Originally Posted by hopeful_Mark (Post 8056515)

I am so confused with tipping it is not even funny anymore, but the thing I don't get is why should I tip when I get bad service. It has happened on a few occasions now and my US partner tends to pick up the tab because she knows I really don't want to reward bad service.

Originally Posted by penguinbar (Post 8056397)

It's not a rule . It's a courtesy. Like I said I remember the bad tippers as well. It's amazing how weak your drink can get if you don't tip well!

Originally Posted by N1cky (Post 8052601)

I'm more than happy to tip in restaurants, or anywhere I sit down to eat or drink. I always feel slightly uncomfortable though when I go for take-out though.

I've just collected my lunch order from CPK, and there is a line for Tip amount, I never tip in this instance, but then feel slightly guilty. What does everyone else do?

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8057406)

Asking again what you consider bad service? Plate thrown on the table? Given something you didn't order? Was the steak well done instead of rare? Or was it just the bread basket wasn't delivered fast enough? Was the kitchen slow in preparing your order? Or was the server slow in hopping to attention because you wanted a refill on your drink? Did the server not hoover over you constantly to make sure that your every whim was fulfilled? Not everything is a server's fault.

At my age and with my waitressing and bartending experience, I will say that I have met up with little of what would be considered poor service. I've sat at tables that might not have been clean enough or received a utensil that needed a bit more soap and water or not received a glass of water when I sat down. But that is not poor service on the part of the server. Normally these things are the responsibility of the kitchen and bussers and I would not penalize the server.

In countries where you don't have a tipping structure, then you really have no choice in rewarding or penalizing a servers. At least in the US you have that option and can opt for leaving the customary 15-20% of the bill and/or leaving 1 cent under a plate to indicate bad service and then tell the manager about your dissatisfaction.

Originally Posted by hopeful_Mark (Post 8057633)

But to rephrase my question, should I tip when the server takes my drinks order, then stands at the bar for 5 minutes with my drinks sitting there, chatting with the bartender, when the server stands in the corner of the room, texting/talking to the other servers for ages when there are people waiting to be served. At the point tips are what make the job they do worth doing, it must be in their interest to do the best most efficient job they are capable of. The reason I am given that I MUST always tip, is the low wages that servers get, but even a tip needs to be earned surely?

Originally Posted by Cushcowlady (Post 8057776)

The tip on an average meal in the USA seems to be anything from 2 to 5 cents, depending on the service.

Originally Posted by N1cky (Post 8057809)

When in a bar, if the singer gives you a song sheet and asks you to pick a song for him to sing. Should you tip him at the end of the night?

Originally Posted by N1cky (Post 8057809)

When in a bar, if the singer gives you a song sheet and asks you to pick a song for him to sing. Should you tip him at the end of the night?

Originally Posted by Cushcowlady (Post 8057776)

The tip on an average meal in the USA seems to be anything from 2 to 5 cents, depending on the service.

Originally Posted by nethead (Post 8057861)

Someone should write a book an tipping etiquette for immigrants :rofl: