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Do you ever find yourself ranting about poor service at a bar or restaurant? Do you complain or do you express your displeasure by skipping the tip or leaving a nominal amount?
I know someone who has left a penny because he felt the service was poor.
My response?
If you have an issue with something that was unsatisfactory during your dining experience, put in your two cents and address the issue with the manager. Unless it was egregious behavior by the server, what is the point of punishing the person who is delivering your order? If you leave without tipping, your server may ask what he or she did wrong and for good reason: tips account for nearly 100% of a server's take home pay, according to Cornell University professor Michael Lind.
That begs the question: Would you prefer having tips automatically included in your bill? I recently returned from a two-week cruise. Gratuities were automatically calculated in all services, including restaurants, bars, and housekeeping. (More on the cruise cuisine coming soon.) No muss, no fuss. I prefer that method when I’m on vacation and don’t have to worry about carrying cash or credit cards.
Couple other tip points: My husband claims men generally tip more than women. I don’t agree, especially since so many women work in service industries and will tip generously because they understand the challenges of serving the public. I generally tip 20% for excellent service and 15% for adequate work.
Also do you tip the owner of a company when he or she provides your service? Traditionally it wasn’t done, but that too has changed. I always tip the owner my standard 15 – 20% for quality service. And I think 10% is fair at buffets and a buck per drink for bartenders.
