When is it okay to not leave a tip for a server?

Question

A group of us went to CheeseCake Factory and 2 of us ordered glasses of water. When the waitress came back with the water, and we had a drink, it tasted like chlorine, it was utterly terrible, like it was contaminated with something. We expressed our distaste with the water to our waitress, but she did not comply, she did not bring a manager and she did not do anything to try and correct the injustice. She said that "a lot of other people have been complaining too," and then asked us if we'd like to buy bottled water for 3.95. I firmly believe that people who pay for "bottled water" are utter morons, so of course I refused. When the meal was served, she didn't actually come out, she had other people serve the food to us, we thought that was even more rude. Before we left, we tipped the bus boy, but we left her nothing. Is that okay?

Answer 1

When he or she treats you very badly

and the food is medicure. Then I'd say leave a penny to give them the message !!!#

Answer 2

The cheesecake factory has food runners. This is why your server did not bring out your food. It's not rude. It's the way things are done. How exactly did you expect the server to fix the bad tasting water? Go clean the pipes herself? Even if she would have offered you a soda, you would of still had to pay for it. Nothing is free. Perhaps you should stop drinking the water. There is obviously something in it that affects your intelligence.

Answer 3

No, it's not okay to fail to tip the waitress when the issue was beyond her control. You should have asked to speak to the manager if you felt that the tap water was undrinkable. The manager would have had the power to offer something to make up for the bad water. Her instructions may only have permitted her to offer bottled water in place of the tap water.



It is also a very common practice in many restaurants to have your food delivered by servers other than the waiter who took your order. This was not an indication of rudeness but a means of serving you quickly and efficiently.



By the way, waiters, bus boys and servers all share their tips. The bus boy would have taken your tip and shared it with the waitress anyway.

Answer 4

Well for one thing she has no control over what the water tasted like. Why should she get the manager if you're unhappy with the water? She DID do something to correct the injustice by offering the good bottled water instead. If you didn't want to pay for it that's your fault, not hers. Also, I have been in many restaurants where a different person besides the waiter/waitress brought the food out, that is not uncommon at all. Besides, does it really make a difference who brings your food to the table? Anyways, I don't think it was ok for you to not leave her a tip. It sounds like she at least tried to please you.

Answer 5

Sometimes the water can taste very bad depending on it's source and be totally out of our hands. We once received a notice from the city informing us of a bad taste in the water ( I don't remember why) similar to mildew and it would return to normal in a matter of days. There would be no other option than to offer bottled water. Some servers are unaware, hot water that comes from a hot spicket on a coffee machine is in fact filtered water, you may want to order hot water with cup of ice. Many restaurants have food runners whose only job is to expedite plates of food and drop them off accordingly. This depends on the restaurant and how they operate, not the servers choice. The server actually pays a portion of the tax on every bill, including yours. Take into consideration, the server is tipping out the busser, food runner, hostess and possibly the kitchen. Rule of thumb 10% poor, 15% good, 20% or more excellent! Thank you.

Answer 6

Obviously you didnt like the answers you received from the last time you asked this question. I also noticed you added some details into this one that you didnt add to the other.



YOU should have asked to speak to the manager if you were unhappy. If the waitress sent the manager to every table that was unhappy with such things as the water...the manager wouldnt have time to do THEIR job.



You also made a big ordeal out of something that WASNT her fault. Like I answered before...she didnt filter your water, or set the price for bottled water. If you werent willing to pay the bottle fee...then your choice is the free water, or buy a drink.



In some restaurants they have food runners especially for bringing food to a table. There have also been time that a hostess has brought my food to one of my tables without asking me if it was OK.





So basically you didnt tip a server, because of things outside of her control. Thats what makes you an ***.

Answer 7

Unfortunately waitresses often get blamed for things they have no control over, like the quality of the water. She offered you a substitute. It is not her fault that bottled water cost money. It is quite usual for different people to serve food who are not the ones who took your order. That wasn't rude at all. I think your problem is that you put a negative spin on things that are neutral and you take things personally that are not. You should have tipped the waitress. Waitresses work for tips. So if you do not tip, she does not get paid. If you do not want to tip, eat at home or get take out.

