# Was it wrong of me not to leave a tip?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-wrong-of-me-not-to-leave-a-tip/105593>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 25, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-wrong-of-me-not-to-leave-a-tip/105593 "2002-04-25T18:31:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-wrong-of-me-not-to-leave-a-tip/105593/41 "2002-04-29T07:07:46Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Well, I won’t go that far for two reasons:
> 
> 1. It was a one time occurence. I’ve been eating there for a few years and generally receive good service. This was the exception to the rule. If it happened more often, I might consider leaving the place for good, but I’m not going to abandon it over a one-time incident.
> 
> 2. There is a limited number of kosher resturaunts in downtown Manhattan. I really don’t want to cut one out of the mix without a real good reason.
> 
> Zev Steinhardt \*\*

Sorry, **Zev** , I didn’t know it had to be kosher. I understand that fully.

I’d think that if you were a “regular”, you’d get better service, no?

I remember once, something very similar happened to me and a date at a restaurant in Honolulu, and he let the waitress know in no uncertain terms what he thought of her (non)service. We never went back there again.

That restaurant went out of business quite quickly. Hmm, I wonder why? 😕

I think people should demand (to a certain extent) good service; after all, you are paying the bill.

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**Author:** ![Riboflavin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Riboflavin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riboflavin)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-wrong-of-me-not-to-leave-a-tip/105593/42 "2002-04-29T07:20:41Z")

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MsWhatsit, you might want to reread my post - I explained what I considered acceptable resolution from the waiter (essentially, take the steak back/take the incorrect item off the bill), and that I wouldn’t reduce a tip if they handled it without causing me hassle.

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**Author:** ![hillbilly\_king](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7993a0/32.png) [@hillbilly\_king](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hillbilly_king)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-wrong-of-me-not-to-leave-a-tip/105593/43 "2002-05-04T02:19:24Z")

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**zev\_steinhardt**

You did the right thing **IMO**. A gratuity is left for services well done. You are the recipient of that service and only you know how you rate that service.

Personally, I always tip…based upon how much I enjoyed the time spent. Not so much the amount time. Two examples of my tips are:

$5 for a $10 meal. Excellent service, highly enjoyable experience

1 penny for a $35 meal. Lousy service, ruined my disposition for an hour or so afterwards.

I found that when a waiter/waitress ignores one of her tables during a slow period (very few customers) to the point that you have to finish your meal with nothing to drink - after getting their attention on several occasions- leaving a single penny definitely gets their attention.

One word of advice, duck…when they throw the penny at you. Of course that usually attracts the manager’s attention.

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