It was always taught to me that if you were given poor service at a restaurant, you are suppose to give a tip. The tip, however, is to be A penny tail's side up.

Same here. It shows that you are not cheap, you just don't think the service was worth more than a penny...with a "kiss my ass" tails side up if it was REALLY bad, but not of the curly-haired variety.

I agree with you...I've waited tables, and I've had good and bad service, but I won't hesitate to talk to the manager either way...good or bad. If I have a really great experience, I will be sure to tell the manager that the server was great, and on the same note, I'll say, hey, our server was crappy, and that they don't deserve a tip. Perhaps that way the server will improve.

Hey PromoGuy

I am a waitress at Hooters (i.e. Hootress). I just wanted to let you know that I disagree with your views completely. You might brush them off and say "Oh, she's a server, of course she thinks it's appropriate to leave a tip." But truthfully, my disagreement with your post has more to do with how I was raised. I agree that restaurants should cough up some cash and pay their waitstaffs more than the standard 2.13/hr for tipped employees. But even if they did that, tipping is still good restaurant etiquette. If the service sucks or is just okay, leave 15%. If it's outstanding, a higher percentage is appropriate, I think.

At Hooters, we are asked (not required, although slightly pressured) to tip out 3% of our sales. So the tip you leave on the table doesn't ONLY go to the waitress, it goes tothe hostess that sat you, the bartender that prepared your drinks, and the kitchen that prepared your meal.

As far as the short curly hair in your food, that is not the fault of the server. That should have been brought to her attention, though, so she might let the manager know and your bill would have been adjusted accordingly.

Another thing to consider is WHY your service may have sucked. Sure, it's not really right for the server to punish your for her own bad day, but maybe you're a bad customer? Maybe you're high-maintenance. Maybe you aren't polite, maybe you don't say "please" or "thank you" or maybe she remembers the last time you were in and you stiffed her.

Well, it seems I'm pretty much the only one who is just totally against tipping. LOL This one of the very FEW countries that actually still does it. It was refreshing to be in England and France this past spring and not have to worry about tipping.

If a restaurant is only paying its servers 2.13 an hour, then that should be posted in a VERY public place so that we know when we're going in that the servers depend on tips to bring their wages up. However ... there are PLENTY of restaurants out there that pay minimum wage and we're still expected to tip. I have a HUGE problem with that. Why should they be tipped??? There are PLENTY of jobs out there that get paid minimum wage -- and they have to do WAY worse things than fill drinks and serve food -- and they receive no tip for it. When I was in college I worked at a hospital and got paid a little over $5 an hour -- I was cleaning up bedpans and icky patients -- and I didn't receive one single tip for doing so. And why should I??? It's my JOB. I'm being paid to do my job -- and I should do it no matter what. That's how I feel about servers -- restaurants should be forced to just pay the servers minimum wage (or whatever) -- and thats it. It's a job -- you're getting paid -- you shouldn't expect a TIP to do your job.

whew. we get in this conversation every time we eat out and have a crappy waitress ... LOL We usually just leave the customary penny too.

Feel the need to at least say that even though I totally disagree with tipping ... of course my husband and I always tip - and usually generously. I was brought up that way as well. After visiting other countries, and receiving wonderful service at restaurants, where tipping is not customary, it was disgruntling to come back to the states and have to tip the girl who sent our order in wrong, spilled coke on my husband, and forgot the salad -- even if it is just a penny. LOL

I or we always tip. Better service gets the better tip. I have been known to speak louidly in the restraunt pointing out all the flaws of the server before. I can barely serve my own family and/or friends. I am not the best people person I am glad I don't have to be a server. It's got to be a "sucky" job. For me to do anyway.

Im also a former waitress, and Have worked from a wide range of restaurants, from hojo's to fine dining. Servers don't work that job for the hourly wage. Tips is what makes that job worth doing . My husband is a chef and the wait staff their take home 30-40 k a year.
Their average check is higher than a diner.

I look at the reason why my service is crap, is the restaurant full with only 2 servers?
Most likely if that is the case some one did not show up for work, and usually they are busting their proverbial hump, I look beyond less than awesome service then.

Trust me, when I had bad service for NO reason other than the server sucks, I do 10 % or less, and will leave a not4e on the credit slip, the manager always sees those! So does the waiter, so the message doesn't go unheeded.

We get into an argument about this all the time when we go out.

A tip is supposed to be something that you give the server for the wonderful service they provided above and beyond getting your food and drink. It is not meant to be required. If it is required, there should be a cover charge instead.

And if the restaurant automatically puts 15% on the bill I wont eat there or I will subtract the 15% from the check and pay that. I will not be forced to tip.

People think tipping is required for everything nowadays. The moron that came up with the idea of tipping the pizza guy should be skinned. I am NOT tipping a pizza guy.

I was brought up to think that if you did your job as required, you get what you are supposed to be paid. If you go above and beyond the "call of duty", you get a tip.

