I would have done exactly what you did. Nothign irks me more than having to wait around for ever and a day to get the bill.

I can see giving us the wrong bill, that's no big deal, just swap it with the right one and no harm done. but when it takes forever and "your" bill is still wrong, then that definitly earns a tip reduction and I don;t feel the least bit guilty.

Elizabeth, I think that the fifteen percent was more than adequate.
The whole scenario about receiving the wrong check could have been very difficult to resolve had you paid without noticing the error. I could tell you the story of the waitress who charged the wrong bill to our credit card but delivered the correct receipt to each table. Our party of two was billed for charges of the party of 8 at the next table, It took a month to straighten out that mess. All of that is to say that a large part of the servers job is providing the check in a timely manner; making sure that the check is correct in the first place; returning to get the credit card and bringing back the receipt without delay.

So, stop feeling badly. While the initial fulfillment of the waiter responsibility was without problem, the backend was not.

Was it brewers art?

The immediate reaction is that the server screwed up and should be tipped less. However, most people do not consider these things: Was she the only server there on a busy night? Was she completely weeded because the hostess sat her with 4 tables at once? Were other tables running her to death?

If that happened to me, and I found her standing around talking while I'm waiting for my check, then yes, that's poor service and less tip. But, if it was any of the above, those are management issues and not her fault. In those cases I would have tipped 20%, probably more cause I'd feel bad for her.

A few cases where I have tipped under 10-15%:

Server knowingly brought 3 dishes to the table that were wrong. We had specifically asked for omissions/ substitutions, and they came out wrong. Yes, the kitchen messed up, but she should have caught it before it got to the table.

When asked what beers are on draught, server cannot answer. Also, she makes no attempt to find out. We have to ask her to go ask someone else. Poor training, yes, but she could have made an effort. I've never had a table get mad at me for saying, "I'm new and really not sure, let me go check".

EL, you were right on the button!. Sure, the food and service during the meal were good, but for the server to fall off the radar at the end of the meal, and to bring an incorrect check when she finally does appear. are totally wrong! Someone else said it on another post...a server loses points for making serious mistakes. I don't mean merely forgetting to bring lemon with my iced tea, but serious goofs like bringing my salad with my entree or forgetting my soup.

My worst experience regarding tipping: I was at a bar in New York with my wife and brother. We each had three drinks, and being beer snobs and this New York, we were looking at a $42-$45 bill. It came for $51. The bar was loud, and I didn't feel like explaining to the bartender that my tab was wrong, especially since once I added the tip it would have been almost identical cost. Instead, I just didn't leave a tip. Well, the bar ran my card for a tip anyway ($6). Needless to say, I won't be returning to that establishment again.

If it's white sangria then is it still sangria? I mean sangria is named after it's color, no?

Bringing the check is still part of the service. Her bad. You were right.
I usually tip 20% unless the service is pretty bad. I waitressed (?) about 40 years ago: wow, scary thought, so I remember what it is like.
I don't like the automatic 15% tip being added to the bill, because it seems that usually the service reflects that the server knows they will be getting a tip regardless.
On the other hand, even if the tip is automatically included, if the service is good we will leave a couple of dollars more on the table.

I disagree with Carey on things that the diner should consider: "Was she the only server there on a busy night? Was she completely weeded because the hostess sat her with 4 tables at once? Were other tables running her to death?"
I waitressed all through college and a bit later in life.
But I don't think that as a guest/diner it is my job to try to figure out why my server is less than attentive. I tip very well, because I know it's not an easy job. But I have also left without leaving a penny (and explained why to the manager) when service was beyond poor (meaning: waiting for food over an hour and a half, a waitress that obviously started avoiding our table after 45 min, food in the end brought out by busboy and a d-bag manager who's apology was that they were busy (3 tables in a 20 table restaurant?) and that we had a 'special' order (add mushrooms to omelet) (and yes, all on one occasion). Needless to say I have never been back.
I go out to eat for a good time and good food. Not to consider restaurant staffing and politics.

Patience is not my middle name. Perhaps your waitress will learn how to use the (do they still call them cashregisters?) if she thinks her own, personal, money might be involved.

When I am out with women friends and we've been adequately served, I always tip more, since I know we've been talking, talking, talking. It's what my ex-husband called "buying the table".

However, if the waitperson attempts to enter into the conversation, I start deducting. One evening at TGI Friday's in White Marsh (do NOT start with the chain snobbery!), the waitress actually jumped into the conversation and was cutting me down to show off - in that high school way - for the man I was with. "That Man" happened to be the aforementioned ex-husband, so I didn't feel badly threatening physical pain if he tipped more than bare bones.

I think you were correct. The place was not crowded, so that's no excuse. The final minutes of a restaurant or bar visit provide the memory one leaves with. This sort of unprofessional behavior is too frequent.

Like other folks, I generally fall between 10-20%, based on any negative or positive aspects of the meal and/or server. I was a waiter for 10 years, and some things are definitely just a pain:

Negatives: Never returning to the table, never filling up water glasses when it is obvious they are empty, delivering incorrect meals, harassing the table with too many questions, having a crappy attitude, saying nothing when it is obvious that the food is taking forever (I know it USUALLY is not the servers fault, but I would like some sort of idea), Not knowing anything about the food or its availability, not knowing or not wanting to get any information about the beer list (saying "oh we have everything" is automatically a deduction)

Wow, am I disappointed. From the post title, I thought the subject of this post with cow tipping, which always requires one give 100%. Too bad. I had a hilarious comment cooked up -- based on true stories of real-life bovine antics.
I find that tipping servers (with money, not tipping them over, though the thought has on occasion crossed my mind) gives me dangerous sense of power and judgement. Conversely, the question of tipping amounts consistently fills even nominally intelligent waitstaffers with delusionally inflated self worth.
That's all for the best, because no matter what I tip, I'm always satisfied that it's more than my server actually deserved and my server always feels slighted in some way. It's a balance of nature kind of thing, right?

I would have given NO tip in that situation. No excuse for mistake after mistake on something as simple as getting a check and getting a correct check.

I think part of the problem is that Americans don't consider service jobs as a profession. It is somehow considered "demeaning" to wait on someone else in this (supposed) egalitarian society. Waiting tables is something to do while you are in school or when your "real" profession is just getting started. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but you don't see the same commitment to the profession (yes, it is a profession) by, say, an actor (who might wait tables while awaiting a big role) or aspiring movie star. The attitude I notice both in Europe and in many of the finer restaurants here is that the staff do consider restaurant work a profession, tend to stay with it longer, and try to improve as they continue. Not everyone gets to the point of being able to take a whole table's orders without making notes (and deliver everything correctly), but they try. Here, its often just a temporary job.

My favorite tipping story was at a state park in Kentucky. I apparently confused the waitress beyond all hope when I asked for all white meat in my chicken dinner. She proceeded to never come back to my table. She would stare at us from time to time, but she would never come back. I went up to the guy I thought was the manager and I asked him if he was indeed the manager. He replied it depends. It depends? What, was he the manager for compliments and I needed to speak to the manager for complaints?

Anyway, I didn't tip that night.

Donna B
"I can see giving us the wrong bill, that's no big deal, just swap it with the right one and no harm done."

