Tipping rules vary by country, but in the US, 15-20% is appropriate for good service. Poor service can warrant a smaller tip or none at all, but it’s important to determine if it’s the server’s fault. Large parties may incur a 15% service charge, but poor service may warrant a smaller tip. Some people choose to avoid restaurants with bad service and never return.
Determining the appropriate tip in a restaurant is a difficult matter. Tips rules vary from country to country. In some countries, tipping is an insult, but in the United States, the appropriate tip rate for a waiter or waitress is 15%. Most people tend to feel that 20% is an appropriate tip, especially when the service has been excellent.
Sometimes, however, the service can be so poor, that leaving even 15% seems overly generous. It can help to understand the tax process for those who derive a portion of their income from a tip. Generally, a waiter or waitress is taxed at 8% of their total sales for the year. Therefore, an 8% tip is the appropriate minimum tip.
However, if the waiter or waitress has ruined a meal with exceptionally poor service, such as ignoring one for 20 minutes, failing to bring requested items, being rude, spilling on you, etc., it is considered appropriate to leave a smaller tip . Just as one cannot pay a tab in a restaurant where all food presented has been burnt or inedible, one is not obligated to pay a tip where a server ruins a restaurant experience.
It’s important to decide before reducing a tip, if the poor service is the server’s fault. If the food wasn’t served in a timely manner because the kitchen staff was running late, it’s not fair to blame the server. Instead, consider raising this issue with management and asking for a reduction on the bill.
Also consider the work of the busperson. If one’s plates aren’t cleared, this could be the fault of a poorly trained busboy or busgirl. Also, dishes, cutlery or glasses that come out and are not clean is probably the fault of the dishwasher. These do not justify reducing the tip appropriate to your server, although this may be the result of an inattentive server.
A very busy night in a restaurant and an overworked waitress should benefit from the doubt. Typically you can observe when a server is performing abnormally by serving too many people at the same time. Have a little patience and tip properly 15% for fair service or even so is expected when the fault is not the server’s.
When it can be ascertained that the server’s actions are directly responsible for reducing the enjoyment of a meal, an adequate tip can be reduced as a percentage. One may still want to leave 8%, or with terrible service, the more appropriate tip may be nothing. If necessary, one can also inform the management why a tip has not been given, either at the moment, or via a letter to the restaurant.
A persistent problem is when large parties can incur a 15% service charge. This is a fairly common practice in top restaurants. This is, in essence, the tip and can be magnified when the service is outstanding. However, poor service may warrant a smaller tip. This needs to be discussed with management as this charge will automatically appear on your invoice. Generally after one leaves a restaurant and has paid the 15% tip, it is too late to claim a refund on a tip.
Some people still leave an adequate tip of 8% or more for poor service, but tend to avoid such a restaurant in the future and look for restaurants with better service. This is always an option when restaurant staff have contributed to bad service. By never going to a restaurant again, you make a much more effective statement by failing to tip.
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