If the server just does their job, I dont tip them. If they do a horrible job I may leave a note. If they go out of their way to top of my drink, bring me more rolls, ask how my dinner was, get me extra napkins, get me more silverware because my daughter dropped hers, I will leave a tip.

I once had a server go out of their way to make sure I had a nice dining experience. Our basket of rolls was never empty, I always had a fresh napkin and my drink was always topped off. My daughter dropped her spoon on the floor and within a couple seconds she was there with a new spoon and a pitcher to top of my soda. Now THAT is service. I didnt have to ask for her to bring me a new spoon. She was aware of her customers and keep an eye out for what she thought they would need. She wasnt leaning up against the bar talking to the bartender waiting for someone to raise their hand to get some service. It was nice to be able to eat and talk without having to worry about where the server is because I need something. Needless to say she got a very nice tip.

I think the question to ask is: Would the service get worst if they didn't have any tip? For my part, I don't think so, they are so used to have their tip, that it doesn't influence there service anymore.

I have waited table for years, I can see both sides. I love a great server. My husband and I can be very generous to the good ones. However, I always went out of my way as a server to give great service, so I expect it back from other servers. I do understand we all have bad nights. But I have noticed lately, people just give bad service and don't care. That's great, because if you don't care, I don't care. If YOU expect a great tip, I EXPECT great service.The choice is yours. I owe the server nothing. I don't ever recall signing anything that stated I would tip at least 15%-20%. There are different types of servers that I have seemed to notice. These are the ones who I love to get because it keeps my bill much lower without the added 15-20% undeserved tip.
The runaway server-Everytime they approach your table, they do what they came to do and try to run off before you can finish your order, ask a question, request a refill or get the check already?

The NOT ME server-The kitchen forgot or the bar messed up. Not true, 'cause when I told you my appetizer order, I watched you walk away and take another order without ever writing it down. Be an adult an fess up when you screw up. Everyone makes mistakes and I will respect you more for your honesty. Besides, don't you realize by blaming your CO-WORKERS you make the rest of the restaurant staff look as bad as you?

The Quarterback- Do you ever find yourself jumping out of the way because you asked the waitress to bring you some lemon for your drink and she just tosses it into your beverage from far away (SPLASH)? Or catching bread plates before they slide off of the table? If your answer is yes, you've just experienced the Quarterback.

The graceless idiot- Has no clue how to pace a meal, rarely do I find a server that knows how to do this right anyway, so I will usually pace my order for the server by giving only the appetizer order first. Otherwise, if you give your entire order, you are about to fall victim to, the graceless idiot. Suddenly, at your small table for TWO, you have your place setting, your beverages, your appetizer, your salads AND bread, and here comes your entrees. I love how the server leaves it up to you to pull more space out of you butt. They check back only at the end of you meal with your check in thier hand. Never once a prebuss, they wait for you to pile all of your dishes on the end of the table then they will take them away, usually with your payment. I must say, this particular server is one of my all-time favorites.

The blind-not-me server- didn't you take the order? I know you are busy, but again, don't say the kitchen screwed up if you were on top of it all along. I mean, come on, did you ever look at the food as you loaded up the tray, garnished it, tasted it and carried it out?

Here are some other pet peeves that will make me not root for the server any longer.

1. The first food order App/Entree should be rang in to the kitchen right away, not after you check on 2-3 more tables. I know that you have my order in your pocket, and it won't get rang in until you disappear. So I know my order won't even get in line in that busy kitchen until you get to a terminal.

2. Don't sit down at other tables, it makes you look so lazy and tacky.

3. If I am in non-smoking, don't tell me you are going on a smoke break. One time, there is no way our server could have known this, but this just goes to show you should always be professional. My husband and I just came from the nursing home were his father of 50 years old was dying of lung cancer for smoking all his life. She came up to us and asked if we would be OK because she had to have a smoke break, she'd been working all night. NO CLASS. When she said that, i saw the look on my husbands face and I wanted to hit her.

4. Don't pick up the tip while we are still at the table, it is very rude. One of these times I WILL take it back.

5. When I ask for something to go with my food (tarter sauce, mustard, dressing, BBQ sauce), and you don't bring it right away, I can't eat until you finally remember it.

6. Check back for goodness sake if we have an appetizer/entree? I know you really don't care if we enjoy our food, but remember, we do have your tip.

7. Women, do not flirt with my husband! Men, do not flirt with me.

8. Do not walk up and start griping about your job, We don't care about anything other than why we are there and it isn't to tip you, believe it or not.

9. No signs of confidence in one's self. Show me weakness, and I won't trust you. You will more than likely hate me before I leave.

10. This may sound old fashioned, but good hygiene is not a request. Too much cologne or perfume or even worse BO. Yuck. And if you wish to have piercings on your face, or dirty bed head, that is your choice, I think it is digusting, which affects my dining experience, which will affect your tip.

Does anyone else feel this way?