I am sorry, but I 100% disagree with you. If the server is so stupid not to LOOK at your money, WHY shouldn't the tip be reduced? If they don't care about your money, WHY should you care about THEIRS? What goes around, comes around. It IS a "BIG DEAL", because the server wasn't OBSERVANT and didn't care. I don't know if I'd completely stiff the server if they fixed the situation right away, but if they didn't, I would.

"The attitude I notice both in Europe and in many of the finer restaurants here is that the staff do consider restaurant work a profession,"

While I see your point about good restaurants in the states, you've got to be kidding about europe riight? I really must be going to the wrong restaurants because my experience has been that people not working for tiips (iin London 10-15% is norm, but often automatic, much of the contiinent nothing much iis expected) give horrible service. I've generally encountered the same types of people waiiting tables as in the us (college kids etc), and without the motivation for tips, service means absolutely nothing

We have generally had excellent service all over Europe. but England might be an exception.

I like to think that the dining experience sets the tip's peak, and once the food is done the tip meter starts running, slowly whittling away at the percentage...

Just out of curiosity...I have always after a pleasant meal and service, made a valiant attempt at acknowledging our server with some type of personal thanks, handshake,
eye contact etc.in addition to a 20%+ tip.
Anyone else do this???

Springs 1--

Sorry, but I when it comes to getting the wrong check I can ONLY speak of PERSONAL EXPRIENCES.

In my untold decades of dining out, I can honestly say I've received the wrong check a grand total of THREE TIMES that I can remeber.

Each of the 3 times time it happened, it was an HONEST MISTAKE and was the he only slip up made by the each of the servers. Also, each time it happened the situation was corrected right away.

The most recent was about a year or so ago at Patrick's in Cockeysville. Our waitress was wonderful, and the overall service of the entire staff was top notch. In fact the owner of the restaurant casually came by most of the tables throughout the night to introduce herself and check how her guests were doing, which I thought was a classy touch.

The waitress made an honest mistake, and it took about 15 seconds to correct. Everything else about the meal and the service was top notch, and NO it was NOT A BIG DEAL to me or my dining companions.

I'm certainly NOT going to judge that waitress in a negative light over an honest mistake that was corrected almost immediately, and I would NEVER in a milion years be so shallow to call her STUPID like you just did.

Donny B
"The waitress made an honest mistake, and it took about 15 seconds to correct. Everything else about the meal and the service was top notch, and NO it was NOT A BIG DEAL to me or my dining companions. I'm certainly NOT going to judge that waitress in a negative light over an honest mistake that was corrected almost immediately, and I would NEVER in a milion years be so shallow to call her STUPID like you just did."

It's not being "SHALLOW", it's like "DUH" that you actually take a GOOD LOOK at the bill for ALL the prices and the items to make sure you charge the party correctly. Not even to GLANCE at the bill shows that server doesn't CARE AT ALL about THE CUSTOMER'S MONEY.

The server is STUPID to not even LOOK at the bill, because we have been undercharged by accident(most of the time it's on purpose to get a higher tip with not charging for soft drinks) different items like desserts, mixed bar drinks, and an entree even.

So what I am saying is ANY server is STUPID NOT to CARE about THEIR OWN MONEY as well as their CUSTOMER'S MONEY, because it works both ways where the server gets to pay for something that was not rung up.

It's "STUPID" of a server not to make 100% SURE that they are HANDING the CORRECT things to the customer. It's not about the "15 seconds", it's all about the being UNCARING and TOO LAZY not to VERIFY if the correct CHECK is being given. Once, a waitress caught herself almost handing my husband's credit card that was rung up back to another customer by us. That's MAJOR and it shows complete lack of CARING about the customer's money as if THEIR MONEY MEANS NOTHING, ONLY THE SERVER'S MEANS SOMETHING.

SO WHAT if the service is "TOP NOTCH", but they hand you the wrong bill. If it's more than your bill, you were overcharged and that's major, because that shows the server is so SELF-CENTERED they don't think about ANYONE ELSE'S MONEY, BUT THEIR OWN!! A SMART server actually VERIFIES ALL things on the check, ALL!! They don't just hand you the check.

Some of the items we have gotten free more than likely by accident were:

Presidente Margarita at a Chili's for $6.79(that particular time I was charged for cheese on something that had cheese already 39 cents, so it was like I paid 39 cents for the margarita)
2 desserts at 2 different restaurants around $5
A mixed drink at Wow Wingery that was probably around $6
An Entree that was around $8.29 at Chili's
Cheese that was $0.39 when ordered cheese on a burger at Chili's

There were PLENTY of times we have had soft drinks not rung up, but that's mostly all the time on purpose to get a higher tip almost ALL restaurants have some servers do this.

Anyway, my point is, it's to the SERVER'S ADVANTAGE as well to verify the check. To simply just HAND something to someone is just like being a fast food cashier. Servers EARN tips, so they should be MUCH MORE ***RESPONSIBLE*** with WHAT they HAND the customer.

I think it's INSANE and STUPID of ANY SERVER to just HAND a customer the check without verifying if it's the correct table's check.

"I'm certainly NOT going to judge that waitress in a negative light over an honest mistake"

HOW can you call that an "HONEST MISTAKE" when the server NEVER ONCE EVEN GLANCED at the bill to make sure it was YOUR BILL? A "MISTAKE" is when a server TRYS instead of just hand a customer something without knowing what the heck it is. It's STUPID not to look at what you are handing someone. How can you want to give a good tip to a server that doesn't CARE AT ALL about your money enough to not even VERIFY the check for overcharges to just hand you a check she or he DOESN'T even KNOW IT'S YOUR CHECK? Your money should be "JUST AS IMPORTANT" as THEIR MONEY. It's not about the time, it's all about the not being caring about YOUR MONEY that would bother me. A CARING human being actually takes a LOOK at what they hand you and shouldn't be that much in a rush, because this is NOT a DRIVE-THRU at a McDonald's that they can't take literally 5 seconds to even verify if the check is the correct check or not. HOW STUPID can someone be not to take a LOOK at what they are doing when they are earning TIPS from customers? I totally understand the fast food cashiers, because they are getting paid NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY MESS UP, but in a non-fast food restaurant, the pace of getting your check doesn't have to take 2 seconds. I'd MUCH RATHER mmy server take 5 seconds to at least make sure they were handing me the correct check than to rush like that. That's just for the STUPIDS and the fast food cashiers that don't care about your money. Non-fast food restaurant servers SHOULD CARE enough about YOUR MONEY if they WANT YOUR MONEY. What kind of person wants your money, but doesn't even take 5 SECONDS to make sure they are handing you the correct thing? That's just stupid.

What's Wow Wingery? EL

Springs1 -- you seem to have a lot of tolerance for poor service at Chili's, seeing how you keep going back even after repeated problems there. If I had had the same problem twice at Chili's, I doubt I'd ever return.

EL -- WOW Cafe and Wingery is a Southern Louisiana-style chain -- website here.

Thanks! EL

"Springs1 -- you seem to have a lot of tolerance for poor service at Chili's, seeing how you keep going back even after repeated problems there. If I had had the same problem twice at Chili's, I doubt I'd ever return."

You just don't get that ALL restaurants have their bad servers, ALL. We have stopped going to Bennigan's, because we 99.9% of the times, have had problems. At Chili's, we usually don't.

