Legal Bill

I like to think I tip pretty well. I usually give 17 or 18 percent, and 20 if I get great service. But what do you do when you get bad service? Tonight, Barbara and I went to one of our regular spots. We have been there three times this week becuase of the $8.99 loster special. It was a bit more crowded than I expected for a Monday night. We get seated after about 15 minutes, no big deal. Then we get menus and the waitress disapears for 10 minutes. How ABOUT A DRINK?? She comes back and we give the whole order; drinks, bread, appatizers, two entrees and Barbara picks her potato and vegetable. 10 minutes later and we get water. Where are the drinks and the bread??
"Oh...yes, you did order bread, didn't you?"
5 minutes later, drinks, bread and apps come out. Then the entrees show up 5 minutes later. Sounds ok right? Hey, wait... Where are the knives??? Barbara ordered the Lobster special. Where is the shell cracker?
"Sorry, please stand by."
5 minutes later,
"here is the cutlery we forgot."
Ok, where are vergetables and potato.
"Uh... let me check."
2 minutes later
"the vegies are coming..."
Yeah, so's Christmas. Vegies come out and look like something that got scraped off of someone elses plate.
"Can I get you anyting else?"
Yeah, the bill.

Bill comes out... so what do you do? Give anything? How much? Normaly, this place does a great job, but this waitress was out to lunch. To add insult to injury, she spent tons of time with the able of five across from us.

HARDtoTOP

Sounds like she was going for the big tip from the party across from you. I would give her 10% and she should feel lucky to get that.

Bass

no tip for bad service that is if you did not say anything to the manger and if nothing was said, I would not go back

Bass

10% would just make you look cheap no tip or 2 cents indicates poor service

HARDtoTOP

I know a guy who says that he "always" writes an email or letter to the management of any place he eats. Good bad or indifferent, he gives them a review and says that 8/10 times he gets some type of compensation be it a coupon or even a free meal. He said keep your receipt and send a copy of it along with your server;s name if it isn;t on the slip and it works best so they know you aren't a BS artist.

ilvmys2000

ilvmys2000

so bill, did you give her a tip?

Bass

The traditional tip for bad service is "two cents worth."

If you leave no tip, she may just assume you are one of those jerks who does not tip. She will not assume it was because of bad service.

If you leave one penny, same thing as above except a penny escaped from your pocket by accident.

If you leave anything more than two pennies, she will consider she got a tip and you are just cheap.

Only by leaving two cents will you be able to tell her you do believe in tipping but you are not tipping her due to poor service.

If the service was really poor or she was rude, ask to speak to the manager before you pay the check. Have specific details as to why you feel the service was bad or she was rude. It would be best to speak to the manager without her present so no shouting match begins.

Legal Bill

Just what I did. 10% tip. And I was signing the bill I was thinking: "I'll bet this dumb-ass will just complain that I was cheap and never realize how bad her service sucked." I hate complaining about service people unless they are actually rude. I figure the small tip is my way of sending the message. I guess it wasn't samll enough.

Legal Bill