me saying or doing something. I am still mad about it when I talk about it. I should have got out and complained to her boss. But I was "good" (according my my ex inlaws) and did not.

Bad service ranges from no tip to complaints. I also try to make sure that I direct it to the correct situation. The waiter does not cook the food, so I don't fault them for things like that.

evybear15 · 12-27-2011, 12:10 PM

My fiance and I are both former servers, therefore we tip based on performance, attitude, and attentiveness. We typically tip 18-20%, go to 15% if the service is okay, but nothing special, and it goes downhill from there based on our experience. We can't stand the servers that presume to sit at the table with us. I understand that serving is exhausting, but some people have a personal space bubble. Failing to provide refills, taking far too long with everything when the restaurant is clearly at a quiet point, chatting with the other servers and failing to check back, not making sure that everything came out right after you've had a minute to taste it all...etc. It's almost like we have this unspoken checklist.

We very, VERY rarely leave poor tips, but it does happen. When it does, we try to leave something to make the point - some spare change, a dollar, etc. If you leave nothing, they may take it as you forgetting to leave the tip...but if you leave something, it doesn't go unnoticed. If things are TRULY awful, we also speak to management on the way out. I admire the hard work that many servers provide, and cannot stand the ones who clearly don't want to be there and then expect good tips.

Anyway. That's my little rant.

Germanshepherdlova · 12-27-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSDolch

I tip based on service, performance and attitude.

When I was married to my ex, his cousin and a friend came down to the island for spring break, we went out to eat. It was alot of us and spent well over 100 dollars.

We went in, sat down....waiting about 15 min. for her to come, another 10 or so for our drinks, she took our orders then, then we waiting 30 minutes for our food, only have of the order came out..she didn't write down the whole order..so we have to wait another 30 minutes for the food to come out..except it sits in the window for about 10 or so minutes. She was rude, snotty and didn't care about serving us. We didn't even GET refills after we told her I don't know how many times.

The change from the bill was 75 cents, THAT was her tip. I did not pay for the bill, it was a treat from my FIL. well, I'm the one that got the attitude from her. She walked out to mine and my ex husbands care, yelling at us and THREW the three quarters at me. I.was.livid. My ex didn't want me to get out or say anything..none of them ever complained.....

I vowed then I would NEVER EVER let something like that go by again without me saying or doing something. I am still mad about it when I talk about it. I should have got out and complained to her boss. But I was "good" (according my my ex inlaws) and did not.

Bad service ranges from no tip to complaints. I also try to make sure that I direct it to the correct situation. The waiter does not cook the food, so I don't fault them for things like that.

She had the nerve to come out to your car and COMPLAIN and throw the .75 cents? Wow, I think I may have heard it all!

I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO · 12-27-2011, 12:21 PM

My husband and I both worked in the service industry throughout high school and college, so we're good tippers. Our standard is 20%, really good service we tip more, very rarely do we tip less. I can't remember the last time we had really bad service. We usually avoid chain restaurants and opt for locally owned places, which imo tend to have better service. Unless a server was downright rude, I probably wouldn't tip less than 20% if they were actually busy- I know what it's like to be in the weeds- and 15% if just forgetful.

DnP · 12-27-2011, 12:34 PM

I can only remember one time every leaving without leaving behind a tip. I never worked in the service industry, but many of my friends did and I know it's not an easy job. I tip at least 20% and if the service is really good, I'll tip more.

However, if the service is poor, my tip % goes down. I do not fault the server for the food or for the time it takes to get the food if the restaurant is busy. However, attitude goes a long way with me.

A good attitude, no matter what the circumstances, gets a good tip from me and always in cash. A bad attitude gets duly noted in the tip and if I'm using a credit card, will be left on the card vs. in cash.

BlackPuppy · 12-27-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billsharp

Super service above and beyond gets 20
Good steady service gets 15
Inept but trying hard gets 10
Bad service with attitude gets 0

Yes, more like this.