If we stopped going because of only 2 bad times, we'd stop going to ALL restaurants, because there's always going to be lazy and uncaring servers out there at ALL the restaurants.

We have had many of times where we had bad times, but if the food and drinks are good, we give them lots of chances. Bennigan's, even if the food was worth it, which I don't feel it is, the service is horrible.

There are MANY restaurants where we have had service issues. I would miss the good food and drinks if I were to choose to always not go back because of having bad service at times. ONLY if it's continuously bad service would I stop going. Getting take-out is not the same. I like the times we do have good service, but if it's awful everytime, then I would probably stop going.

Springs1 certainly has a LOUD voice ...

Anyone seen the Seinfeld episode where Elaine breaks up with a guy because he didn't use EXCLAMATION pointson a phine message!! And Elaine became excessive with her EXCLAMATION POINTS! points!

Dahlink,
I thought that too. Perhaps a switch to decaf is in order?

Spring1-

I understand how frustrating it is when other people seem not to care about your money, but I admit I have a hard time understanding the level of anger you seem to have relative to the situation.

I'm also wondering what happens in the situation where you might be undercharged at a dining establishment. Do you bring the error to their attention so that you don't commit theft upon the restaurant?

I can assure you that I'm not trying to provoke you into being more angry here. I really do have a genuine desire to know since you have such strong feelings about restaurants stealing from you through overcharging.

Kiki
"but I admit I have a hard time understanding the level of anger you seem to have relative to the situation."

It's simple, just look at the list:

Here’s the list of overcharges over the years:
List of overcharges since 2001
$0.04-Cucos Rita $4.95 menu price, charged $4.99-Waitress at Cuco’s Mexican Restaurant.
$0.04-Cucos Rita $4.95 menu price, charged $4.99-Waiter at Cuco’s Mexican Restaurant.
$0.50-Chili’s Ribs that had on an old menu that was given to me when I ordered which had $13.99 and we were charged $14.49 from the waitress we had. My husband received the newer menu.
$0.30-Ribs at Outback-$17.29 was charged, but on the menu had $16.99from the waitress we had.
$0.30- Fox and Hound had $6.99 on their menu for a sandwich my husband ordered and we were charged $7.29 from the waitress we had.
$1.50-Wrong price from menu at Copeland’s. The menu had $21.99 for the main item and if you wanted to add crawfish, it was $4.99(was supposed to be $26.98), was charged($28.48)
$1.38 – Wrong price from menu for soft drinks($1.99 was charged, but the menu stated $1.30 for each soft drink at a Mexican restaurant called Mi Mamacitas.
$0.75 - Charged for extra cheese when I ordered extra onions, not extra cheese-Corky’s Bbq
$0.50-$0.25 on a margarita listed as a price on the menu that the server charged me for the wrong margarita due to I ordered a margarita that was on their menu that had blue curacao, but they were out, so I ordered one of their regular margarita’s on their menu, which I was charged for the one with blue curacao which was 25 cents more. 25 cents I more I was overcharged for extra bbq sauce, even though we had gone there MANY, MANY times at O’Henry’s Food & Sprits, I was NEVER charged extra before for bbq sauce, which they took off both 25 cent issues off the check.
$1.51 – House Salad charged without an entrée, but I ordered an entrée at a restaurant that is no longer in business which was called Maxim.
$11.00-Waiter rung up wrong table on my credit card at Applebee’s
$21.50-Waiter at Chili’s rung up wrong table on my husband’s credit card
$4.50-Estimating the wrong amount rung up on my credit card which was $23 and something cents and I was rung up $27 and something cents, which is $4 and something cents overcharge at Bennigan’s.
$3.00-Grand Mariner shot I NEVER ordered that was for the table behind us at Outback.
$15.00- Estimating 3 free wines that were supposed to be taken off with a purchase of an entrée for each person at the table at Zea Rotisserie & Grill Restaurant.
$0.31-Waiter not giving back my FULL AMOUNT of change from $34.69. He only gave a $5 bill back, but NO COIN CHANGE at local seafood and Italian restaurant called Tecoro’s.
$4.91- This is adding up an over and an undercharge at Chili’s from the waiter we had. Was actually charged $6.50 for a drink I NEVER ordered, but wasn’t charged for a $1.99 coke. I figured out tax and that is the price with tax I was overcharged.
$1.50-Bennigan’s waitress took my $20 off comp paper for a previous bad service experience and gave it to the manager to fix, but still handed us the bill with $18 and about fifty cents off instead of $20 off the bill as she could SEE it should have been.
$5.25- Charged for a drink I NEVER ordered at Chili’s from the waiter we had.
$4.00-Charged an extra $4 for Bacardi just because I ordered a pina colada with Bacardi rum, which I was charged altogether $8 for a pina colada that I was charged for lots of times in the past at that restaurant only $4. The waitress admitted it was a mistake.
$7.00- At Chevy’s Fresh Mex, the waitress actual charged us $9.95 for both my husband and I’s margaritas which one was $5.95, the other was $6.95.
$4.75-I, the week before, had gotten a margarita made with Jose Cuervo at this seafood and Italian restaurant called Tecoro’s for $4.50. A week later, a waitress charged me $9.25 for the same exact margarita, same exact size glass. They fixed it, so I was correct. The next times I went in there, still only charged $4.50.
$0.25-Waitress not only got my drink order wrong, but also charged me for the wrong drink which was a 25 cent difference in the drinks at Serrano’s Salsa Company.
$2.00- Burger that was $6.99, but charged me for a burger that was $8.99
0.50-Bacardi Never Ordered for a Pina Colada
$92.29 TOTAL
It is also not counting when my mom in 1996 or 1997 was charged for eggs she didn’t order at a restaurant called Russel’s Grill when I had gone to college back then. Things like getting the wrong check at Corky’s BBQ in 2001 could have possibly been an undercharge, which I have no idea what the check total was that we had received back then. Another thing was getting a wrong check at a restaurant called Lager’s. Another thing was getting charged for something, when my husband had ordered something else at a Mexican restaurant. That’s 4 more times who KNOWS what amount were overcharged in those situations. These I listed are the situations I can remember, which possibly there might be more, I don’t remember right now. We were billed for a beer, but my husband ordered another drink, not a beer, so it was more expensive at a Mexican restaurant years ago.
This also NOT includes 3 TIMES THIS YEAR ALONE(2 TIMES THE SAME DRINK, because of LAZY BARTENDERS THAT DON’T WANT TO VERIFY THE CHECK WITH THE DRINK MENU) $1.00 overcharge on certain martinis at Copeland’s even though we were not charged for soft drinks at the bar. I don’t care that they DON’T charge us for the soft drinks, that’s STILL OUR DOLLARS EACH TIME we ordered those drinks. It also doesn’t include Saturday a few weeks ago at Lager’s $0.27 overcharge due to $1.98 coke on the menu, but was undercharged $2.98. It also doesn’t include 0.08 overcharge for 2 soft drinks, which we were undercharged a long island iced tea. It doesn’t include extra cheese $0.49 when we were undercharged for a soft drink. Those soft drinks are undercharged on PURPOSE to get a HIGHER TIP BY THE WAY. These things happened THIS YEAR BTW. We also weren’t charged a salad without an entrée due to me ordering an appetizer and my husband getting a salad with an entrée, so we couldn’t use his entrée as add a salad to an entrée price, but we were charged for kettle one vodka, but was charged for that even though he said “They were out, so is absolute ok” which I said yes, because he came with it already made, but I would have preferred grey goose instead as a choice instead of him deciding for me what was ok as a second choice, but the point is, he billed us as if we got the HIGHER grade vodka, but didn’t charge us for the salad without the entrée, so instead of getting it fixed, we decide to just pay the bill, but we were OVERCHARGED on the drink itself, just not the salad. Absolute white Russians at Chili’s have been billed at that time $5 and something cents, but when I ordered it with grey goose or kettle one vodka, it was $7.25. So, since we didn’t want to wait to get things fixed, we just paid as it was. Thinking back on it, I wish we would have gotten it fixed, because we didn’t actually RECEIVE kettle one, because they were out, but I figured it evened out by charging the” add a salad to an entrée” even though I had ordered an appetizer as my meal. This was last year this happened. See, not all the time do we want the HASSLE of them FIXING the check if one thing is wrong, but another thing isn’t wrong.

