The concept of negative tips

"That'll be $24.20 minus four dollars for the tip"

Published on February 12, 2004 By Angloesque In Consumer Issues

Fiance and I went out to eat yesterday evening. It was a bad day and we went to his favorite place, where we usually get great service from our usual waiter. The price is a little over $12 each, plus drinks, so it's middle of the road. I don't know what kind of management changes they'd had but our waitress and host were definitely new.

Our waitress was horrible. It took her 10 minutes to take our order, which is pretty bad since we go there all the time and pretty much know what we want before we walk in the door. Then the food was another 20 minutes, which is unheard of for that place (it's not fast food by any means, but they're always fast--always). The food, when it came, was fine; but our water cups dwindled to nothing; fiance never got his Coke refilled, couldn't get more tortillas for huevos rancheros, ergo couldn't finish his meal until they came (we finally snagged another waiter). And here's the thing. The side of the restaurant our waitress works has about 20 booths, and only eight were filled with two waiters working the side. Finally when we were finished she took our plates away, then didn't bring the check for another 10 minutes (we contemplated walking out). Eventually we just got up and walked to the till.

Now I can understand her being a new waitress, not knowing that we're regulars, and being a little slow. All those things are fine. But when the combination of things is so bad and what should have been a 40 minute experience takes well over an hour, I start to get chintzy. Finally when I went to leave the tip, fiance and I joked about whether or not they'd factor in a negative ( -$4.00) tip into my credit card bill.

That's the thing, though. If tips are supposed to represent the service, and if the service is waaaaaaaay bad, shouldn't we be able to be refunded money? At a nicer establishment there might have been a manager who would've listened, but I'm not the confrontation/complainer type unless there's a cockroach or a used condom in my soup. I think negative tipping is a great plan.

...And like all great plans, it will never be implemented because there are too many dumbasses in the world. But still....

Comments

Foghorn5950

on Feb 12, 2004

Do you think that this idea of negative tipping should be mandated at restaurants, voulentary descisions on the part of the establishment, or a function of the credit card company?

Also, one slight snag: people don't like losing money, so how are you going to negatively tip?

Angloesque

on Feb 12, 2004

In my perfect world, I suppose that since the discretion of a tip is up to the customer, the restaurant should honor the customer's negative tip up to 15% of the cost of the meal, as the tip is supposed to be around 15% extra. Tips aren't mandated, per se, so I don't know that negative tips could be, but that's the idea. Anyway. I'm not sure I understand your questions, and anyway don't get too literal--it's just an idea. I don't think it could actually be implemented because you'd be asking for a refund of part (or all) of your payment when paying in cash, so it would really only work with credit cards. Even then I'm not sure if the restaurant bills the CC right away or waits until you've factored in the tip. But in theory, I think it's a great plan.

KarmaGirl

on Feb 16, 2004

If I get really bad service, I don't tip well. If I get horrendous service, I don't tip at all. Typical service gets 15 - 20% and great service gets 30-40%. A tip is a tip.

I go out to eat for the luxury of it. If it turns into a hassle because of the server, I don't feel like they deserve a tip. However, if you are having a bad experience, ask for a manager and explain what is happening. They will typically reduce your meal to make you happy. Here are a couple situations that I have been in:

One anniversary my husband and I decided to just go out for a casual dinner. A typical plate was about $20. The server was slow. After about 35 minutes of waiting for our server to even bring us drinks, I asked the next worker I saw to request a manager to our table. After playing the sad story of our anniversary being ruined (which it pretty much was because we missed the movie that we wanted to see) they gave half our food to us for free and gave us each a free desert.

One News Years eve a group of us when to a local chain of restaurants. (Not a fast food place by any means, but a chain none the less). My brother in law was 21 going on 22. The waitress that we got couldn't calculate in her head (looking at his ID) and kept telling him that he couldn't order drinks. It got to the point where we had to get out a pen and paper and write down the math so that she could see that he was over age. She never said she was sorry, and she never brought any of our drinks until the food was served. We never saw her from when she served the food until she brought the check- over an hour later. We asked for a manager, but never saw one. We left one dollar as a tip as it totally hosed the rest of our night.

on Feb 17, 2004

Hmm what karma said.

I don't follow 20%, etc tips at all. I tip whatever amount that I feel the service was worth. In rare places that incude the tip into the check, I pay it, and never go to that place again, since I hate enforced tipping. To me, that's just another way to rip off people, and if waiter/ress is getting a tip reardless of service, there is no reason for them to provide a good service.

messybuu

on Feb 17, 2004

That's terrible. It's one thing not to know math well, but not to apologize is simply rude.
I think the idea of the negative tipping would be abused. Some rude customers would see it as a way to get a discount on their food. Negative tipping and complaining to the manager seem like enough to show that you're dissatisfied. If the service is absolutely terrible though, there's always the dine and dash! Just be sure not to leave a tip if you do that.

. (Anonymous User)

on Feb 18, 2004

You're forgetting that we waiters & waitresses only get paid $2.35 an hour.

KarmaGirl

on Feb 18, 2004

Reply #6 By: . (Anonymous User) - 2/18/2004 4:35:13 AM
You're forgetting that we waiters & waitresses only get paid $2.35 an hour.

Actually, that depends on where they work. That may be the minimum, but there are a lot of places that pay more. But, they are in a service industry. What do you pay for when you go to a restaurant? You pay for food and service. Why should you tip for service if you didn't get it? What is the incentive for the server to give good service if they will get the tip anyway?

messybuu

on Feb 18, 2004

Being paid a low wage is no excuse to provide bad service. If you don't like the job, you could always quit and allow somebody who would provide good service to replace you.

Angloesque

on Feb 20, 2004

XX,

I'm with you--I hate enforced tipping. Right now I'm planning a wedding and have to include a required 18% gratuity with the food charge. That is retarded, especially since I have to pay in advance of the service (and it's not like you can do a wedding over again...). Anyway.

Messy, I agree that negative tipping would be abused. Too bad. And I agree with your and Karma's last comments, too.

Cheers, everyone.

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