Would a waitress know specifically I didn't tip if I paid at the counter?

[kaylasdad99]

@JohnGalt

My parents ran a cafe back in the days before credit cards, when the tip was left at the table and the bill would be paid up front at the register. They had to watch certain known “characters” who would walk past uncleared tables where tips were still on the table, sneaking some or all of it as they walk past. They wanted to ban the guy, but because it was a very small town and they tried to avoid confrontations, they watched him very carefully. “They” being mostly the waitresses, looking out for each other.

Forty-six years ago (so, also in the days before ubiquitous credit/debit card transactions), I waited tables at an all-night restaurant. One woman would come in at breakfast time every morning, have a breakfast amounting to maybe six bucks and invariably leave a “tip” of 25 cents. I never confronted her, but the one time I asked her if everything had been to her satisfaction, she told me “the service could have been more attentive.” I, having been briefed by the other servers about her, had made it a point to give her the best service possible. So I was a little offended by that.