I just simply TIRED of being the person that proofreads the check for errors, because I am not getting PAID to do that and WHO wants to have longer waits to get their check fixed? Most people wouldn't want to wait to get their 30 cents back, because it's too much hassle and trouble as well as they may not have the TIME if they need to be somewhere. NOW can you fully understand my frustration that when I go out to eat it becomes a nightmare when overcharges happen that you have to deal with the lazy and uncaring server that didn't care about YOUR MONEY, but assumes you should tip them at the very least 15% no matter how little effort they put into their job. I am tired of the attitude that it's not their job and they end up making it the CUSTOMER'S job when WE AREN'T the people getting PAID HERE. On top of that, most of the overcharges we didn't receive ONE free item when the server SHOULD PAY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET for a least a soft drink or $2 off the bill if they want a good tip. They should have the decency not to inconvenience the customer in the first place, but if they do, they SHOULD ask their manager to be able to comp something.

"I'm also wondering what happens in the situation where you might be undercharged at a dining establishment. Do you bring the error to their attention so that you don't commit theft upon the restaurant?"

You don't seem to fully understand, that the SERVER(the person RINGING YOU UP) is the THIEF! Think about it, they are UNDERRINGING or WRONG RINGING UP the items, so the loss is on THEM ONLY, NOT on the customer to notice or say ANYTHING. If I wanted to not say anything about an overcharge, that's my decision as well. The customer shouldn't be PUNISHED through their time and hassles for the server UNDERRINGING ITEMS. You just cannot imagine a lot of the times we NEVER get billed for soft drinks INTENTIONALLY. I had one waitress tell us she didn't charge us for the soft drinks, just because we ordered alcohol. The servers that want a higher tip by underringing items are the ones STEALING from the restaurant. The customer pays the bill presented. If it's in the customer's favor, if the service was good, I will give more tip. If the service was horrible, I deserve at least something comped. One time I remember my dr. pepper was forgotten about by my waitress that didn't even get the dr. pepper right away when she was reminded very nicely and didn't apologize. The Dr. Pepper wasn't on the bill, but waiting 15-20 minutes to get ONE Dr. Pepper is NOT tip worthy and INSANE which is what I waited. It's NOT on the CUSTOMER to tell the server "Oh you forgot such-n-such or you rung this up wrong" whether it would be an overcharge or an undercharge. It's up to the SERVER to CHARGE the customer correctly. It's NOT OUR JOB to make sure we are charged correctly, that's on the SERVER.

The SERVER is the person STEALING from the restaurant by UNDERRINGING ITEMS.

http://www.dizzy.ws/99%20ways%20to%20steal%20in%20a%20restaurant.txt

"27. Undercharge for drinks in anticipation of receiving a larger tip."

This may be a bartending site, but guess what, it pertains to SERVERS as well. If they undercharge you for a drink or food you didn't order, it's 100% on THEM.

Also, when I worked at a donut shop/diner for over 2 yrs off and on between 1998-2002, when my register was short over $2 or $3(can't remember which amount), they took it out of OUR CHECK. The customer was NOT RESPONSIBLE. One time I paid $24 and something cents out of MY CHECK. The customer that may have been given too much change kept the change unless it was an employee that stole it. Another time I had $80 out of my check.

My point is, the SERVER is 100% responsible for the money in the restaurant's register, NOT the CUSTOMER. If I had to pay out of my own pay check for mistakes, so DO THEY more than likely. At least they gave us a few dollars to make some mistakes, but honestly they shouldn't have. The business is there to make money, so if it's short, the person tending the register SHOULD pay for it out of their own pocket.

So when you said that I commited theft, think again, because that's the SERVER commiting theft by not VERIFYING the check for errors, NOT for the customer to tell their server about it. Also, when decent service happens, they get paid SOME money, so may end up getting all of the money in the tip to pay for the overcharge.

One former co-worker told me if she had an undercharge, she'd just leave it in the tip, because it just wasn't worth HER TIME(I DON'T BLAME HER) to get it fixed. It's a hassle and ANY SERVER would pick a bigger tip over a bad tip for making a customer be inconvenienced. If I were to have shown the undercharges, I would have tipped in the 0-8% range at the most for inconveniencing me and my time.

A former co-worker I had once told me his wife and him had an entree not on the bill that she had ordered. He asked the waitress "Would you rather get a better tip or fix this?" Guess what HER answer was? The bigger tip answer. She could ring it up AFTER he was gone not to inconvenience the customers. Honestly, he shouldn't have had to be inconvenienced to have to bring up that something wasn't on the bill, because people don't go out to eat to point out the server's errors whether good or bad. It's up to the SERVER to notice something is wrong with the check unless they don't hand the check to the customer, which is very rare that happens, but CAN and HAS happened to us before.

The waitress most probably didn't bother to ring up the entree and if she didn't SHE committed theft on the RESTAURANT for deciding not to ring it up. She would have underrang an item. I doubt it seriously she rung it up, because some entrees are MORE than the tip amount. If my husband and I get $16.99 ribs the both of us, but only one entree is on the check, even with a couple of cokes on the check, the tip on the original amount would be not even $10. That wouldn't even pay for the entree.

BTW, we do tip on the amount BEFORE the discount ONLY if the service is good. If the service sucks, that's their problem if they have to pay for it out of their own pocket or if it gets overlooked to where it never gets rung up, that situation is 100% between the restaurant owner or manager and the server, NOT the customer.

If we would have told those situations I had listed on one of the other post that we didn't get charged for those and the hundreds LITERALLY of times we don't get charged for the soft drinks, we'd be inconvenienced ALMOST EVERY TIME we'd eat out. I don't go out to eat to be inconvenienced by my LAZY and IRRESPONSIBLE server.

For instance, at Chili's when we weren't charged for the $8.29 entree and 2 soft drinks(done on purpose), we tipped 36% of the discounted bill. If we would have told her about it and she would have charged us for everything not to give us any of those items for free for our inconvenience, guess what her tip would have been? Because of the inconvenience, 8% would have been the HIGHEST I would have gone. If she would have gave us the soft drinks for free, but would have charged us completely for the entree, 10% because we had the soft drinks free BEFORE we mentioned anything. If she would have been able to give something else whether it was from HER manager or from HERSELF something else for free that was at least $2, 13% before the discount. If she owould have gotten the entire bill(or close to it) comped herself without me asking for the manager, she would have received 18% of the bill before any of the discounts including the soft drinks.

