Leave a Negative tip at a restaurant?

Question

I've heard people say that if they get bad service that they leave a negative tip and that amount is actually taken off the bill? Does this actually work? Has anyone ever tried this?

Answer 1

only works if you're like on a cruise or somewhere where the gratuity is already incorporated. then you can choose to lower or raise the tip accordingly. i don't know about getting money back though, unless you had some crappy *** service and spoke to a manager then maybe.

Answer 2

Well, that's called stealing not negative tip. Tip is additional and is not included in the bill.  when you dont tip, it's called stiffing the waiter but when you pay less than what your bill says, then you are stealing!!!

Answer 3

nope

you can be arrested.

Answer 4

No you can't do that. The worst tip to leave is a penny. Even worse than nothing.

Answer 5

No, that is theft.

If you attempt to leave less than the total of the bill, you are not leaving a "negative tip".  There is no such thing. What you are doing is you are not paying for your food and that is stealing.

And honestly, just leave a tip. How bad can the service be?

If you are inclined to feel so slighted you wish to not pay someone for serving you then you really should just stay in.

I generally feel that people who even consider not leaving a tip except for in some truly extreme circumstance, like you got called names or they intentionally poured water on your lap, have unreasonable expectations about the world around them.

Answer 6

why would u? wait staff typically are paid less than min. wage, with the business owner's expectation that they will make at least that. generally, it's very difficult to live above poverty level if you make min. wage. you can make a point to someone w/o impoverishing them. if anything, you'll be considered cheap, not making a point. the person will remember you and probably point you out to the other wait staff, and they will all make the same group assessment, and treat you accordingly next time you come. wait staff remember the good and the bad tippers, and spread the word amongst themselves. you'll do yourself a disservice if you do that. never heard of anybody trying to reduce a bill with a 'negative tip' all tips are by the very nature positive. if you leave a penny, it's still a tip. the way to get a bill reduced is by asking for it--your food was bad. talk to the waiter, who may or may not have discretion to reduce the bill, and may have to talk to the manager. if you want reduction of pay for bad service, then you talk to the manager, whose job it is to oversee and manage service. afterall, that person hired the help, trained them, and rewards or does not reward them for their efforts, and that person is ultimately responsible. for all anyone knows, the wait staff aren't being treated well for their efforts. that's why turnover's so high. give them a break. people are people --have bad wait days, and nobody's perfect. but if you must, make your point to the person who cares most and is most able to give you what you want or negotiate same. don't take it out on the staff. it might actually be the manager's fault for not giving customers what they want--better food, staff, treatment, whatev. the buck stops there. the manager also knows, he doesn't want you going over his head to the general manager or whatever they call them. he will gladly comp you to keep his name out of bad service remarks. by the way, those guys also slave. the industry as a whole ...give 'em a break. don't eat there anymore or much, if you're not getting what you want, take your coins to the next place, so they can earn them. and if you think that's a bit much, then maybe 'negative tip' is a bit much. all other things being peachy, just air your assessment and mention your perception. if you're a good customer with a good attitude in your approach, they will realize they want to keep your biz. if you're just trying to slam staff and service, they'll recognize someone giving them a hard time. it's not uncommon for ungrateful and unappreciative people who've never been in that kind of customer service role or known anybody who has, to be very (overly) demanding for what those people are paid. it wasn't so long ago that women were paid cents on the dollar for their 'woman's work'. and still today, similar type work is underpaid and overworked.

instead, why not try some compassion in lieu of what you have in mind. change your mind. keep your change. or change where you take it.

Answer 7

No, that is not true.  If that were the case, restaurants would go out of business from surly customers.

Answer 8

That's just mean...and it's theft.  You could actually get charged with theft because you didn't pay for the food that you bought.

If you had really bad service, do not be afraid to speak to the manager.  The manager doesn't want to lose your business so if you feel really disappointed, the manager may compensate a plate or your meal (or offer you free dessert).