Mrs.K · 12-27-2011, 12:39 PM

I am the German kind of tipper where a 5 Euro tip is actually a GOOD tip. 1-3 Euros is pretty standard. I refuse to tip 20 Dollars or more, we don't have that kind of money to waste. I've worked in the service industry myself and I know that I highly appreciated a 5 Euro tip. So five dollars is the most I am willed to give. Usually it's a three dollar tip I'm giving.

View Poll Results: Have you ever left a restaurant without leaving a tip because the service was poor?
Yes	38	56.72%
No	2	2.99%
I left a lower tip than normal-but made sure to leave something.	27	40.30%
I tipped the same amount I normally would regardless of the poor service.	0	0%
Voters: 67. You may not vote on this poll

12-27-2011, 11:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Germanshepherdlova Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 2,935	How much would you tip for poor service? I went to Red Lobster for dinner yesterday and our service was pretty good. The week before I had went to IHOP and the service was terrible. The coffee was cold-when I complained the waitress said she would bring a new pot out and then completely forgot about it-I had to remind her 20 minutes later. She never noticed when one of us needed a refill and then I'd flag her down and tell her and she would forget and had to be reminded again. She also got my order wrong! She did have a pleasant attitude though. My DH suggested that we reduce her tip to 10% for poor service-I declined to do that because of her good attitude but what would you do? The following are different scenarios…. When you go to a restaurant and the service is not excellent but not awful, lets say that you have to keep telling the waiter/waitress that you need a refill and it is difficult to get her/his attention because she/he doesn't check on your table very much-would you reduce the amount of tip that you give her/him-if so by what percent? Now lets say that instead the service at the restaurant is awful! The waiter/waitress took your order wrong-brought you the wrong thing and had a bit of an attitude when you pointed it out. You had to ask her/him for a refill but they forgot to bring it and you had to ask twice and still it took forever, and the server spent a good deal of time talking and joking with other servers instead of being attentive to their patrons-would you tip at all? If you did-how much would you tip for bad service? And finally, if the service is excellent at what percent do you tip? Stories of experiences at restaurants are welcome on this thread-just make sure you include the amount (percent) you tipped. __________________ You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Germa...96574693743892

12-27-2011, 11:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
billsharp Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 347	Super service above and beyond gets 20 Good steady service gets 15 Inept but trying hard gets 10 Bad service with attitude gets 0 __________________ Liesl, b. 1/1/11 Maxie, 1994-2009 King, 1963-1968

12-27-2011, 12:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
lhczth Administrator & LOTR Addict Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 11,695	I usually tip 20%. If the service is very slow, but it is because the place is very busy and understaffed I would still tip 20%. If the service is very slow because the server just isn't doing her job, then the tip will be lower. AWFUL service, wrong food, tude, etc I would leave no tip. I have only done this once. I do hate that when you go into a restaurant with a large group you are forced to leave a tip. This just gives the staff a free excuse for poor service. I understand why they do it, but I don't think someone should be rewarded automatically for bad work. I have had this happen a few times at restaurants that normally provide good service so know they can do better. A man my husband used to work with never tipped. Didn't matter if the service was good or bad. My FIL was a fantastic tipper and the restaurants he frequented often treated him extremely well. He had specific waitresses he asked for because of how good they were at their job and they knew that they would be rewarded for excellent service. __________________ Lisa Clark Zu Treuen Händen Working German Shepherd Dogs *South Michigan SchH and Police Club*

