Scenario: went to joes crabshack with a party of 9
me and wifes main course were not entered into system and everyone else gets their food.

waitress 'rushes' our order and comes out maybe 15-20 minutes later when everyone else is finished.

there is already a 18% gratuity added to the bill i guess because of the party size.
nothing was comp'd no free desert was offered. should i call and complain


we ordered appetizers at the same time as the dinner so i dont know how she misses our two entrees

What's the question?

See this article from Parade Magazine:

http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/manner-up/2012/04/01-tipping.html

The correct response to poor service is not stiffing your server on the tip, but instead complaining to the manager at the conclusion of the meal.

Too many people seem to shrink at the idea of taking this active step, however, and seem to prefer the more passive-aggressive route.

Grow a set and call the manager over, and specifically list the things your server did (or did not do) that made you unhappy or angry to the manager. If the server is there, you can specifically mention to the server that you are not shorting him on the tip because you know he relies on that money, and that you want him to be a better server (even if this is untrue and you're really just looking to twist the knife). This adds weight and credibility to your complaints and makes you out to look like a reasonable person to the manager, instead of just another whiner.

zero tip
its the waiters responsibility to offer a comp at their mistake

How to Complain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The correct response to poor service is not
> stiffing your server on the tip, but instead
> complaining to the manager at the conclusion of
> the meal.
>
> Too many people seem to shrink at the idea of
> taking this active step, however, and seem to
> prefer the more passive-aggressive route.
>
> Grow a set and call the manager over, and
> specifically list the things your server did (or
> did not do) that made you unhappy or angry to the
> manager. If the server is there, you can
> specifically mention to the server that you are
> not shorting him on the tip because you know he
> relies on that money, and that you want him to be
> a better server (even if this is untrue and you're
> really just looking to twist the knife). This adds
> weight and credibility to your complaints and
> makes you out to look like a reasonable person to
> the manager, instead of just another whiner.


Sorry but it isn't the customer's job to insure the wait staff is adequately paid. It is the restaurant's job. Wait staff gets tips for providing services to customers. Those services include letting customers know early of any problems that might arise, and also fixing those problems. If I have to deal with the restaurant management on a problem, then the waiter hasn't done his job and his tip reflects this. THAT SIMPLE.

> makes you out to look like a reasonable person to
> the manager, instead of just another whiner.

Get stiffed a lot due to your fucking attitude, yes?

Maybe you should get a job you can handle that doesn't involve direct customer contact. Cleaning toilets or something.

I would rather storm a hostage taker than be wait staff. This area is full of arrogant assholes who complain about everything. Then you have a certain group that dont tip at all regardless of service. We all know who that is.

I dont know how they fill the positions.

@how to complain - sorry, but Diner's right.

Tips are for good to excellent service. If one doesnt get that as a customer, then the waitstaff suffers in the pocketbook. That's how it works.

OP's server should have grown a pair and admitted fault, hooked OP up for a mistake like that - two ppl getting food late in a group of 9.....well, sorry but that's not just something like getting Diet instead of regular - that's a pretty big fuckup and free desserts of drinks should've been offered

@high -aint arrogant to want the ppl who are WORKING to actually WORK.

and what's up with the "we all know who that is" bullshit? ........grow a pair and tell us of STFU

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
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> and what's up with the "we all know who that is"
> bullshit? ........grow a pair and tell us of STFU

You know who it is coupon boy so dont play lame game

you made a mistake by not complaining to a manager when you where there. Your not going to be comp'd anything if you keep your mouth shut and just take it.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @high -aint arrogant to want the ppl who are
> WORKING to actually WORK.
>
> and what's up with the "we all know who that is"
> bullshit? ........grow a pair and tell us of STFU

He means jigaboos but is scared to say so because he's scared of jigaboos because he's a pussy.

What Wrote:
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> He means jigaboos but is scared to say so

How do you know that?

...but I play one on FFu.

But seriously- common sense, come on, 9 adults, 9 entrees get ordered in the kitchen/on the computer! Duh!

Being that it was seafood and you have to eat it hot before your butter gets cold, I woud have sent everyone else's meals back and had all of them redone at the same time.

I would STILL tip the server, but make sure everyone got hot food at the same time. I'm sure the other 7 guests wouldn't mind waiting either- wouldn't that be rude of them to start eating without you?

Their food is terrible but rednecks sure love it. In the summer their parking lot looks like a Kenny Powers Jet Ski convention.

Was the server nice about it? It's a shame but mistakes happen sometimes. It's part of life. Even with the mistake, your server most certainly ran their ass off for that 18% that they have to kick a lot of it down to a bunch of other people too.