My point is, WHY INCONVENIENCE YOURSELF like that when you don't have to? WHY INCONVENIENCE other customer's time as well that their server could be serving them? It's actually a WIN, WIN situation when the customer tips bigger and doesn't get the check fixed, because the server would be able to get the customers out faster more than likely(that's if they leave right away) to seat other customers at that table. So the more customers, the more tips possible. It's a WIN WIN situation that the server got herself 28% tip instead of an 8% tip, 20% MORE tip for not inconveniencing the customer, making them pissed, and being able to seat customers more than likely faster at that table.

It's 100% up the SERVER ONLY to ring up the wrong or missing items. It's NEVER the customer's responsiblity to do ANYTHING, NOT to lift ONE FINGER for the server. Although I do help out with putting dishes in a pile on my table to help myself get them out the way, which the servers feel I am helping them, but I am really doing it for myself. The person getting paid here is NOT the customer, so they don't have to bring up ANY ERRORS if they don't want to, even if it's an overcharge. The customer can decide to just pay the extra money if they are overcharged. The customer can decide to not pay the extra money if they get undercharged. The billing process is between the restaurant manager and the server. I am not STEALING by not telling my server about an error that happens to be in my favor, that's on THEM to VERIFY the check they are charging me. THEY are committing theft by not ringing up the item correctly or underringing the item.

Springs1----you remember a 4¢ overcharge from 2001? What are you, the Rainman?

I can't remember exactly what I paid for my house and I've lived in it for less than two years.

Ay caramba. I guess I need to start a spreadsheet for all the times I've ever been overcharged/underserved at a restaurant. Wow!!

I hate it when people yell when I have a hangover.

Hey Bacon Girl - can you believe someone actually used bacon in a catfish similie? That must have hurt.

Springs1's reply to Kiki: 3,062 words. Don't know if it's a record; not going to find out.

Mr. Springs1, I say this in all kindness: you may have some excellent points in your two major postings, but my lips got tired reading them, by the second or third paragraphs. Tired lips is why I have never read War and Peace or other great Russian novels. Get yourself a blue pencil and edit, edit, edit. The Sandbox is not opposed to different points of view, but your 2 posts are, together, longer than any number of really interesting and entertaining posts in D@L.

Just a thought.

Just wondering--is "kettle one" the knock-off version of Ketel One?

Well, if that post doesn't have the most words, I'm sure it has the most numbers and dollar signs. And that is impressive considering how often this blog veers into economics.

yougottabekidding
"Springs1----you remember a 4¢ overcharge from 2001?"

No, it happened in early 2005 TWICE from 2 different servers, which one apologized and was nice, the other didn't apologize. The one that apologized got 14%, the one that didn't got stiffed. I NEVER worked there, so I shouldn't know the prices BETTER than they do. All I did was read the menu to know the price. It's not like I memorized the prices or something. 2001 was when all the overcharges started. 2001 is when the very first time and only time we got another check that wasn't ours. Another time, we kind of got close to another person's check, but in a different way. A waiter at Chili's in August of 2005(I remember because it was right before Katrina(the storm) almost) rung up our check on the wrong table, which strangely had part of the SAME EXACT ITEMS that we had ordered, but the other table he rung up had more, like $21.50 more worth. That's the overcharge I listed as $21.50. I think he did it on purpose, because what happened was we waited 10 minutes for him to come to get our check, which it wasn't busy and he had been around the area. This was around 11p.m. at night, which they close at 12p.m. midnight, so don't think we were anywhere near closing time. Anyway, my husband had enough after 10 minutes waiting to leave, so he went up to the waiter and asked "So why haven't you came to get our check to ring it up" or something like that. He doesn't even apologize and rings it up extremely fast. Then my husband gets a shock of a lifetime when $21.50 more was charged on our check. It was strange, but our check was exactly $26 with no cents. We had ordered an appetizer and some drinks, so our check was smaller compared to normal. Anyway, the manager on duty was so nice that he not only comped $26 that we had ate and drank, but also gave us $25 in gift certificates, which is to me going overboard, but he did it I guess because it was a HUGE overcharge. Anyway, the waiter never came back since he had rung up my husband, so that was the end of the service, so who knows if he did it on purpose of if he really didn't realize what he had done considering some of the same items were on that check we got that was another table's check. So we only got an apology from the manager. Anyway, I truly don't get why the waiter never came around to get the credit card when we did have it sticking out to where it was obvious or even come by to our table to see if we needed anything even in that amount of time considering we had asked for the check? So WHO REALLY KNOWS if he did on purpose because my husband asked him why he never came by. If we would have waited, it may have been 15-20 minutes before we would have gotten our check rung up. I would have stiffed anyways regardless of the overcharge due to the lack of ringing our check up in a decent amount of time. Anything over 5 minutes deserves an apology for making customers wait longer to leave and if the server is making the customers wait 10 minutes or longer, that's a stiff unless they have a VERY GOOD REASON such as it's so busy, you can truly notice why you are waiting a long time or short staffed or mistakes with food or someone else's check or any problems that occur. Waiting 10 minutes is ridiculous to get your check rung up. It's to the server's advantage to ring up the check quicker to get more customers so they can make more tips.

I remember ALL overcharges, because it makes me mad that servers act like they could care LESS about your money, but they want YOUR MONEY, right?

someone needs to learn how to make paragraphs. it's a simple thing, really.

Springs1, I couldn't agree with you more. When your check is $26 and the server rings up $47.50, you should not tip very well.

That explained the $21.50 from Chilis. What about the $11.00 at Applebees? How did you handle that one?

please, please never ever make me wait on springs1. please, never ever.

as far as an incorrect bill, it is usually neither stupidity or not caring about the customer's money. usually just a human error - no need to get your panties in a knot. as long as it is fixed quickly (not 15 minutes!) why the bitterness? all humans make errors, move on. in this economy, most restaurants and their servers are happy to see people coming in the door and choosing to spend their money when they probably could have stayed home and ate something cheaper.

and as far all the recent debate on service, discounts, tipping, rudeness and what not, just make an informed choice with your tipping. unless the server did something very wrong, go 15-20%. if it is a discount night, throw a few bucks extra in. don't go into complicated math and menu prices.

the obvious bitter servers aside, servers obviously want you to come in and enjoy yourself. the weird deducitons thing from the other post put me off a little - 1% for this, 2% for that... way too much effort there buddy. and unless you have intimate knowledge of that restaurant, you just do not know if half of those items are the server's fault of the restaurant's.

perhaps the worst tables i have ever waited on are the ones who use going out to eat as a power trip. i can usually tell who these people are the minute i go up to the table. they apparantly have some fatal flaw in their lives and so over analyze my every move looking for a way to reduce the tip. and even when there is nothing, they will find something (too much ice in my ice tea!). while that can send a bitter server over the edge, in the end i am just glad when they leave and take their issues with them.

on behalf of all waiters everywhere, springs1, start cooking at home. no one wants you in their section! the rest of you, come on in!

Spring1 wrote "A waiter at Chili's in August of 2005(I remember because it was right before Katrina(the storm) almost) rung up our check on the wrong table, which strangely had part of the SAME EXACT ITEMS that we had ordered, but the other table he rung up had more, like $21.50 more worth."

