When to stiff the waitress

[Batman]

So I eat lunch at a sit-down barbecue joint today, and the service is horrible. Abysmal, even. I was there for an hour and the only drink refill came from the host, not the waitress. Between the time she took the order and brought the check, the only time she asked if everything was OK she was just passing by and barely slowed down. And after bringing the check, I had it sitting on the table with my card in the billfold for 10 minutes before she picked it up. All of this was after the lunch rush (about 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.) and there were maybe six other customers in a pretty big restaurant. Most of the time, she was within eyesight.
So, of course, I stiffed the sorry hobag on the tip. But it got me to thinking, what's the threshold for doing that? Would it have been better to round off the check to the nearest dollar (in this case, it would've been a 33 cent tip) to prove a point or just leave nothing? And if you do decide to stiff on the tip, is it safer to use the debit/credit card (where, theoretically, the waitress could go over your head and write something in) or pay cash?
Discuss....

 

[kingcreole]

I tip according to service.

One night, my family and another family sat down at a local steakhouse. It was 7 p.m. on a Saturday, but the place wasn't even half full. Our waitress was the worst ever. She messed my friend's order up four times, and when she almost got it right, the BBQ ribs had the wrong sauce. Our kids ordered milk, which was warm. We never once got a refill of our drinks except from the manager. She never brought out the free basket of rolls. And she messed my wife's order up. And to top it off, my friend's bill was about $5 too much. After she "corrected" it, it was still off by about a dollar. But he went ahead and paid.

On the line where you put the tip, both of us wrote "Right ..."

 

[spup1122]

I try hard not to stiff them all together, but rather prove the point. We don't do a lot of sit down meals, though. Most of the time, we're actually just picking the food up and then we don't tip because it's usually a hostess that has to do that stuff anyway.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Nice Guy Eddie: C'mon, throw in a buck!
Mr. Pink: Uh-uh, I don't tip.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't tip?
Mr. Pink: Nah, I don't believe in it.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't believe in tipping?
Mr. Blue: You know what these chicks make? They make ****.
Mr. Pink: Don't give me that. She don't make enough money that she can quit.
Nice Guy Eddie: I don't even know a ****ing Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you don't ever tip?
Mr. Pink: I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.
Mr. Blue: Hey, our girl was nice.
Mr. Pink: She was okay. She wasn't anything special.
Mr. Blue: What's special? Take you in the back and suck your ****?
Nice Guy Eddie: I'd go over twelve percent for that

Mr. Pink: I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's ****ed up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government ****s in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And as for this non-college bull**** I got two words for that: learn to ****in' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big ****in' surprise.

 

[Clever username]

My god, have I wanted to stiff so many waitresses in the past two years. I even got the phone number from one, but she never called me back. I know that's not what this thread is about, but I have a serious thing for waitresses. Especially when they dress all in black.

 

[John]

I think tipping something like 10 cents sends more of a message than no tipping at all, especially if you leave a note asking the waiter if he/she really thinks he/she earned more than that.

 

[spup1122]

ohhh.. Sportschick is gonna yell at you!

 

[spup1122]

I got a tip as a waitress once that was as much as the bill, AND had some kid's phone number on it. There was no interest, especially since I think he was like 5 years younger than me (hi sportschick and cradlerobber!), but it was a sweet gesture.

 

[John]

Do your job and I'll tip 20% minimum, but treat me like **** and I'll express my displeasure in the most meaningful way possible.

 

[spnited]

CU, I think it's usually best to try to go for it before you order dessert.. maybe in lieu of dessert.

 

[CentralIllinoisan]

You were more than justified in stiffing the waitress. I've stiffed many a times for poor service. Also given up to 30-40 percent for great service.

 

[spup1122]

CU, Your child is adorable. That is all. Thanks for the adorable pictures that make the newsroom wonder why I'm randomly saying, "awwwww!"

 

[Bob Slydell]

Nice Guy Eddie: C'mon, throw in a buck!
Mr. Pink: Uh-uh, I don't tip.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't tip?
Mr. Pink: Nah, I don't believe in it.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't believe in tipping?
Mr. Blue: You know what these chicks make? They make ****.
Mr. Pink: Don't give me that. She don't make enough money that she can quit.
Nice Guy Eddie: I don't even know a ****ing Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you don't ever tip?
Mr. Pink: I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.
Mr. Blue: Hey, our girl was nice.
Mr. Pink: She was okay. She wasn't anything special.
Mr. Blue: What's special? Take you in the back and suck your ****?
Nice Guy Eddie: I'd go over twelve percent for that

Mr. Pink: I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's ****ed up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government ****s in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And as for this non-college bull**** I got two words for that: learn to ****in' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big ****in' surprise.

Hah, I was just thinking of that when I was reading this. And like Mr. Pink, I like my cup filled a lot.

I usually do 20 percent, more if it's really good service. But I would stiff if it was **** poor service.

 

[CentralIllinoisan]

CU, Your child is adorable. That is all. Thanks for the adorable pictures that make the newsroom wonder why I'm randomly saying, "awwwww!"

Thanks! Mrs. CI and I agree. Somehow that little prince formed from our genes!

 

[Clever username]

CU, Your child is adorable. That is all. Thanks for the adorable pictures that make the newsroom wonder why I'm randomly saying, "awwwww!"

Thanks! Mrs. CI and I agree. Somehow that little prince formed from our genes!

CI, CU, what's the difference? Oh wait, I was definitely confused and terrified there for a second.

 

[boots]

The worst tip to leave a waiter or waitress is a penny.

 

[spup1122]

CU, Your child is adorable. That is all. Thanks for the adorable pictures that make the newsroom wonder why I'm randomly saying, "awwwww!"

Thanks! Mrs. CI and I agree. Somehow that little prince formed from our genes!

I really meant to call you CI. The keys are next to each other and CU is so consuming of my posts, dammit!

 

[Clever username]

CU, Your child is adorable. That is all. Thanks for the adorable pictures that make the newsroom wonder why I'm randomly saying, "awwwww!"

Thanks! Mrs. CI and I agree. Somehow that little prince formed from our genes!

I really meant to call you CI. The keys are next to each other and CU is so consuming of my posts, dammit!

I am, what some might call, omniverous. Wait ...

 

[zeke12]

If the service is bad enough to warrant stiffing someone on the tip, talk to a manager.

And try to be sympathetic to your waitress, please. Those ladies run their asses off for **** wages. So think twice before you stiff one.

Oh, and if you stiff on a CC, be prepared to be **** on if you ever go back there.

 

[spup1122]

Have you seen the movie Waiting?