Answer 8

It is NEVER ok not to leave a tip for your sever. Most servers have to tip out the busser(s) and the bartender (if you have a bar bill) and they are taxed for your meal. If you have a $60 bill, you leave $10 (8% horrible tip btw) they get $5 of that $10. Sounds like she tried to fix the problem by offering you another water option it's not her fault the water on tap isn't to your liking, order something else..like a soda or a virgin drink. It is COMMON that another person other than your server will be bringing out your meal. Restaurants want the food out the window they wont wait around for your server to get it if she is off taking orders for another table or off getting you better tasting water, they want to bring you hot fresh food, so often times another server or food walker will bring you your meal and your server should check back to make sure everything was brought correctly. When there are cooking issues....its not your waitress's fault the kitchen effed up-dont "stick it to her" by not tipping her.

If you feel a server was unsatisfactory just leave her 10%...never NOT tip a server.

Answer 9

NO that is totally uncool of you guys. The ONLY time it is okay not to tip is when you are in Japan. The server has no control over the way the water tastes. Did you expect her to go to the business next door to get you better tap water. She did what she could by offering you bottled water. If you didn't want either of those you should have just ordered a drink like a coke or iced tea. Also as a server at Lucille's we do not always, in fact we rarely, take the food out to our own tables. Every server in the restaurant is responsible for taking out food and drinks or biscuits to other servers tables. Your server is also taking care of 2,3, or 4 other tables at the same time she/he is helping your table so she is not always able to personally bring your items to your table. A server is required by law to claim a percentage of her tips based off of her total sales at the end of her shift. If you don't tip her all your doing is making her claim money that she did in fact not earn. Additionally the servers have to tip 1 or 2% out of their tips to the bussers, bartenders, and at my restaurant to the hosts even. So by you not leaving her a tip you just messed up her tipping out the other restaurant employees that helped you out. Unless the server did not do her job like your food came out wrong and she did not correct it or you had to wait 20 minutes for your check to be processed you have no reason not to tip her anything. Even a small percentage of your bill would have been better than nothing. As a server nothing is more rude than getting stiffed on a check.

Answer 10

No, it is NOT okay.



If you ordered a water and didn't like it, what did you expect the manager to do about it? It's water- it's free. If you wanted another drink you should have ordered one, but if you don't want to spend the money, then deal with it. Chances are she told her manager about your complaint and they did nothing (I know my manager won't comp anything if it's an utterly ridiculous complaint, especially on something free). As for the food being delivered by someone else, most restaurants have a person on staff as a food runner, who only delivers food, so to be upset about that is just silly.



It sounds like she did all she could to appease you, but you were impossible to deal with. She only makes $2-4 an hour, so by your rudeness, you cost her money out of her pocket. If she's lucky her busser shared that tip.



Learn some proper etiquette before you step foot in another restaurant.

Answer 11

People that order water in a nice restaurant are just plain cheap period.

I know someone is going report me but that just the way it is. Why would she bring a manager did you expect them to comp your meal? Your water was not contaminated. You did not just tip the bus boy. ALL tip are divided up among the crew weather you give it to the bus boy or anyone else.

Answer 12

I think that a server should always get a tip unless they were just plain rude.



If the person is serving you, they are more than likely making minimum wage. If I choose not to leave a tip, I am at least going to tell the server or a Manager why.

Answer 13

alot of places have whats called food runners..... its not the servers job to stand in the kitchen waiting for your food....she should b in the dining room with u.....did she check on you after the food was served....was the food served as ordered.....she did offer u a replecment to the water,,,,, pay for a drink, it wont kill u. Have a soda. if you cant behaive or afford to go out then stay home and serve yourself......Ill bet u dont drink water with meals at home. Bytheway she probaly had to tip that same busboy you did....... They do what they do at your table to help the waitress....and she pays him in return......shares her tips......stifing her as u did it actually costed her money to wait on u.......ur a bad person

Answer 14

correct the injustice



Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha you are QUITE the drama queen, eh? She didn't filter the water, she doesn't bottle the water, nor does she price the water. You are WRONG for not tipping her.



Btw, she already has to tip out a host, runner AND busboy on a percentage of what she sells. So she had to pay out to wait on you. You are a jerk.

Answer 15

Well i would say that you are some what right yes she should had done something else to please you but... All so it was not her fault because the water taste like that.. Who ever wash the dishes or the water was clean that why it might tasted like that.. But I do not blame you for that it was kinda rude

Answer 16

No it isn't! You eat you pay. She took your order and brung you something to drink.She did her job now be human and pay her for serving you.

Answer 17

the rule of thumb is to leave your server 1 penny...it suppose to mean ''you were lousy''...just be careful because if the food was not to your liking it's not the servers problem

Answer 18

Bad service-Bad attitude-no tip

Answer 19

i believe if the food and service is simply terrible dont leave a tip