Do you really expect us to believe that in a Chili's someone else would order some of the SAME EXACT ITEMS you ordered?

I think you are making up all of this story. That is way too much coincidence for me to believe.

Springs1 is really scaring me. To remember 4¢ from a bill seven years ago seems a bit obsessive. If someone I was having a meal with quarreled with the server over a 4¢ difference on an item, I would worry, both about their mental and financial states.

And to justify stealing from a restaurant by saying it's the server's fault for not charging the item to get a larger tip is just delusional. To think that all waitstaff have a conspiracy to leave items off the bill just to get a larger tip is a flawed thought process. I am also curious why Spring1 thinks that this is always done on purpose, as she mentions numerous times.

I eat out a lot and have rarely, if ever, had things left off the bill, and if they are left off the bill, I mention it to the server. I think that in this modern era of computer point-of-sale registers, the errors should be less frequent.

And to say that she will stiff the waitstaff if the check hasn’t been picked up ten minutes after the bill has been presented is rather unfair to the server. There may be many reasons that the bill didn’t get picked up, but to still the server is pretty harsh.

I can only thank my lucky stars that I am not a server who has to wait on this woman and her husband. They sound like nightmare guests – wanting things comped, whinging about 4¢ difference on the bill and thinking that she is always right and the server’s always out to deceive her.

I totally agree with RTSO – she needs to learn how to edit, edit, edit, and also learn how not USE random capitalized WORDS.

Bucky, Bucky, Bucky--you're asking for more?

Bucky
"What about the $11.00 at Applebees? How did you handle that one?"

Well, you may think I was "RUDE" to interrupt him at another table, but this is what happened:

When he rung up our check, he brought back ONLY the credit card receipts(merchant and customer copy) NO restaurant receipt with it. He did that on purpose so we wouldn't remember what he did. Technically, the overcharge was probably just a tiny bit under $11, but with the extra tip that would have given him, it would have been $13 overcharge due to the larger tip and taxes from the larger bill amount. Anyway, our waiter went off real quickly, just as I was about to put $6(the bill was around $36 or so), We saw $47 and something cents. We were like "WHAT THE HELL?" So instead of going to a manager, I decided I wanted to let him know why his tip would have been altered considering it was HIM that messed up, I wanted to see what he'd do. So as he was at another table, I interrupted him. Now, if it wasn't a mistake like that, I would have waited, but almost $11 mistake should not be taken lightly and OUR TIME shouldn't be punished because he either did this on purpose to ring up our lower amount check for let's say his friends so we would have paid the higher bill with a higher tip as well and he could have pocketed the money. Anyway, I doubt he did it by accident, because when I went up to him and told him "This was wrong." He completley IGNORED me. See, if I would have been the server, I would have interrupted the table I was at for a mistake of that nature. A missing side of ranch, no, but an overcharge, especially of that magnitude, if I would have been the server, I would have told the table I was at "Sorry, but I accidently overcharged this lady, I will be right back." Instead, he ignored me and NEVER ONCE APOLOGIZED, NOT EVEN ONE SORRY. I went get the manager, NO COMP was given. I even told the manager that he did on purpose and of course the manager didn't believe me. As the manager was returning my credit card money to the card and reringing the amount up that was ours, the manager asked "So what did they order?" He, VERBATIM told the manager as I was standing by the computer what we had ordered. He STILL NEVER apologized and by standing there, he had EVERY OPPORTUNITY to apologize. He got a BIG FAT ZERO on the tip line.

I truly think he did this ON PURPOSE to not only get a bigger tip, but to pocket the money he would have made off of a table that was his friends. Like, since our table was $36 and something cents around, he would have rung up his friend's table for that amount and WE would have paid the $47 and something cent amount, so he would have been able to scam money that way and made a higher tip from the higher check amount. So literally, he would have stolen around $13, because $36 x 15% = $5.40 and $47 x 15% = $$7.05, which the difference is $1.65. Those are the exact amounts of the checks anyways, but you get my picture that he would have made at least $1.50 tip and would have been able to pocket the almost $11 we would have paid.

Anyway, if he would have said he was "So sorry" and would have fixed the situation immediately by interrupting the table he was at to fix the situation since it was a MAJOR MISTAKE and if he would have asked the manager to comp at least a COKE off for my inconvenience, I would have given him 16% at least of the original bill. That's all the things I PERSONALLY would have done to MAKE-UP for the mistake. He did NONE of those, not even ONE "SORRY" came out of his mouth and he SHOULD have interrupted that table to fix a mistake of that magnitude. I would have NEVER interrupted another table he was at for something minor, but that was extremely major that not only was it a lot of money, but we wanted to leave, so even if I would get a wron entree, I wouldn't have interrupted him at another table. It was the fact that we wanted to LEAVE, that it looked like he did it on PURPOSE that he didn't give us our restaurant receipt back(just the credit card receipts), the fact that he left so fast told me he had done it on purpose. So please understand that I wasn't trying to be rude by interrupting another customer's table, because I would never do that under NORMAL circumstances, but this had looked INTENTIONAL and we did want to LEAVE. When I had went up to the table, he could have said "I'm sorry, but I will be with you in a moment" instead of NOTHING and IGNORING me. He should have completely stopped what he was in the middle of doing to fix the situation, because it was such a huge amount being overcharged. I truly feel he did this on purpose and I don't get it either, because we didn't have complicated orders. We also didn't have any problems either during the dining experience except when he greeted us that annoyed me a little bit. It happened to be Mardi Gras day, which we live in Louisiana in 2003. We had waited 15 minutes for a table to begin with, so when he greeted us to ask us "So how's y'all's Mardi Gras" "Been to any parades?" We actually don't go to parades and did that when we were much younger. I personally was very hungry and it was very busy, so I find that to be so rude to delay someone from ordering to chit-chat with a stranger and very selfish thinking only about chit-chatting as if he was a bartender when he could have been at other customer's tables just that much sooner instead of delaying people from ordering and getting whatever they requests. We were nice and told him something like we didn't go to any parades. In other words, we answered his question not to be rude, but honestly, I just want my server to say what they are required to which is their name and any upselling or specials, then ask us what we want to drink. I am friendly with servers at times, but AFTER we have placed our order and ONLY when it's not busy. So think about that our waiter was rude to us from the very start. He wasn't thinking about when HE personally is hungry that he would like to order. All he thought about was that EVERYONE wants to be friendly, but honestly 90% of the dining public want to be left alone in terms of being chit-chatty with their server. I didn't go out to eat to make friends with our waiter, I mean seriously. I say "thank you" when they bring things and I be nice, but I don't go there to make friends. Anyway, so by the time the overcharge happened, we had BEEN READY to leave, because our food did take a longer time than normal due to the amount of customers and we had waited 15 minutes just to get seated. When you are hungry, 15 minutes just to get seated is a long time. I know the 15 minute wait is not the waiter's fault(mostly), but kind of is if he greeted all his tables with those questions about their mardi gras, some customers are very chatty and will make conversation for several minutes delaying customers that are waiting to get seated by delaying the entire dining process from getting started even.

