From Not Always Right: Pro-Tips On How Not To Earn A Tip
We went to a chain restaurant once after church — just my husband and me. Another group of five came in behind us. We knew them, and I can’t remember if they or we requested that we sit near each other because we knew them, but we weren’t with them. My husband and I were at a table by ourselves, and the other five were at their own table.
The food was cold, and our silverware and cups were dirty (lipstick and dried food). I had to ask for clean cups and utensils. We had to get our food remade or heated. The waitress had an attitude throughout.
At the end of our meal, this rude waitress dropped off our check with a 25% tip added. I went up to the register to pay and asked the manager who was cashing me out:
Me: “Why is there a 25% tip added to our check?”
The rude waitress spoke up.
Waitress: “Because you’re with them.”
She waved in the general direction of the other group.
Me: “No, we’re not. We just know them from church.” To the manager “I want the tip removed. I’m not paying that. The food was cold, the utensils and cups were dirty, and her—” pointing to the waitress “—attitude was horrible. I’m not tipping — and that much — for bad service.”
The manager took off the tip, and we paid the rest of the bill. He didn’t even take off anything for the bad service. We never went back.
From Not Always Right: Pro-Tips On How Not To Earn A Tip
We went to a chain restaurant once after church — just my husband and me. Another group of five came in behind us. We knew them, and I can’t remember if they or we requested that we sit near each other because we knew them, but we weren’t with them. My husband and I were at a table by ourselves, and the other five were at their own table.
The food was cold, and our silverware and cups were dirty (lipstick and dried food). I had to ask for clean cups and utensils. We had to get our food remade or heated. The waitress had an attitude throughout.
At the end of our meal, this rude waitress dropped off our check with a 25% tip added. I went up to the register to pay and asked the manager who was cashing me out:
Me: “Why is there a 25% tip added to our check?”
The rude waitress spoke up.
Waitress: “Because you’re with them.”
She waved in the general direction of the other group.
Me: “No, we’re not. We just know them from church.” To the manager “I want the tip removed. I’m not paying that. The food was cold, the utensils and cups were dirty, and her—” pointing to the waitress “—attitude was horrible. I’m not tipping — and that much — for bad service.”
The manager took off the tip, and we paid the rest of the bill. He didn’t even take off anything for the bad service. We never went back.
NOT my story, but we got done this way once!