Charges against non-tippers dropped .

[no1_vern]

Quote:

Bethlehem police plan to withdraw theft charges against two college students who refused to leave a tip at a local pub for what they said was bad service, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said today.

John P. Wagner, 24, of Wayne, N.J., and Leslie A. Pope, 22, of Pottsville were charged last month with a summary offense of theft of services after they wouldn't pay the more than $16 tip they were charged by Lehigh Pub on E. Fourth Street.

The case has captured national attention and brought debate over a daily restaurant question: Is a tip mandatory or a reward for good service?

-SNIP-
Leslie Pope told her mother the service was poor and after their salad and wings were dropped off, they never saw their waitress again. Denise Pope said her daughter and seven friends had to get their own drinks at the bar and search for silverware.

Morganelli said Bethlehem Commissioner Randy Miller told him Friday that the department planned to drop the charges, a move Morganelli said he agrees with.

Please tell me what you think - Is a tip mandatory or a reward for good service?

[Shipuuden]

Ridiculous... A tip is a bonus for good service, not mandatory...

[The Real Bingo]

Been hearing a lot about this since it's local. Pretty stupid, and amazing how charges were pressed. Theft of services? If they paid the bill, they didn't steal anything. If the restaurant wants tips to be mandatory they should include it in the bill with the requisite notice of that fact.

[-FMA]

I eat out quite often and I've only never tipped a couple times due to the fact that it slipped my mind. When service is poor, I don't feel the need to be very generous when tipping but I will give something.

For average service though, I'll normally tip around 15% and good service is anywhere from 20-25%, the latter usually being great service.

Though I still don't believe it is mandatory to tip. There's quite a few things not everyone factors into service not being great which don't reflect on your waitress. If it's a busy night, it's to be expected that service won't be top notch always and the waitress is working very hard so I wouldn't count that towards my tipping.

[-FMA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Real Bingo

Been hearing a lot about this since it's local. Pretty stupid, and amazing how charges were pressed. Theft of services? If they paid the bill, they didn't steal anything. If the restaurant wants tips to be mandatory they should include it in the bill with the requisite notice of that fact.

Certainly, they're at no fault. Even if the service was good, they're still at no fault, they're only guilty of poor etiquette.

[The Real Bingo]

The service has to be piss poor for me not to tip. I know the wait staff gets paid jack and that tips are their livelihood. And, of course, it's all about the service - if the food is crap, that's not the server's fault.

[-FMA]

I like the way you've been thinking lately Bingo.

A good example of another factor which shouldn't reflect your server.

[SeanC]

I tip starting at 20% from when I walk into the place, then depending how service goes, the tip will go up or down.

I've left as much as 30% for what I thought was amazing service to as low as pocket change for beyond crappy service and discourteous treatment.

My tip drops a little if the food is bad but not to pocket change levels. It's not the server's fault if the cook can't cook.

[Gomer]

From the last time we talked about this. You forgot the "I can afford the luxury of dining out, but can't afford to leave the customary tip" option.

Quote:

Originally Posted by no1_vern

We do. You may not like it, but we do NOT HAVE to give a tip. Listen, I fully agree that the wait staff is horribly paid, I do tip when I can. IF I only have enough money for the food, I still have enough money to "go out". The tip is OPTIONAL not a requirement. It is not my problem if I dont have enough money left over for a tip .

This from a guy who wants to tell everyone one else what and why being good is all about!

"The food" is not only the stuff that you eat, it is the preparation, the service, and the people that clean up after you.

How on earth... upon bestowing upon yourself the luxury of having someone cook your food, serve it to you, and clean up after you... do you make the determination that you had enough to enjoy those services, but not enough money for a tip? Are you trying to tell me you've got your money budgeted so tight that you can tell when there isn't $3-$10 in it for a tip after dinner? If that is the case, you've got your priorities out of whack if you're going out to eat!

And while we're at it... if your budget is that tight, which gets cut first; the money for the church or the tips for the waitstaff?

You're a piece of work.

FWIW, there isn't anyone on that list I need to worry about tipping. I guess that goes to show how tight things are (or how frugal I am). And while I still dine out, if it ever got to the point that I couldn't afford to provide the customary tip that makes up the wages of the people lavishing me in luxury, I certainly would not take advantage of those people (OPTIONAL or not). No fantastical reward or punishment required.

Have you ever stuck around and explained to the waitstaff that you were sorry, it wasn't the quality of their service that resulted in the lack of a tip... it was just that you couldn't afford it? Maybe even let them know beforehand. I'm sure you haven't or won't though... because you know no matter how kind hearted the person... they'd recognize your excuse for the crock of shit it is!

[cksboy15]

Tips are mandatory now? Wow, I better stop giving 50% tips whenever I actually go out to eat. Which is only a few times a year since I prefer to cook my own food. Much better than anything I've eaten at a restaurant that I could afford to pay the bill (funny story about that I came up $5 short in a french restaurant).