Anyway, my point is, I had EVERY RIGHT since I felt it was INTENTIONAL and it was that major of an overcharge to interrupt someone else's service. One time, we were going to place our food orders when right before a waitress was going to ask us, she got interrupted by another table with a customer that had their food not cooked right, which I think it was a steak. I totally UNDERSTOOD that OUR TURN got INTERRUPTED FAIRLY, because if there was a mistake with her food, THAT should take TOP PRIORITY BEFORE OUR TURN, because if that were my food, I'd want my server to do the same for me. Well, that's how I see the situation when I went up to the waiter when he was at another table. I feel he was rude first to begin with by delaying us from ordering to chit-chat. How UNCARING about people's hunger and thirst can you get to chit-chat about personal stuff before the customers have a chance to place their order when he knows when HE is hungry or thirsty, as if HE would really want to WAIT LONGER himself, you know? He was rude also to not give back the restaurant receipt. I don't get WHY servers sometimes don't return your receipt just because you pay with a credit card? Customers have rights to their itemized bill, regardless of what method of payment they choose. Anyway, you may think I am rude, but if some customer interrupted my dining experience for the same situation, I would 100% FULLY UNDERSTAND that customer's mistake would take PRIORITY over our service since it was a major mistake. I truly wouldn't have minded if a customer did that to us as long as it was a MAJOR mistake. If it was like "So you forgot my ranch", which is MINOR, then I would be pissed, but an almost $11 overcharge, I would COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND if a customer would interrupt our table for that. I have told this story on another message board and some of those people feel I shouldn't have interrupted the waiter for any reason, but they didn't have it happen to them. They also probably never had someone INTENTIONALLY try to overcharge them either. That waiter was so WRONG for doing what he did. To not even say he was sorry, to me, was admitting he was trying to steal. What's your take?

Springs1 wrote I didn't go out to eat to make friends with our waiter, I mean seriously.

This I believe.

Springs1 asked me What's your take?

Well, first of all, I don't think you are rude. I mean you almost always, as far as I can tell, let the server forget the ranch without reducing the tip or interrupting or anything. I think that's a clear indication of your fundamentally fair nature.

And as far as interrupting, my first thought is that, well, maybe that was a little rude, but then you pointed out the time the other customer had a problem with their food, which I think it was a steak, so I think that time balances out this time at Applebees and you are being fair.

I'm wondering if maybe part of the reason people don't understand your frustration is that there are different ways of looking at things in different parts of the country. I'm pretty sure that the experiences you list are mostly from Louisana, which is part of the United States only in the most technical sense, i.e. it was admitted to the union. But it has a very unique culture and maybe those of us in Baltimore just don't appreciate that.

For example, I went out to dinner in New Orleans once and when the server brought my order, the food was staring back at me. I mean, really, some of the things they call an "entree" in New Orleans...if I found those things in my kitchen, I spray them with Raid.

But I digress.

What's your take?

Still have A hard time why Springs1 thinks that all of the servers over-charging her is intentional.

Mardi Gras day in Louisiana? Regardless of where in the state you are, it is alwayg going to be busy. A 15-minute wait? BFD! If you don't like the length of the wait, go somewhere else.

The poor waiter was just trying to have some manners by asking some simple questions to the patrons... but it sounds like Springs1 doesn't have a clear understanding of small things like manners.

SPRINGS1 still hasn't addressed the issue of her stealing all of those meals and drinks from the restaurants. If you get something, which should be paid for, and intentionally don't pay for it, then it is STEALING! I fail to see how them not putting something on the ticket equals a larger tip. It just doesn't make any sense at all.

Oh... nevermind.

Bucky,
you made me laugh. N'Awlins is just a five hour drive from here and I've been there. You are right about some of the food, but most is damn good eatin'!!
Like the muffalettos, what a great combo!

Rob - I know, I'm in the minority, not appreciating Cajun and Creole cooking.

I will say, it's going on 20 years since I've been to New Orleans and there are still mornings that I wake up and my first thought is "Cafe Du Mond...beignets..mmmm."

Pigtown wrote "Still have A hard time why Springs1 thinks that all of the servers over-charging her is intentional"

Some people might think of paranoia, with a hefty dose of OCD thrown in as lagniappe. Just thinking out loud here ...

I thougtht everyone loves a parade, but that was before I read Springs1. Nope, no parade lover there.

Wow, Dahlink...I haven't heard (seen) the word "lagniappe" since those New Orleans days, either. Thanks for reminding me...it's a great word.

One of my favorites, Bucky. Glad you like it, too.

pigtown
"Still have A hard time why Springs1 thinks that all of the servers over-charging her is intentional."

Most weren't "intentional" in general meaning, they didn't do it to steal money, but were "intentional" by not verifying the check very carefully. Sure you can miss something, but some of the overcharges like extra items can be detected within literally 5 or so seconds, especially it was only me and my husband, so it wasn't like the servers had to verify 30 items or something.

"A 15-minute wait? BFD! If you don't like the length of the wait, go somewhere else."

The fact that we had a wait and it was that busy, that he should have ONLY did his WORK ONLY. ONLY the REQUIRED STUFF, since it is what's called a "JOB", NOT PLAYTIME.

"The poor waiter was just trying to have some manners by asking some simple questions to the patrons... but it sounds like Springs1 doesn't have a clear understanding of small things like manners."

HOW can you call being INCONSIDERATE having "MANNERS?" Manners are saying "yes mam" or something to that affect. Manners have NOTHING to do with WASTING CUSTOMER'S TIME talking about stuff we don't want to talk about and have absolutely ZERO to do with our ordering process. Manners is thinking about customer's hunger and thirst, NOT worrying about chit-chatting about PERSONAL stuff. I don't know you, you don't know me, nor do I want to get to know you(unless you are a really good server, then I may want to get to know you when it's NOT busy and AFTER I place my orders).

"SPRINGS1 still hasn't addressed the issue of her stealing all of those meals and drinks from the restaurants. If you get something, which should be paid for, and intentionally don't pay for it, then it is STEALING!"

You never read one sentence did you in my other post? It's the SERVER that UNDERRANG the item or items. I cannot make them ring it up when for instance, one waitress told me herself "I didn't charge you all for the soft drinks." It's not my job as a customer to tell them anything, even if it's an overcharge if I choose to pay the bill with the overcharge on it.

Stealing is ONLY and SOLEY on the person RINGING YOU UP, NOT at ALL on the customer. The customer pays the bill that is presented. If it happens to be undercharged, that's the server's problem. They may or may not pay it out of their check. If the bill has an overcharge, if the customer chooses to pay an overage, that's their decision. Either way(over or undercharge) the server was responsible for doing that. The customer pays the bill presented. If something wasn't charged, the customer doesn't have to tell their server.

"I fail to see how them not putting something on the ticket equals a larger tip. It just doesn't make any sense at all."

Use your common sense. When my server's check at Chili's recently was $46 and something cents, we added in the 2 soda prices $2.16 a piece I believe and the $8.29 entree. We also added the taxes by multiplying the tax percentage 8.75% tax to find out the entire bill that it WOULD have been. Then we tipped on the $59 and something cents, which was 36% of the discounted bill we tipped $17. It was 28% or so of the $59 and something cents check that it was supposed to be. Normally, if we get good service, which we got pretty good service(not perfect which we usually tip 25% or higher for that), we would have tipped 20%-23%. She got a 28% tip from the original bill and a 36% tip from undercharged bill amount that was $46 and something cents.

