Do you consider quality of service when you tip?

Question

When tipping a waitress, bartender, or other person who works for tips, do you consider quality of service, or lack thereof? Or do you just tip because you think you should? Or do you not tip at all? Just looking for info -- I work for tips and am curious.

Answer 1

I always the quality of service when I leave a tip. If I got great service or the server was just really friendly it's always reflected in the tip (whether I like the food or drinks or whatever or not). If I get average service or the server is kinda indifferent they still get their 15% tip because I know they probably not getting paid very much and they depend on tips (I bartended for a while and all I got was tips, no hourly wage just tips and I know I had some off days where people got their drink in a timely manner but that's about it, everyone has off days). Now, if a server really sucks, I don't care how much the bill is, I have no problem not leaving a tip, but I will always leave a note or something letting this person know why they didn't receive a tip, or if I leave a small tip. I want that person to know why they're not getting tipped well. I know that, while bartending, one of my customers really helped me out that way. Fortunately for me it was opposite, I had someone leave me a really big tip and he told me why he was leaving such a generous tip for me. That really opened my eyes, I learned that people are not just tipping because they have to, they don't have to let me tell you, it's not required, they are tipping as a "thank you"-thank you for going out of your way, thank you for being friendly, as a bartender I had a lot of thank you's for taking two minutes to ask someone how they're day was going (guys especially, hey it's cheaper to tip your bartender then pay for a therapist). I always made more tips when I remembered that my customers didn't "have" to tip me. Oh, and also remember that a smile goes a looooong way, even if you are super busy, maybe mess up (get an order wrong, if you're a stripper maybe you trip on stage, hairdresser maybe you take a little too much off the top-you catch my drift) always admit your mistake, apologize, smile and thank your customer for understanding. Good luck and make that $$$$ girl!

Answer 2

I can deal with someone messing up my order, and even someone being a little slow and not as attentive to their customers as they should be. But I can't deal with a waitress who is just flat out rude because you make a simple request, or return an order that isn't the way you ask for it. Or just one that has a bad attitude! That is usually the only time I refuse to tip. I have been both a waitress and bartender before, and I know how much those tips are depended on! So I always put on my best smile no matter how horrible my day was going!
I'm a very good tipper, and people who are my waitress/waiter/bartender will be tipped very generously as long as they aren't mean!

Answer 3

Yes. If you're going to tip no matter what kind of service you get, then you're going to get crappy service.

I start at 15%. If it's good, it can go up to 20-25%, depending on how much the meal is, etc. If it's bad, I go down to 10%, and have only "stiffed" a couple of waiters or waitresses in my time (people who ignored me once the food was there when it's clear you wanted refills on drinks, waiters who talked to other tables all the time while my food was getting cold, people who waited for 15 minutes to tell you that they're out of something, etc.).

It's impolite not to tip if the service is adequate or good, because these people work for that. But I don't feel obliged to tip for awful service, and have been known to write notes to waiters or waitresses telling them exactly why they didn't get a tip.

Answer 4

I absolutely consider quality of service. For me, tipping goes like this:

Excellent service = Tip above recommendations

Average service/wait staff who was trying but lousy restaurant = Average tip

Horrible service = Little to no tip, dependant on how poor service was

Although I've never worked in food service, I do understand that not all circumstances that people consider to be "poor service" are reflective of the wait staff. I consider that my tip is going to pay for the wait staff, so even if I absolutely hated the food, etc., but the waiter or waitress was excellent, then I would tip above average.

The tip is definitely for service, and not for other factors such as whether or not I liked the meal, etc.

Answer 5

quality, most definitely. I know some people won't tip just because they're cheap. But I always tip depending on the service I receive. If the food is bad I tell the waitress and tip her a tad less. If the service is bad she gets nada.

Answer 6

Absolutly, Service is everything and it is what has diapeared from every customer service venue in the world.... I will always tip bigger when the service is excellent and have left nickles and pennies for those who made me feel as if I should have gone to eat somewhere else. I will also patron a store with higher prices if the service is better. Try finding help in Wall-Mart.. If you are a high pressure sales men then you better stay away from me.. When we bought our pool we had one of these jerks... Well he got no sale.. Next pool store the girl was more concerned with telling gus about herself, how she left home to be here with her husband... The pool was as good as sold... I long for the day of mom and pop stores, where you shop next to your neighbors.. The world is a sad place some days.. and I don't need the people I am giving my money to go and treat me like crap.. I worked hard for what I have, as a matter of fact i gave my blood for my money so I am not giving it to some jerk who thinks he just pulled the whool over my eyes.. I have walked out of restraunts and I have left full carts of groceries in the store.. I have also been thanked for giving very generous tips also... If you treat me right it will pay.... They always say the middle class or regular joes always tip better.. On holidays I am extreemely generous.. Gas attenddants and convienence store workers always get scratch off tickets.. I buy a bunch and put them in my pocket. I know it's not much, but the smiles are worth it..

Answer 7

Margie,

Good question. I know we all work for a living and it is hard whether we make tips or not.

Let's say the waiter or (s) has an extremely busy day with losts of customers and he does his/her best to serve you yes, they would get a good tip. Sometimes there is not enough help in a restaurant, and people blame it on the waiter, but not the case. It's when you have an understanding of what one has to do then you appreciate any help you can get.

Of course if the waiter is superb you tip greatly, or maybe they are having a bad day or are tired who knows? Still, I would tip them anyway unless of course they were rude or something, then I wouldn't.

Answer 8

I consider the quality of service. If the server is friendly, fast and the food is good and 'hot', I tip at least $5. That is just for myself.
If the quality of service is poor, I may not leave anything. I don't like to be kept waiting. I hate cold food and I resent bad service.

Answer 9

I do consider the whole 'package' when tipping. With an attentive server/great service/etc I'll tip btwn 20-25% - on the other hand i'll tip @ 10% and write a comment on the receipt if the service sucks. (comment cards can be tossed by servers, they have to hand in the credit card receipts to their managers...)

I know some pretty weathy people who are terrible tippers - and some who are paycheck to paycheck and tip about 18%, no rhyme or reason to it.

(mauihills - Maui isn't even in the top ten destinations in the US.)

Answer 10

I rarely drink, but when I do, I give $1 per drink, regardless of what I've ordered or how well it was prepared.

When it comes to eating out, you bet I pay attention to the quality and speediness of service! The two things that make me tip well (over 20%) are a) if I have a refill of my drink on the table before I have to ask for it, or, if I do have to ask for it, the waitress brings it quickly; and b) if I ask for the check, I want it quickly, too. I don't want to be asked numerous times if I want to see the dessert tray, or have to wait 10 minutes for my check. As far as orders getting mixed up or a steak being cooked improperly--I don't take that into account when tipping, because I imagine usually it's the kitchen's fault. Most of the time the waiters/waitresses repeat my order to me after I give it to them so that I know it's correct.

Also, I don't really like it when our waiter/tress gets all friendly and sits down or squats at the table and chit-chats. This may sound terrible, but I'm going out to eat and be waited on (we don't go out to eat too often, and when we do, it's a treat--I don't have to cook or do dishes!), not to make friends with my waiter. I want them to take my order, get it right, and bring it quickly. :)