You COULD ask for the manager and I know it's hard to keep it classy in a place like Joe's Crab Shack but let's face it, it's not fine dining. Best to be a real good guy and let it slide.



abcd Wrote:
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> Scenario: went to joes crabshack with a party of
> 9

Next time you get bad service, I will fuck your wife at no extra charge.

bad service Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> you made a mistake by not complaining to a manager
> when you where there. Your not going to be comp'd
> anything if you keep your mouth shut and just take
> it.


+1000

A tip is a reward for good service. If good service is not delivered, no tip.

While I understand that a tip is part of the pay structure, and thus, servers come to rely on it, that doesn't mean they get if they don't do their job. Just like being a commission based person...if you do a great job, but the deal doesn't close, guess what? No f'in commission.

Just part of the deal, and rules aren't changed if someone can't close a deal, or find deals that will close.

If service is real bad, complain to management, and get a free meal. If it is just a little bad, no tip. If the server doesn't get the message in light of the facts (poor service) that is their stupid fault. Complaining to the management in response to service that is just a little bad may be overkill, and may in fact be more injurious to the server than no tip. Management might then can 'em.

I once broke up with a girlfriend who said you should tip even if service is deplorable, because it will incentivize the server to do better next time. If you don't tip them, her line of reasoning went, they might get discouraged.

I thought that if her brain could conjure up something that stupid, there must be a whole lot more stupid from where that came from.

So your 7 friends ate while you two sat there with no food; get new friends. All of the food should have been returned untile everyone was served.

So I just got back from lunch with the wife and a coworker of hers at Irelands Four Courts... I had the fish and chips (dog awful, BTW) and ordered a coke with my meal. The soda comes out. Very syrupy and no carbonation. I sip on it till the waitress returns and tell her I want an Iced Tea instead. Ice tea is delivered and we complete our meal. Now the check comes and I take a look, she charged me for the Coke AND the Iced Tea. Her $5 tip was reduced to $3 immediately.

I didnt have time to talk to a manager and given that I dont own stock in the restaurant, I dont give a shit if they correct their shortcomings. I dont see them helping me manage my responsibilities.

Its perfectly acceptable to not leave a tip under certain circumstances.

Good service = good tip
Mediocre service = mediocre tip
Bad service = little or no tip

The restaurant is providing a service and you are their customer. Its a business relationship, not a charity.

Aaron Brown was shot and killed for not leaving a tip. The story seems to have been mis-reported by the media.

JBass Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I just got back from lunch with the wife and a
> coworker of hers at Irelands Four Courts... I had
> the fish and chips (dog awful, BTW) and ordered a
> coke with my meal. The soda comes out. Very
> syrupy and no carbonation. I sip on it till the
> waitress returns and tell her I want an Iced Tea
> instead. Ice tea is delivered and we complete our
> meal. Now the check comes and I take a look, she
> charged me for the Coke AND the Iced Tea. Her $5
> tip was reduced to $3 immediately.
>
> I didnt have time to talk to a manager and given
> that I dont own stock in the restaurant, I dont
> give a shit if they correct their shortcomings. I
> dont see them helping me manage my
> responsibilities.


Did you tell the waitress about the problem with the soda? If not, then she simply charged you for what you ordered, and you stiffed her.

high times Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would rather storm a hostage taker than be wait
> staff. This area is full of arrogant assholes who
> complain about everything. Then you have a certain
> group that dont tip at all regardless of service.
> We all know who that is.
>
> I dont know how they fill the positions.

They fill the positions rather easily. It depends on where you're working. My sons both wait tables as a part-time/summer job. One of them just started part time about 2 months ago while finishing up high school. He's worked a couple of double shifts on Saturdays (noon to 11-12ish) and made $150 in tips plus the $25ish in hourly wages. Pretty decent money for part-time, unskilled labor.

WholeStory? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JBass Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So I just got back from lunch with the wife and
> a
> > coworker of hers at Irelands Four Courts... I
> had
> > the fish and chips (dog awful, BTW) and ordered
> a
> > coke with my meal. The soda comes out. Very
> > syrupy and no carbonation. I sip on it till
> the
> > waitress returns and tell her I want an Iced
> Tea
> > instead. Ice tea is delivered and we complete
> our
> > meal. Now the check comes and I take a look,
> she
> > charged me for the Coke AND the Iced Tea. Her
> $5
> > tip was reduced to $3 immediately.
> >
> > I didnt have time to talk to a manager and
> given
> > that I dont own stock in the restaurant, I dont
> > give a shit if they correct their shortcomings.
> I
> > dont see them helping me manage my
> > responsibilities.
>
>
> Did you tell the waitress about the problem with
> the soda? If not, then she simply charged you for
> what you ordered, and you stiffed her.


