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Like others said, the tip wasn't all that bad and 15% is pretty customary. In general, I tip 15% for regular service and 20% for great service and even more if I'm really impressed, but again it's not like the tip that was left was insulting. If I was in that situation I probably would have just told the waiter that the tip was perfectly reasonable and that we appreciated his service. If he pushed it any further, I would have asked for the manager. I've never been in that industry, but know plenty of people who are/were and one thing that is a massive no-no is discussing your tip with a customer beyond a simple "thank you".
The only time I got real generous with tipping was when I used to go to the same restaurant/beer garden in Philly every Wednesday for about 2 years straight. The host got to know us and we always had a table regardless of how busy it was, so I always slipped him some money once in awhile for looking out for us. We also tended to have the same waitress and we always took care of her, because she did provide excellent service. Once she was obviously having a bad day and we left a 50% tip to help cheer her up. Next Wednesday our first round of drinks and appetizers were on her. It was a little different though, because we were regulars and this place had pretty much zero staff turnover so it was always the same people and probably still is.
Just what you did. It was not right imo for him to comfort you. Maybe he was having a bad day. I do know that most people don't realize that many wait staff get paid well under minimum wage, and rely strongly on the gratuities.
Next time have a bit more w/ you. I usually add the tip to my charge/debit card transaction.
As others have stated, the waiter was out of line to confront you like that especially since it was a 15% tip. So I wouldn't feel bad.
However, your lesson here should be not to go out to eat at a restaurant if you can't afford it. If you only had $50 on you, go to a dining establishment where you can eat and tip comfortably. Or use a cc (I'll assume you didn't have one in this case or it is cash only there).
I'm not understanding the "don't go out to eat if you don't have the $$$ responses". She left a perfectly good tip. Would you have said the same thing if she omitted the part that they were tapped out? What if she said "we left 15% and he confronted us"? They had enough money!
I'm not understanding the "don't go out to eat if you don't have the $$$ responses". She left a perfectly good tip. Would you have said the same thing if she omitted the part that they were tapped out? What if she said "we left 15% and he confronted us"? They had enough money!
there are people that take tipping very personally. thats one of the standard responses, they probably just said it without considering the % of the tip that was given here. my older brother is an overtipper, he is a loser that likes it that servers have to be nice to him. he is "engaged" and has a baby with a girl that worked as a manager in a restaurant. so its his key for finding terrible romantic partners.
I'm not understanding the "don't go out to eat if you don't have the $$$ responses". She left a perfectly good tip. Would you have said the same thing if she omitted the part that they were tapped out? What if she said "we left 15% and he confronted us"? They had enough money!
I probably would not have said the same thing - would not have even responded. But the fact that the OP admitted to getting good service and to running out of money are two key points in my opinion. I would not have put myself in such a position - I would have had adequate cash or a credit card to fall back on.
I did consider the % in my response. I don't think 15% is bad, and the waiter certainly should not have said anything. The waiter is the one who did something wrong here.
However, for a good waiter, and the poster stated it was a good waiter, I always leave 20%. 15% is standard for standard service. I'll repeat, if the poster knowingly only had a set amt, then go where you can get what you want for that amt. I've gone out to eat with others who knowingly only have a set amount, order over that amount, and then expect others to "eat" the difference. But it does happen that sometimes you find yourself short unexpectedly (in which case a trip to the ATM usually helps).
Either way, I wouldn't be too concerned about this. It's only a small moment in life. But I wouldn't eat at that waiter's table again.
I have a bit of an attitude towards rude people, so if he caught me on the wrong night I would have probably told him to be happy with what he got and where he could put it if he wasn't happy. If the exchange went anything beyond that, I would have talked to the manager.
Having said that, I believe in over tipping. If my server helped to make my experience an enjoyable one, I might leave anywhere from 35-50% tip. If it was just, ok, I leave the typical 15-20%. Otherwise I simply leave no tip and write the reason why on the tip line of the CC receipt.
I once gave both my server and the Hostess a $50 bill each for helping make a birthday surprise go wonderfully. They both went above and beyond and I went out of my way to speak to the manager on their behalf a few days afterwards. I'm only nice when its warranted.
I've always tipped well after I've seen what happens in kitchen restaurants (my brother used to run one).. waiters remember ppl and don't take well to rudeness or repeated crummy tipping.
I do have to say, I never saw anything like this at the 'Australian Themed Steakhouse' I worked at. Our managers oversaw everything (we had a front of the house + back of the house) and they were meticulous about hygiene and cleanliness.
The only "thing" I ever saw transpire was anytime servers would come into the kitchen and say their table requested steak sauce, the cooks would boo, but that was it.
While we certainly bashed "Canadians" and vented amongst ourselves, we never took it out on them or their food. I'm not surprised this is commonly done other places though.
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