Answer 9

Those people are douche bags, and no, that doesn't work.  It is called stealing.  If you only leave enough money for part of the check, the restaurant can call the police on you for dine-n-dash.  Not only that, but many restaurants will give their server the option of being written up for the theft by their patron, or they will be forced to pay the difference to avoid the write-up, because many restaurants are shady that way.

If you receive absolutely terrible service, your best bet is to talk to the manager, before the situation starts making you nit-pick.  

I am so tired of people who think they are making a point by not tipping or pulling silly stuff.  

If you don't leave me a tip because you are unhappy, I just think you're a cheap skate, clean the table and move on.  I have no idea about your cold soup, the fact that you needed extra napkins, or your ketchup bottle having a toothpick, unless you tell me.  

I don't know about the guy sitting behind you and your kids, swearing like a truck driver, as I am not sitting there, and when I am talking to you at your table, I am tuning everyone else out.

I don't know that the other server who helped me out by taking your order out to you brought you the right breakfast, with the wrong eggs, or that your coffee tastes bitter, unless you tell me.

I don't want to hear about how we will supposedly do nasty stuff to your food if you complain because you saw it in some horrible, fictional movie that is not even close to reality.  This is YOUR imagination running absolutely rampant.

PLEASE, if your meal is going wrong, TELL ME OR MY MANAGER, so we can turn your negative experience into a positive experience.  If my manager cannot settle the issue to your satisfaction, please feel free to ask for the corporate number, or an appropriate time to speak with my General Manager.

I am really tired of people who will take it out on the server, and blame an entire restaurant chain, because the cook's wife went into labour and he called out, and they are short handed, and your steak took 2 minutes longer than your patience allows.  

Seriously, restaurants are run by people, the only difference is, we have every customer staring at us with their own psychotic perception of how to do our job, but if they had the chance, they wouldn't.

Answer 10

Does not happen if you do not like the service leave a penny and talk to the manager about it, if that does not work just do not go back.

Answer 11

you have to get tipped to keep a tip you can not steal it

Answer 12

No, that won't work.

Answer 13

I think you misunderstood, too.

When I don't like the service, on the back of the receipt or a napkin, I write:

"TIP:

(and then tell them what it was that you disliked enough to not tip them)"

That way, they might consider changing something.

Answer 14

No I think if you do that you can be charged with stealing service.

I know people that think leaving a penny is more insulting than leaving nothing.

Answer 15

no, you can't do that.  If you don't leave a tip the server actually loses money for serving you since the server is taxed on the amount the gov't ment expects you to make on the table. (8%)

Answer 16

You may have misunderstood them. When you eat at a restaurant the bill is your minimum amount due for service rendered. Rarely is service bad enough to not leave a tip of any amount, though some people will leave an insultingly small tip such as a dime or quarter to express their displeasure at the poor service.

I figure if the service is decent / as expected then 15% is fair, if the service was good to very good 20% is fair, and if the service was excellent a 25% tip is fair. Wait persons remember good tippers, and make sure they get extra good service.

Answer 17

when i get bad service i take a bunch of coins out of my pocket a make a frown face with them on th table and leave it as thier tip

Answer 18

Can you live on $2.13 an hour?  That's what server's make in my city.  That wage goes to pay taxes on tips they HAVE to claim - based on sales - whether or not they get the tips they are claiming.

If you don't like something SPEAK UP.  If you have a good experience, then TIP.  If you are a cheap *ss, then stay the fck home.

Answer 19

I have never heard of a " negative tip ".  When service was unusally bad, I have asked the wait person to get the manager and come over with them.  Then I explain the reason I felt it was unusally bad service and why I am leaving no tip.  Sometimes a manager will offer a reduction, a free dessert or even a free meal.  I have only done this once, it is not something to do just to get free stuff.  Wait staff do a hard job and put up with a lot of needless c**p.

Answer 20

no that doesn't, but leaving no tip and a note on napkin saying get another job gets the point across to them :)