Well first off, why wouldnt one free refill beverage be interchangeable with another? Thats like saying if I start with lo mien at the Asian buffet, I can only get lo mien when I return for seconds. Doesnt make much sense, does it?

She double charged me. Plain and simple.

"tip was reduced to $3 immediately"

This is how we do it

Always try to leave a CASH tip... servers reading this will understand and appreciate how that goes a long way. Paper bills only, too... leaving coins on the table is low-class unless it's a roll of quarters.

Not a refill if the first one is still sitting on the table barely touched. Lots of places that advertise free refills won't honor that on multiple beverage types.

Limo Driver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Always try to leave a CASH tip... servers reading
> this will understand and appreciate how that goes
> a long way. Paper bills only, too... leaving
> coins on the table is low-class unless it's a roll
> of quarters.


Change add up. There have been leaps and bounds made trying to get servers to pay their taxes. Why would I intentionally try to help someone else cheat on their taxes?

Unacceptable reasons for non-tipping include prolonged wait time(usually not server's fault), mistakes made in the kitchen which may not be the fault of the waitstaff, or because you are unhappy with the dish you selected.
Assuming servers fulfill their role otherwise, tipping is common courtesy; waitstaff pay is largely tip-dependant so restaurants don't have to inflate their prices just to stay in business. In the UK the restaurant industry pays employees generously by hour and consequently, an average UK meal price is unreasonable by comparison(even in seedy places).

However it is perfectly understandable to withhold tip under given circumstances. Blatantly rude service, unattentive staff(gossiping with co-workers while patrons need assistance), or refusal to help accomodate the customer within reason are generally valid motives for tip omission.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @how to complain - sorry, but Diner's right.
>
> Tips are for good to excellent service. If one
> doesnt get that as a customer, then the waitstaff
> suffers in the pocketbook. That's how it works.
>
> OP's server should have grown a pair and admitted
> fault, hooked OP up for a mistake like that - two
> ppl getting food late in a group of 9.....well,
> sorry but that's not just something like getting
> Diet instead of regular - that's a pretty big
> fuckup and free desserts of drinks should've been
> offered
>
> @high -aint arrogant to want the ppl who are
> WORKING to actually WORK.
>
> and what's up with the "we all know who that is"
> bullshit? ........grow a pair and tell us of STFU

Gordon I bet you are one of those guys who instead of a tip leave a card with something about have you heard about Jesus the real tip in life.

Limo Driver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Always try to leave a CASH tip... servers reading
> this will understand and appreciate how that goes
> a long way. Paper bills only, too... leaving
> coins on the table is low-class unless it's a roll
> of quarters.

I leave bills and coins, and no one has complained. If 20% of the bill is $3.75 that's what they will get. Or maybe I should take your advice and only leave $3---because I'm not leaving more than 20% unless service was exceptional.

Limo Driver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Always try to leave a CASH tip... servers reading
> this will understand and appreciate how that goes
> a long way. Paper bills only, too... leaving
> coins on the table is low-class unless it's a roll
> of quarters.

I'm with hoocoodanode on this one. While I'm sure servers would prefer to have paper if it meant they were getting more, I suspect they will be happy to get change if the alternative is getting less. It isn't just when tip computations result in something other than a round number. If I am paying cash and get change back on the bill I will quite often add that change to the tip.



Captain-0bvious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Unacceptable reasons for non-tipping include
> prolonged wait time(usually not server's fault),
> mistakes made in the kitchen which may not be the
> fault of the waitstaff, or because you are unhappy
> with the dish you selected.

I don't know why you are so quick to absolve servers from responsibility for the poor performance of their estabishments. Would you also say a server isn't entitled to a larger tip if the kitchen did an unusually superb job?

And say it wasn't the server's fault that the dining experience sucked; What did the server do that made what could have been an awful dining experience a little better?

If the kitchen staff is at fault, there are 2 things the server can do...1) let the diners at their table know there is a problem, and they are doing the best they can, and 2) if it is a problem that happens often enough, the server should find a new place to work, and let management know that they are leaving because lousy kitchen performance is eating into their tips.

Alternatively, the server can go into the kitchen, and tell the kitchen staff to do a better f***ing job, because their lousy perfomance is eating into my tip money.

In no shape form or fashion should a diner pay, in the form of a tip, for lousy service. Ever. It is also dangerous to complain before the meal comes out...you might get yourself a nice loogy burger. Unfortunately, the best time to complain is after the food has come out, so you don't get a snot pile on your food.

