Should I leave a tip when the waiter spills water all over me?

Question

We had a mediocre meal at a fancy place in Kansas last night, and while seating us, the waiter managed to pour abut a quart of ice water all over the table. The run off soaked my clothes. Dinner was otherwise, acceptable. The waiter apologised once, and offered us a different table. Otherwise, there was no acknowledgement of the incident or an offer of a free drink or anything. The waiter did mess up our order, bringing us meals from another table (which we sent back...) before he finally got it right. The place was not busy. We were cold, wet, and uncomfortable throughout the meal. Should I have left a tip? If so, how much? (I did leave a tip, and I did not talk with the manager, although, in retrospect, I should have. We have eaten there before, and have had the same waiter before. I do not intend to go back.)

Answer 1

Tipping is never mandatory and left for great service. Granted servers only make around 3 dollars an hour and are under alot of stress only one apology was not enough and I would have talked to the manager if i was the server so i could comp your food.At least if you were cold and wet your meal could have been free.I would call the resturant and talk to the manager i am sure he would not want to loose a valued customer.

Answer 2

sounds like he did a bad job, i would have left a bad tip. if it was just the water i would excuse it as an accident, but your order was messed up too. bad service!

btw: mags, servers DO NOT make $6.00 an hour, in most cases it's $2.13 an hour.

Answer 3

It is always good to do good for others no matter what they have done to you. It's good that you left a tip, and it's okay that you didn't like the service and don't want to go back.

The important thing is that you did the right thing anyway because you knew it was the right thing to do.

Answer 4

Leave him a tip depending on how he handled what he did. Iike if he ran over to get towels and helped you and went above and beyond leave a tip, even though he did spill it. I personally would have talked to the manager and just explain the situation to him... you never know. He may give you a gift card or something.

Answer 5

No.  Tipping is for GOOD service not just service.  Plus if I was the waiter, I would have told the Manager what happened and offered to pay for dessert or drinks.  Something as a way to "I'm sorry I messed up your evening out."  He didn't.  You acted more considerately than your waiter.

Answer 6

Always leave a tip, even if it is only 2 bucks.

Your server gets 6 bucks an hour and depend on tips to make money.

Answer 7

no. if he messed up your meal and spilled water all over you...

and did nothing about it...

Answer 8

u shouldnt have tiped the waiter afterr wht he did. even if he apologized, he should have been careful enough to bring u yur order and not someone else's. and u should have talked to the manager. good thing you arent going back!!

Answer 9

I think it was good that you did leave a tip. You never know what could have been going on with the server he could have been really busy or just been having a bad day. I have friends that are servers so i know how they feel when they get stiffed, and some places the servers have to tip out a percentage of their sales to the bartenders and hosts so if you dont leave a tip the server is actualy having to pay for a percentage of your meal. EVERY time I go out to a resturant i will not leave a tip less than 18% and I all most always leave 20%. Those servers work their butt off all day to barely make it. So I think if you can't afford to leave at LEAST 18% despite the service you can't afford to go out to eat!

Answer 10

You should of had a free meal.  What do you mean leave a tip.  Free altogether.  Especially if this was a 5 star rest.

Answer 11

i would have left a tip for the waiter.about $2.00.i wouldn't be  meanto him.im very kind.

Answer 12

i am a server and i get 2.13 an hour a majority of servers do.

Answer 13

It depends on how well he handled the situation...if you think he handled it well, tip him.  If not, don't and tell him why...or tell his manager.

Answer 14

I don't think you should of left a tip at all.Just to call for a manger.

Answer 15

No  The waiter already got paid more than he should have because he got minimum wage. You should complain to the manager and not accept anything short of an assurance that the waiter will be fired. If the manager promises that he will be fired go back to to place in one week. If you see the same waiter still there go back and compalin some more. Remember the customer is always right. Maybe it is about time some businesses realize this. Plus please note. He is lucky to be getting a tip at all. You probably had to work very hard to be able to go out to dinner, Do you get a tip at your job probably the answer is no. Even if the service was good you should not feel ashamed to not leave a tip. Maybe you could not afford it or whatever the reason. Remember you paid the price on the menu. If the waiter does like not getting a tip give him a copy of the want ads there are millions of jobs listed there if he is not satisfied with being a waiter.

But remember if you do feel tipping is necessary it is 10% before tax.

I am sure you work hard for your money. Why give it to someone who already get paid to serve you. His salary is already included in the price you paid for your meal. If he/she does not like the job I repeat go find another one. A good policy would be to take the 10-15% tip you would ordinarily give the waiter and put it in the collection plate at Church or you always put it in your child or grandchild's college fund.

Answer 16

Tipping (despite popular belief) is something you do when you want to reward a person for an exceptional, or at least average effort. I find that tipping in restaurants is often stupid. #1 why only waitstaff? they only get the order then bring it to you and fill your drink, maybe make you a salad. all the real work is done by a chef. #2 Why reward sub par effort? people get these jobs in the same respect as a salesman, if the sale man doesn't work hard for a sale, he/she doesn't get commission. #3 If your service is suspect why suspect just the wait staff? Most places of business share an attitude, i.e. if one is pissed at the boss all are. or if the waiter does a poor job why wouldn't the cook? I wouldn't have left a tip, not just to keep my money but to inspire better service for the next customer.

Answer 17

leave a 2 dollar tip and a note that says "get a new job" Ya Dig

Answer 18

Give him like 2 cents

Answer 19

As a server, I find the way it was handled wrong. Although it was water and did not stain your clothes, they should have accommodated for it a little bit. I spilled root beer on a mans white suit- we offered to dry clean it and bought a few appetizers for them. Next time, I suggest talking to the manager and telling him you are frustrated. If the meal and service was okay, I'd say leave a tip- just not an exceptional one. We servers depend on those tips for rent.