This is a sticky point for me, considering I am "high maintenance" as one reader wrote, and I have also been a waitress, and I can say, I averaged $300 in tips on a "slow" day. I gave great attention to my appearance, how a customer appeared ( was he in a f*&% up mood...I knew how to deal with that particular party) or if it was a woman out with her friends, and she decided she wanted "total biotch" mainframe.
Tipping is NOT mandatory (except for the guilt trip you have mentioned). I tip regardless of the service. However, you are on scale once I check out my menu choice. Say the meal costs $14.00. I start out with 15% from the time I have received my menu/was greeted by the wait staff, and you either go up or down according to the service, presentation, attention ( or lack there of for the combination of things) I also take into account the day of the week ( Fri, Sat & Sun's are A+ tip days, so you should be hustling your butt off!!) and how crowded and how many tables my server is working. If they have a large amount of table to look after, I try to get al my wants/needs out whenever they visit my table. But if you give me a menu, come back in 20 minutes, ask what I want, bring food back, then I see you again after I have completed my meal, you can bet you will be receiving the low end of the tip scale.
Oh, and by the way..I HATE when a waiter/waitress sits @ the table with me...that will knock your tip down INSTANTLY!!

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I work as a server/ bartender at a local restaurant. The reality is servers get paid 2.13 an hour. Please tip! The better the tips, the better the workforce that will be maintained at a restaurant. If you enjoy going out to eat on occasion at a nice sit-down restaurant, chances are you would like to be waited on by a friendly, charming, clean, intelligent, sexy young men or women; rather than some hillbilly that forgets to shower and entertains themselves with misc. "surprises" in patrons meals. How's that for a visual!

Hell yeah tipping sucks. It seems the last few years have seen a definite inflation in the amount one is EXPECTED to tip. I remember when a tip was just a buck or two. Then we were told (by people who get tips) one should leave 10%, then it was 12%, then 15% and now we're told to leave 20% or more. What's next 50 or 60 %?Give me a break. You should be paid by your boss not your customers! Tipping is awkward, vague and even a little bit creepy. Come on, let us pay once when we eat like any other service.

Hey Hooter/Hooker waitress!

It's been a while since I posted my first message. Mr Promoguy reformatted his board and this is the first I've seen of it. I have to laugh at the hookers, oops, I mean hooter waitress's post. Not ALL Hooter's servers are hookers, just the one that posted here. I just love how she blames the customer for the bad service they received.

She said"Another thing to consider is WHY your service may have sucked. Sure, it's not really right for the server to punish your for her own bad day, but maybe you're a bad customer (what's a bad customer? someone who doesn't put the server's needs ahead of thier own needs obviously. Jerky Customers),? Maybe you're high-maintenance.(so what if I'm high maintenance, maybe if you would check back and pay attention to what I need which is your job, then you would be running your station, not your station running you) Maybe you aren't polite, maybe you don't say "please" or "thank you" (Again, how dare we not put the server first, maybe the server has the attitude that they are doing us a favor by even being there, we can pick up on hostility, act like your better than us and we are troubling you, you get what you deserve) or maybe she remembers the last time you were in and you stiffed her. (and what caused the customer to stiff her, HMMMM)"

My Favorite is when she says it isn't right to punish you for a bad day BUT (emphasis mine) then she goes on to why your attitude justifies the poor victimized hookress, oops, I mean hootress giving you bad service. And, don't you love getting corrected about bad manners from a hookress. Remember, so far, she's done nothing wrong. Darn mean customers, how dare they go into her place of business and demand food and service, some people just don't understand. LOL

Also quoted"At Hooters, we are asked (not required, although slightly pressured) to tip out 3% of our sales. So the tip you leave on the table doesn't ONLY go to the waitress, it goes tothe hostess that sat you, the bartender that prepared your drinks, and the kitchen that prepared your meal."

And we the customer are asked not required to tip your naive self if you think that customers have to tip, I didn't sign anything saying I would. You have to earn it from me. I always go in to a restaurant hoping for a good experience and would rather tip great than leave a server-induced lousy tip.

Most people will look over all and say, they are really busy, short handed, 20 tables, blah blah and make the servers cares thier own, I'm not that way. If the server has a crappy attitude like Ms. Hookress (yes I meant it that time) , I will have no sympathy for them. If the server shows or pretends they care , I will be more considerate. But again Hookress, you have to get the tip from me everytime. I don't give money to people just because of the tip out system they have set up. Remember in your job interview when they told you about the tip out? Did they force you to take the job? This is still America, you could have said no. Just because you said yes, does not require me to go along with your policy. I the customer am still and will always be in control of what I decide to leave you. You do have power over what I decide, look at my previous post, and tell me, do you recognize yourself in there. Be honest now, no one's perfect. I respect honestly in any server but I don't respect the "you owe me this, it's required attitude" Which I can ALWAYS counter and Win with, you owe ME great service or screw your tip.

Have a nice day!

hi my name is brandie tipping and that was really trippy

Jeez, seems like being a waitress is the worst job ever. Such a low pay!Co- dependence on tips!
I just applied working at the restaurant as a server, boy, i already hate it after reading this stuff! I am telling you guys, i would rather be a stripper to make more$$$