Cheapskate.

You do realise that people get fired from jobs when you complain. Do you want that? Not after a series of complaints but just the one.

Really? I'd say fibber myself.

Nothing wrong with complaining if it's justified, as long as the remedy befits the complaint.

I would never be able to walk out of a restaurant with a full belly, having paid not a penny, just because a waitress circled "gratuities not included." That's appalling behaviour.

Or they get stuck with the bill for your dinner.

or both. But that's worth it surely for that important feeling you get complaining to the manager instead of the person involved?

I normally tip the tax. I'll tip more if the experience has been very good. If it hasn't, I let Souvette handle the bill. She has fewer hang-ups than I do about being nasty.

Something not mentioned is how are the Tips processed?..... In some places the CCard Tips go through payroll.

When this happens, this amount will be reported on your T4 as tips.

Many people only report this and don't bother with the cash amounts (or "top-up" to 10%).

Not saying it's right...... just what commonly happens!

Thats a good point too, I'll have to ask DD what happens there, as she probably hasn't thought of that and is probably not checking her paystubs to see if she has received them.

Its the managers decision to give you the meal for free and not your fault if they go overboard with the employee - you could not know that before you complain so it is not a reason not to complain if you are not satisfied.

I find little things like that irritating but tend to just ignore them.

As for one complaint getting you fired thats poor management and again not a reason not to complain if there is a good reason.

As for min wage being lower for servers this is appalling and should be remedied via the ballot box.

Something that has been pointed out to me by several people I know who have worked as servers, plus by others who have heard similar:

Amongst the serving community in both Canada & The US, Brits & Australians have a reputation as being woeful tippers. Many Servers dread getting a table of Brits & apparently, its quite the norm to leave a 'subtle hint' on the bill. Often as mentioned, in the form of a smiley face with the servers name below or a message with service not included & again, a smiley face below. If its at all possible to avoid serving a table of Brits, they will.

Brits & Australians haven't accepted this form of legalised blackmail in the same way as its customary in North America. Many Brits & Australians in the main, tip grudgingly because they know its the custom where they are, not out of choice because they have had exceptional service. North Americans on the other hand, do it cheerfully as a matter of course, so long as the service & meal has been good.

I too question the anomalies in tipping. We tip the server but not the kid in McDonalds who has just served you a McRat Burger. We are expected to tip the taxi driver but not the guy who drives the number 14 to Downtown. I personally have always had issue's about tipping a bartender for pulling a pint. I've never got the logic of that one. Different if its table service.

I was once chased for a tip by a shuttle bus driver at Miami Airport after I refused his request. I was racking my head to remember the Spanish for **** off. The guy departed the rental lot late as he was too busy yapping with his buddies, drove like a complete idiot, throwing my daughter out her seat, then when he got our bags out, held out his hand!

No way Jose !!! He wasn't a happy boy.

Who tips the oil change guy at Mr Lube? Minimum wage earner.

It might be poor management but it does happen, and not rarely. Why not say something friendly and chatty about it to the server instead of getting all snotty and complaining to others? There's a good chance you would get better service for the rest of the meal then, and surely that would be more worthwhile than complaining.

Read again

I agree that a polite word to the server is the way to go (once you have you all your food )

What's with all this north american style complaining.

Why would anyone think it's preferable to have an unnecessary awkward social interaction rather than just leaving a slightly lower than usual tip and then never going back? That's what I do and I thought I was normal.