If service is "good", which it should be, then the server should get a tip. If the kitchen staff is like, hey wait a minute, the server is getting a tip only because I am back here kicking ass, then they should "aspire" to become a server, or let management know they are in the kitchen kicking ass, therefore, I want more money, else I's leavin'.

That is the answer.

The obvious thing in thie thread is how many of you have never worked in the restaurant buisness before and have no idea what you are talking about.

Why tip? That's more money back into my pocket.

Cheff Jeff Wrote:
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> The obvious thing in thie thread is how many of
> you have never worked in the restaurant buisness
> before and have no idea what you are talking
> about.


Oh, so you are saying we should listen to the restaurant staff about how much to tip? You have me convinced. Could you please convince my boss I should decide the amount of my next raise?

@Cheff - yep, yr right. Which is something every server SHOULD think about IF they want big tips.
@thewayitis - you got some good answers there :)
@Bill - As long as the server was apoligetic for long wait time, and as long as I see the place is busy and it's not just me waiting around, I'm not gonna stiff the server for something that's not their fault. Same with bad food that I actually eat. If I'm not sending it back, then I'm not gonna stiff the server. I may not ever go back there again, but to not tip when you know the server aint made the food - well that's a little overboard too, I think.
@hoocoo - I seriously find it difficult to think that ppl making less than minimum wage really find coin tips to be bad taste LoLz
@know em - LoL whut?


pic unrelated
Attachments:

Instead of giving them no tip I give them a tip that reflects their level of service. I once gave a waitress a quarter after she messed up our entire order when I was out with work friends, she not only messed up our order but insulted my friend when he asked her when the food would come after a hour long wait and another hour and a half of just sitting there. She kept serving other people who got their tables after us, she gave some of our things to a group of girl scouts. She kept going back to the girl scouts and eventually came back to us and had the audacity to ask us what our order was.


So basically the point of the matter is not giving a tip is not going to teach them but giving them an offensive tip will teach them a lesson, if they do a good job than I don't hesitate giving them a tip over twenty percent

A restaurant is not a charity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Its perfectly acceptable to not leave a tip under
> certain circumstances.
>
> Good service = good tip
> Mediocre service = mediocre tip
> Bad service = little or no tip
>
> The restaurant is providing a service and you are
> their customer. Its a business relationship, not
> a charity.

+1 Tips are based on quality of service or amount of cleavage.

A restaurant struggling during a rush or finding themselves understaffed doesn't signify incompetence. If you're one of the assholes arriving at 6:00 for dinner demanding immediate gratification, reasonably delayed service doesn't excuse arrogant entitlement.

What defines outstanding work on part of the kitchen? Following the recipe correctly in a timely fashion? Cooks are paid comparatively substantial flat rates to do so, regardless of whether the patrons dine in or carry out.

Suppose you dine in. The server is polite and attentive yet your party's orders arrived slightly later than desired due to the current volume of patrons, or perhaps the choice of dish was less than ideal for your palate. Customers that consider such circumstances grounds to withholding tip have already received more resources than deserved.

Carry-out is the solution if minimal inconveniences are so intolerable that you dismiss employees as complementary meal-runners. Unless the service is sub-par on the behalf of waitstaff, prepare to tip.

Captain-0bvious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Unacceptable reasons for non-tipping include
> prolonged wait time(usually not server's fault),
> mistakes made in the kitchen which may not be the
> fault of the waitstaff, or because you are unhappy
> with the dish you selected.
> Assuming servers fulfill their role otherwise,
> tipping is common courtesy; waitstaff pay is
> largely tip-dependant so restaurants don't have to
> inflate their prices just to stay in business. In
> the UK the restaurant industry pays employees
> generously by hour and consequently, an average UK
> meal price is unreasonable by comparison(even in
> seedy places).
>
> However it is perfectly understandable to withhold
> tip under given circumstances. Blatantly rude
> service, unattentive staff(gossiping with
> co-workers while patrons need assistance), or
> refusal to help accomodate the customer within
> reason are generally valid motives for tip
> omission.


I agree. Penalize the server IF the problem arose from the server's performance or lack of performance. However, if there are problems in the kitchen, I appreciate it when the server lets me know or keeps me informed. ("Sorry, they're really backed up now. As soon as they do yours, I'll bring it right out.")

I'm less prone now to complain to management than I was years ago. Back then, I figured they'd want to know about an unhappy customer and what the problem was . . . presumably so they could fix it. But usually the response was the same you get today when you call up some service line and are met with a robotic: "I'm sorry for your experience. Is there anything else we can do for you today?"

On top of that, I figure: You want to hire a consultant? Go out and pay someone a hundred dollars an hours. Why should I attempt to provide input? ("If your kitchen runs out of 'x,' then your servers should be told so that they're still not out there recommending 'x.'")