I used to think tipping 10% was fine. Heard a waitress drop a check at my table and it clicked.

I was at a diner off Route 9 last Tuesday, eating a $12 omelette. The waitress set the check down and muttered to another server, "Table 4 stiffed me on a 20-top." I had been planning to leave $1.50. Something about her tone, tired and not even mad, just done, made me realize that $1.50 doesn't cover the time she spent refilling my coffee three times. Now I tip 20% minimum. Has anyone else had a random overheard comment flip a switch for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

knight.dylan14d ago

dude that hit different for me too. i was at this bar after work, not even paying attention, and i heard the bartender whisper to the busser "watch, he's gonna leave like two bucks on a thirty dollar tab." i had literally just done the math in my head and was gonna leave $3. they were talking about someone else but it stung anyway. i ended up leaving $10 and never looked back. now i do 20% minimum even for bad service because i know those few bucks can mess up someone's whole night. that overheard comment was like a free education i didn't know i needed.

tara64214d ago

See i get where you're coming from but i don't think a random whisper from staff should be the reason you tip more. that's basically peer pressure from people who don't even know you. you were gonna leave 10% which is fine in a lot of places, especially for average service. now you're doing 20% minimum even when the service is bad and that feels like the opposite of what that moment should teach you. the bartender was being snarky about someone else entirely, you just happened to be in earshot. i leave 15% standard and bump it up for people who actually try. but bad service getting 20% every time just means they never have to improve because they get paid either way.

diana61714d ago

Did the whole "bad service" angle ever cross your mind for you, or did you just decide the system is broken enough that it's not the server's fault?