2007-05-28 08:29:53 · 29 answers · asked by Sashimi 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
The service was really bad or the person leaving the penny is really cheap.
2007-05-28 08:32:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Leaving a penny on the table after eating in a restaurant is a sarcastic comment about the service received. A big tip means the service was exceptional; a penny means it was lousy or worse.
The better way to go is to leave a reasonable tip and ask to speak to the restaurant manager in private about the service. That way the waitperson receives not only compensation to add to their low wages, but also they get a chance to learn and improve their serving skills.
2007-05-28 09:21:11 · answer #2 · answered by Pam 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since society's rules, generally, look to a 15-20% tip as appropriate for good service, I would think that leaving a penny on the table is a sign that the server was incompetent or that his/her service was much below expectations.
OTOH, if an appropriate tip has been left using a credit card, the penny on the table might just mean that someone found it and thought it belonged to the server or that one misplaced the coin, or any other reason.
2007-05-28 08:34:36 · answer #3 · answered by Sebastian 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the penny is laying next to a ten, twenty, or fifty dollar note then I don't think the servers would really mind. Some people may find it convenient to unload their pennies.
If the penny is the only item that is left on the table, then I believe it means the person thought the service was really poor that it deserved a worthless tip.
2007-05-28 08:49:39 · answer #4 · answered by smallbluepickles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is left by itself it means the patron was displeased and that the service was bad. They was to make sure that you don't mistake no tip as a sign that they forgot to tip you.
If you get a tip plus a penny it is a compliment meaning that you did a good job and get a tip plus a penny. As a waitress I have even gotten a tip went to clear dishes and there was a penny under the plate.
2013-12-13 16:04:10 · answer #5 · answered by chelle_j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Years ago when I worked as a waitress, if customer left you a regular tip + a penny, it meant you provided extra good service. This was often from people who could not afford to be big tippers but wanted to show their appreciation anyway..
When someone left you just one penny, that was a definitive message that you did a poor job of serving them. As others have already said, if a wait person receives no tip, he or she can rationalize that the customers forgot to tip or are just cheapskates.
2007-05-28 08:59:14 · answer #6 · answered by susandiane311 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the server is particularly slow, forgets things, speaks in a nasty tone, doesn't wait on a table in a reasonable amount of time, etc. She/he should expect a penny tip.
A penny shows, "Hey, you got a tip. If you'd given better service, it would have been a lot more."
2007-05-28 08:48:19 · answer #7 · answered by kiwi 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it's the full tip (a tip wasn't added to the credit card), it's a sign that the wait person gave really horrible service.
If you leave no tip, the waiter doesn't know that the person didn't just stiff them because they never leave tips.
This says, here's your tip: your service deserves the very smallest amount of money it's possible to give.
2007-05-28 15:21:47 · answer #8 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that the service was really bad. If no tip is left,then the waiter could think that such was just an oversight,but a penny....
2007-05-28 08:33:28 · answer #9 · answered by James O 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's a message to the server that their service was sub-par. It's considered a bigger slam than simply not leaving a tip at all.
2007-05-28 08:33:29 · answer #10 · answered by cityofoak 2 · 9⤊ 0⤋