# We went out to eat on Friday and totally forgot to leave a tip **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043 "2011-11-15T19:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/1 "2011-11-15T19:37:15Z")
I have no idea how it happened. He was paying, and I went to the bathroom, and we had a lot on our minds, and out we went. It was a buffet, so not a huge deal, but still embarrassing. We remembered yesterday, but the restaurant in question is closed on Mondays, so I ran over there today and gave them a tip and an apology. The waitress was on there, so I gave it to the owner/manager. I can’t be the only one who has done this. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/2 "2011-11-15T19:43:39Z")
Bah, you call that absent mindedness. I’ve left the restaurant forgetting to _pay_! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/3 "2011-11-15T20:15:39Z")
I once stiffed a waitress because I didn’t have enough cash. She said it was totally fine, but I felt really bad. I went back the next day and gave her twice what I normally would have. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/4 "2011-11-15T20:25:55Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I can’t be the only one who has done this. Yeah, I still remember one time I forgot to leave a tip, and that was over 10 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/5 "2011-11-15T20:32:22Z")
I left the dentist a couple of weeks ago and forgot to pay. I walked right past the desk, chatted with the receptionist on the way out and drove away. Later that afternoon I was looking for my receipt when the phone rang and they told me what I’d done! :smack: I went back at the end of the day and did all the insurance paperwork and paid the balance. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/6 "2011-11-15T20:49:22Z")
Not at a restaurant, but at a market. I guess my mind was elsewhere, but a clerk ran down the street after me. She asked if I’d taken one of their shopping baskets. I looked down at the food in my basket and said “Yeah, and maybe I should pay for this food too.” She laughed about it. Lucky, I could have been arrested for shoplifting. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/7 "2011-11-15T20:58:08Z")
I once left a terrible tip. I did my math wrong (Yes, I do have a degree from MIT. Why do you ask?). I caught it the next day when looking over the receipt (paid by credit card). I went to the restaurant and gave the waitress cash the next day. The closest I’ve gotten to accidentally stiffing a waiter was when I took the wrong copy of a credit card receipt. It was a “fancy” restaurant so the tip would be quite high. The waiter chased me down half a block down the street. He was well motivated to ensure he got a tip. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/8 "2011-11-15T21:06:06Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Not at a restaurant, but at a market. I guess my mind was elsewhere, but a clerk ran down the street after me. She asked if I’d taken one of their shopping baskets. I looked down at the food in my basket and said “Yeah, and maybe I should pay for this food too.” She laughed about it. Lucky, I could have been arrested for shoplifting. this made me giggle ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/9 "2011-11-15T21:12:26Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > this made me giggle It was pretty funny. I don’t think I would have actually been arrested, though. I knew the owner pretty well and I shopped there all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Bilbo1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bilbo1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilbo1967)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/10 "2011-11-15T21:22:18Z")
I know this may be a dreadful admission, but often, I don’t tip at all; deliberately. I should say that I’m from the UK, where tipping isn’t as ingrained. It’s considered acceptable to not leave a tip if you weren’t entirely happy with the service received. Having said that, we are visiting the States next year. What would be considered an acceptable tip? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/11 "2011-11-15T21:27:57Z")
> [@Bilbo1967](#): > > Having said that, we are visiting the States next year. What would be considered an acceptable tip? At least 15%, preferably 20%. ---
**Author:** ![Bilbo1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bilbo1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilbo1967)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/12 "2011-11-15T21:53:46Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > At least 15%, preferably 20%. Always? Regardless of perceived level of service? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/13 "2011-11-15T21:55:12Z")
> [@Bilbo1967](#): > > Always? Regardless of perceived level of service? More or less. Tip less only if the level of service is truly atrocious. Tip more if the service is exceptional. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/14 "2011-11-15T21:55:32Z")
> [@Bilbo1967](#): > > Always? Regardless of perceived level of service? Uh oh. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/15 "2011-11-15T21:56:46Z")
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! ---
**Author:** ![Bilbo1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bilbo1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilbo1967)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/16 "2011-11-15T22:01:23Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > More or less. Tip less only if the level of service is truly atrocious. Tip more if the service is exceptional. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bilbo1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bilbo1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilbo1967)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/17 "2011-11-15T22:02:50Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Uh oh. > [@Anaamika](#): > > Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! ??? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/18 "2011-11-15T22:09:27Z")
> [@Bilbo1967](#): > > ??? This is one of the more contentious issues discussed on the boards. ---
**Author:** ![Bilbo1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bilbo1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilbo1967)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/19 "2011-11-15T22:12:55Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > This is one of the more contentious issues discussed on the boards. Ah, sorry, I did not know that. Just didn’t want to make a total tit of myself when visiting the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043/20 "2011-11-15T22:22:36Z")
> [@Bilbo1967](#): > > Ah, sorry, I did not know that. Just didn’t want to make a total tit of myself when visiting the USA. To try and remain as factual as possible, waitstaff in the US (usually bartenders also, and table-bussers, and sometimes kitchen and “carry” staff) are usually expected to count their income from tips towards their salary to meet federal minimum wage laws, and business-owners will often be over-generous in their estimation of how much cash in tips those workers are likely to receive. For example, when I worked tables in South Carolina in the late 90s, I officially got paid $2.05 per hour. I can say that most days, my tips did not raise that amount to the $5-something that minimum wage was at that time. Waitpeople in the states \*expect \*tips of 15% because that is what the majority of business-owners calculate that patrons will give when they determine the waitstaffer’s hourly rate. I’ll leave the questions of what to deduct and how much and when it’s ok and all to people who like arguing. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-went-out-to-eat-on-friday-and-totally-forgot-to-leave-a-tip/603043.md?page=2)