What should be the tip on a $100 meal with bad service? (dollars, financial)
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You need to define 'bad service'. Was the place really busy and the serving staff equally as busy?Was the place dead and the serving staff just took their sweet time? Was the server new and many a bit overwhelmed with it all? There is no clear cut answer.
You can leave a crappy tip, but don't expect to go back in a couple of weeks and get excellent service. Crappy tippers get crappy service. If the service is bad you need to talk to a manager about it in real time. Give them a chance to improve your service. Maybe they are shorthanded, maybe they are just swamped busy, maybe your server is new..give them a chance to fix the problem before leaving a penny, a dollar bill or nothing.
I've left crappy tips, but both the server and the manger knew, before I left, why I was leaving it. It's not because I'm cheap, it's because I expect excellent service and will gladly pay for it.
Simple question, and I'm saying $100 just to have a nice round number
What should be the tip on a $100 meal with bad service?
What was the reason for this bad service?
Could the waitress have done anything about it, was it to do with the kitchen or poor food? or an understaffed restaurant. if it wasnt the waitresses fault i leave 15%
My son works valet in one of the top restaurants in the US. He recently met Moderator cut: a famous person and carried his bags and so on. Thought he was nice. He left a $5 tip. My son says he's worth 7 million (Wiki I assume) and I told him that might be why he's rich. Son wasn't complaining but just making a comparison to how different people tip.
Last edited by Oldhag1; 01-02-2015 at 06:57 AM..
Reason: I just had to delete a bunch of off topic posts based on focusing on the name instead of the topic
The last bad service I had the food from the kitchen was spot on, the service was the horrible part. Slow to refill and check on tables, did not warm up bread, brought us cold bread instead. I spent around 75 on the meal and only left a 5er, I told the waitress that it had been my first experience with cold bread.
Times have changed and the days of those who service the tables knowing how to serve is disappearing and the days of table top kiosks is growing.
I have had some horrendous meals but the service has been great and vice versa. I try to be objective, but I will always bring it to someone's attention my displeasure with the meal or service rather than leaving and not saying anything.
I am diplomatic about it and if not resolved I will take the time to provide an online comment if available.
I have had a meal comped before for poor quality of food and still tipped well if the service was great.
See link below.......some servers are getting worn thin by the bottom line:
My son works valet in one of the top restaurants in the US. He recently met Moderator cut: a famous person and carried his bags and so on. Thought he was nice. He left a $5 tip. My son says he's worth 7 million (Wiki I assume) and I told him that might be why he's rich. Son wasn't complaining but just making a comparison to how different people tip.
How much would your son expect for the service he performed? The wealth of the customer shouldn't have anything to do with the amount of the tip.
Last edited by Oldhag1; 01-02-2015 at 06:58 AM..
Reason: Edited quote
You can leave a crappy tip, but don't expect to go back in a couple of weeks and get excellent service.
I usually leave between 15 and 20% depending on how good the service was. If we are in a larger group, I tend to leave more as well. However, the server isn't doing her job or is lackadaisical about it, I'll leave nothing at all and never return. There are plenty of other establishments that hire competent staff to ensure their customers are happy, and let's be honest - waiting on tables isn't exactly rocket science compared to what most of us do for a living. If it was, it would pay a helluva lot more.
As a former waitress, PLEASE make your decision to tip/not tip based on the service that the waiter provides. Food quality and the speed in which it is prepared and ready to leave the kitchen is not something the server has control over, but too often the tip reflects that.
As for not being rocket science, it does require a heck of a lot of stamina, patience, and the memory of an elephant. Judging a person's profession by the money they make is extremely shallow IMO.
If you don't leave a tip, you aren't sending a message to the waiter, they simply think you forgot.
Bad service: 5-10%
Average service: 15%
Great service : 20% and up.
^ Great post!
I never leave less than 10%.
Had to deal with bad service last night...at one of my favorite places to eat too. I usually leave 20% but went with 15% this time.
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