Now, do you get it? We paid her tip much higher because we got things for free. I probably would have tipped 22% or so. Let's say I would have tipped her $13, she got $17. She made $4 profit than we would have given her. Now, do you get it?

If we would have told her and she would have rung up all the items with no comps for our inconvenience, her tip would have been like 8%-10% range. So she would have made like around $6 instead of $17. Now do you understand

Most weren't "intentional" in general meaning, they didn't do it to steal money, but were "intentional" by not verifying the check very carefully.

Words can mean whatever we want them to mean, apparently. :-)

Hey Springs1

Maybe you should stop eating at all these chains whose servers rip you off and support a local restaurant.

Really, there are worse things than servers at chains ringing things up wrong. Such as... EATING AT CHAINS IN THE FIRST PLACE. OR BEATING A DEAD HORSE COMPLAINING. AND YELLING AT THE SANDBOX!

(sorry all this yelling has made me irritated. i need a xanax).

If anyone wants to see how truly obsessed Springs1 is about the tipping issue, roll on over to her blog. It's very sad. One can only hope that this whole thing is a big TROLL.

the law actually differentiates between making a mistake, which is negligence, and an intentional act, which is done with malice aforethought

people should not be so reckless with their language when making accusations.

spoken, it's slander.

written on a blog, that's libel.

in ALL CAPS, it's pathological hysteria.

With the amount Ms Springs1 (sorry for the honourific of Mr, I had a 50/50 chance and in the very little bit I scanned, I saw no indicators) has contributed to the Sandbox discussion of tipping, may I propose that it is unlikely that any new insight is being added and that other Sandboxers move on without further comment. I would never suggest someone be excluded from the Sandbox, but comment, like looking at a car wreck, its not something we have to do.

Singular Robert--you took the words out of my mouth. Thanks!

if it bothers you why do you keep coming back and reading and replying? just stop clicking on this issue and you will be fine. why do you want to sensor everybody else?

Hey Bucky,
Cafe du Monde is not what it used to be. The beignets are okay, but there's no longer locals working in there. The place still packs them in, but I think its more quality over quantity.

Rob - that's too bad. Of course, I'm not what I used to be either, so I can't really hold it against them.

I shed an actual tear over the sadness that is the amount of time Springs1 has on his/her hands. (May I have a tissue please?!)

"Also, when I worked at a donut shop/diner for over 2 yrs off and on between 1998-2002, when my register was short over $2 or $3(can't remember which amount), they took it out of OUR CHECK."

I'm wondering - When your register didn't exactly add up, does the possibility exist that you may have made a mistake with someone else's money, which obviously would mean that you, in fact, are........wait for it......STUPID!

The highlight, for me, was that EL's only question/response to Springs1 was, "What's Wow Wingery?". Way to hold back, EL! Way to hold back....

RTSO, I hope book doesn't find that you engage in...ummm....sensorship.

Sure, today it is limiting debate on blog and tomorrow it's a good old fashioned book burning.

Springs 1--

My waitress at Patrick's simply made an honest mistake the night in question, period. It was an accident, and again, took 15 SECONDS to correct.

It didn't bother me, so i really can't figure out why it's bothering you so much, since you weren't even there, which I'm thankful you were not.

I'm betting Springs1 was the woman in front of me at CVS arguing with the cashier for 15 minutes over a $0.50 coupon for a $3 bottle of soda. I had the cashier ring up the soda at full price with my things, just so I could get out of there.

Carey
"I'm betting Springs1 was the woman in front of me at CVS arguing with the cashier for 15 minutes over a $0.50 coupon for a $3 bottle of soda. I had the cashier ring up the soda at full price with my things, just so I could get out of there."

You sound EXTREMLEY LAZY. WHY are you working(which I am assume you are) and not care about saving money that you have worked HARD FOR when you can by using a coupon? I know why, because you are too lazy to do it. I am not on the other hand. It's worth my time, it's not worth yours.

BMoreBeerGirlie
"made a mistake with someone else's money, which obviously would mean that you, in fact, are........wait for it......STUPID!"

Making a mistake by giving too much money by going to fast(mostly for drive-thru customers) does not make a person "STUPID", it just means I was rushing and gave too much. It's MY CARELESSNESS, but it doesn't make me "STUPID", just careless.

Restraint in writing by Springs1: the age of miracles has not passed. Missed the points made by others, but brief. Thank you.

So it's stupid when other people under- or over-charge, but it's careless when Springs does it. She's got a very skewed sense of things. Thank god she's in Louisiana. I'd hate to think that she's anywhere close by that I could run into her... you know how it is around here - Smalltimore!

To Springs1-

Bourbon Girl wrote:
“Maybe you should stop eating at all these chains whose servers rip you off and support a local restaurant.”

As the owner of a local restaurant, I’m going to say please DON’T eat at a local restaurant. You see, my staff are all humans, and as such, make mistakes and are social creatures. That means they might make a mistake when they serve you, or might want to interact with you. As a matter of fact, that interaction is what I pay them for. My customers generally want to have a good time when they are out, and it sounds to me like you are a major buzzkill to be around.

May I suggest instead that you visit a nearby truck stop or hospital waiting room, where you will most certainly find food vending machines. There is absolutely no chance that you will be under- or overcharged. The vending machine will not ask you if you are enjoying the weather. There is no wait for your food or your check. And from my perspective, best of all, you won’t be a willing accomplice to theft. From me.

Because guess what? That’s what you are no matter how you justify it.

Have a nice dinner at Chili’s.

I've been under charged and over charged by vending machines. In fact, there was a near riot at my last job when, after over 2 years, the vending machine owner apparently figured out that F7 was only charging 35 cents, not 75.

Damned machines. Can't trust 'em.

Wow, no wonder I missed all the "drama" in this thread.

TL;DR (the first time, anyway)

Springs1 needs to up the dose or cut the dose, not sure which. Someone should direct the WaiterRant guy to her blog, I bet he'd think it was hysterical.

I am on a short junket to the Monmouth New Jersey area with my husband. Spent yesterday looking for someplace interesting to go for dinner. Even though we are at the sea shore, I guess because we eat lots of fish and seafood at home, I did not feel compelled to look for a local seafood place. Instead, we opted for what is advertised as a kosher Lebanese establishment. Located in the town of Long Branch, the meal was pleasant and tasty. Oh yes, it was called Kan Zaman.

What I had found interesting is that on the restaurant website there was
a statement advising that all tables are automatically charged an 18 percent gratuity. Sure enough, when the check came it included the tip. Now, the service had been fine and had I figured the tip, would have given him at least 20 percent, but I found this practice to be fine because they advised you up front of the policy. Is this the wave of the future?

Regina, it's more like the way it is done in many other countries ...

I think Springs1 would prefer a robotic waitstaff. I was a server for longer than I care to talk about. It is a SOCIAL job...a social job involves talking, and being good at involves more than just "thank you" and "your welcome" Robots don't need to be tipped, and don't have feelings. I refuse to use those "server pagers" many chain restaurants have implemented. If I need something, I'll get your attention, and unless you are ignoring me, I won't have to be rude about it.

If anyone is in grad school for psychology or in residency to be a psychiatrist, you could paste together a certain persons' ramblings and have a case study for paranoid personality disorder. I have never seen a more perfect discription