12-27-2011, 12:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
GSDolch Crowned Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Loudon, TN Posts: 5,049	I tip based on service, performance and attitude. When I was married to my ex, his cousin and a friend came down to the island for spring break, we went out to eat. It was alot of us and spent well over 100 dollars. We went in, sat down....waiting about 15 min. for her to come, another 10 or so for our drinks, she took our orders then, then we waiting 30 minutes for our food, only have of the order came out..she didn't write down the whole order..so we have to wait another 30 minutes for the food to come out..except it sits in the window for about 10 or so minutes. She was rude, snotty and didn't care about serving us. We didn't even GET refills after we told her I don't know how many times. The change from the bill was 75 cents, THAT was her tip. I did not pay for the bill, it was a treat from my FIL. well, I'm the one that got the attitude from her. She walked out to mine and my ex husbands care, yelling at us and THREW the three quarters at me. I.was.livid. My ex didn't want me to get out or say anything..none of them ever complained..... I vowed then I would NEVER EVER let something like that go by again without me saying or doing something. I am still mad about it when I talk about it. I should have got out and complained to her boss. But I was "good" (according my my ex inlaws) and did not. Bad service ranges from no tip to complaints. I also try to make sure that I direct it to the correct situation. The waiter does not cook the food, so I don't fault them for things like that. __________________ We are defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy.

12-27-2011, 12:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
evybear15 Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,560	My fiance and I are both former servers, therefore we tip based on performance, attitude, and attentiveness. We typically tip 18-20%, go to 15% if the service is okay, but nothing special, and it goes downhill from there based on our experience. We can't stand the servers that presume to sit at the table with us. I understand that serving is exhausting, but some people have a personal space bubble. Failing to provide refills, taking far too long with everything when the restaurant is clearly at a quiet point, chatting with the other servers and failing to check back, not making sure that everything came out right after you've had a minute to taste it all...etc. It's almost like we have this unspoken checklist. We very, VERY rarely leave poor tips, but it does happen. When it does, we try to leave something to make the point - some spare change, a dollar, etc. If you leave nothing, they may take it as you forgetting to leave the tip...but if you leave something, it doesn't go unnoticed. If things are TRULY awful, we also speak to management on the way out. I admire the hard work that many servers provide, and cannot stand the ones who clearly don't want to be there and then expect good tips. Anyway. That's my little rant. __________________ Evan Baxter - aka "Basher" GSD 9/27/10 Boomer - aka "Black Panther" 05/2006 Star - The Angry Princess Kitten 05/2006 "No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich." --Louis Sabin

12-27-2011, 12:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO Knighted Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 2,246	My husband and I both worked in the service industry throughout high school and college, so we're good tippers. Our standard is 20%, really good service we tip more, very rarely do we tip less. I can't remember the last time we had really bad service. We usually avoid chain restaurants and opt for locally owned places, which imo tend to have better service. Unless a server was downright rude, I probably wouldn't tip less than 20% if they were actually busy- I know what it's like to be in the weeds- and 15% if just forgetful. __________________ Mikko GM, RM, AAD, ASA, SJ, SS, EAC, EJC, TN-E, TG-E, WV-O, OCC, HP-O, VerO, NAJ, CGC - 6 year old GSD

12-27-2011, 12:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
DnP Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,246	I can only remember one time every leaving without leaving behind a tip. I never worked in the service industry, but many of my friends did and I know it's not an easy job. I tip at least 20% and if the service is really good, I'll tip more. However, if the service is poor, my tip % goes down. I do not fault the server for the food or for the time it takes to get the food if the restaurant is busy. However, attitude goes a long way with me. A good attitude, no matter what the circumstances, gets a good tip from me and always in cash. A bad attitude gets duly noted in the tip and if I'm using a credit card, will be left on the card vs. in cash. __________________ Diana Mom of Brightstar's Phoenix In loving memory of Dakota 1/93 - 10/2006 He seemed neither old nor young. His strength lay in his eyes. They look as old as the hills, and as young and as wild. I've never tired of looking into them.-John Muir

12-27-2011, 12:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mrs.K Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6,381	I am the German kind of tipper where a 5 Euro tip is actually a GOOD tip. 1-3 Euros is pretty standard. I refuse to tip 20 Dollars or more, we don't have that kind of money to waste. I've worked in the service industry myself and I know that I highly appreciated a 5 Euro tip. So five dollars is the most I am willed to give. Usually it's a three dollar tip I'm giving.

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