Warren Sapp stiffs waitress on tip

[CF DolFan]

He even admitted it after someone tweeted it. He wrote on the check "Boys don't tip!" and put a zero on a $69 tab.

Sapp said service was bad and she kept referring to them as boys. Either way it doesn't look good for him.

[Brian Fein]

Is it typical to just NOT tip is service is bad?  I was just discussing this with a coworker at lunch time.  She said she went to dinner, the service was awful, and she left without tipping.

Isn't it the point of a tip is to reward for good service?  In that case, what recourse do you have if the service sucks?

If Sapp didn't tip just because she kept calling them "boys" then that's dumb and he sucks.  But if the service really was awful, then why is this a story?

[CF DolFan]

It's a story because he's a former NFL player and he didn't tip.

My understanding of tipping is 10% for bad service. Seems to me it's a known fact that the tip is part of your bill whenever you go into a place of service. If not, then the staff would at least make minimum wage.

I found this online in regards to tipping for bad service.

I am a waitress, and you should always tip at least 15%.  If you do not, the server is PAYING TO SERVE YOU.  99% of the time they have to tip out to other people in the restaurant (bartenders, hosts, bussers, food runners, managers, etc.) so by not tipping them, they are paying for you to sit there and eat your meal.  Also, what a lot of people don’t realize is that it may not be the servers fault, kitchens/chefs mess up orders a lot of the time.

If you have a problem with something, ask to speak with a manager and complain about what was wrong to them.

[CF DolFan]

And I almost forgot ... now everyone know Sapp doesn't tip. This will likely mean his service will get extra attention and not the kind he was looking for!!

Just a suggestion ... I wouldn't want to go out and eat with him!! LOL

[pondwater]

Let me preface by saying that I usually tip 10-15% depending on service. However, when did a tip become expected? If the tip isn't included in the bill, then in my opinion it is optional and dependant on level of service. It seems to me that there are two problems. The first is that all workers should be covered by the minimum wage law regardless of tips. And the second is that the waitress should realize that in reality not everyone is going to tip and if they can't handle that reality then they should find a new profession. Besides, if you can't average $15 of more an hour with tips then you probably aren't a good server or need to move to a different establishment.

[Phishfan]

I always tip. The amount is dependent on the quality of service though.

[Fau Teixeira]

i agree with pondwater mostly.

Tip workers are already covered by minimum wage laws .. they make a reduced wage + tips .. if those tips + that reduced wage don't' equal out to the actual minimum wage, the restaurant has to make up the difference.

As far as the sob story about a waitress not making enough .. her options are to either provide better service, or find a new career. I tip very well, when i'm satisfied with the service, it's never below 20%. If the service sucks, then that will directly affect the tip amount.

Blaming the cooks doesn't fly in my book .. if the server brings me the wrong food .. it's on them .. they know what i ordered. If the cook gives you the wrong food .. then tell them it's the wrong food and explain that to me .. i won't stiff a waiter for doing their job properly. Bringing me what i ordered correctly is the bare minimum of what they should do.

[Brian Fein]

Agree with Fau on every point.

A server that comes to me and says "The kitchen made the wrong thing so I had them re-fire it" will ALWAYS get a better tip from me than the server that knowingly brings me the wrong food and hopes I either don't notice or don't care.  The server is a quality-control position, and has the ability to reject something if its wrong.

I typically START my tip at 20%.  Makes the math easier.  But, I've been known to tip as much as 50% for excellent service.  You have to be downright awful to get less than 15%. 

A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to lunch and the service was the worst ever.  I tipped the guy like 10% and felt guilty about it.  But he probably didn't even deserve that much.

[Tenshot13]

I go with 20% almost always. If its bad I do 15%, and if it's god awful I do 10%. I've only stiffed one waitress ever, and that's because she was rude and got lippy with us.

Oh and this isn't the first time I've heard of Sapp stiffing a server. He used to do it all the time when he was a player here in Tampa.

[masterfins]

I agree with what just about everything everyone else has said.  I start with a 20% tip and go down from there, unless I'm eating at a locally owned place where the prices are fairly lower than chain restaurants, then it may be 25 or 30%.  However, I get perturbed with this idea that servers think they "deserve" a tip just for showing up.  If I don't get a hint that the person is putting in some effort, then its 15%.  If they are too "busy", or rude, to provide proper service its 10%.  I can't recall ever not leaving a tip, but their were a few times I wanted to because the food was terrible, which wasn't the servers fault.  Also, I do sometimes go with the old rule about only tipping 10% on beverages, since they are usually the highest mark-up item on the menu.

Furthermore, depending on state law the tip portion of a wage is about 50%, so if a server can't make $4/hour in tips they need to find a new profession, or a new employer.  Watch the movie Reservoir Dogs for a good debate on tipping.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I'm along the same lines as the others....I generally will tip 20% or more. Give me lousy service and you will get a lousy tip, period!!!!!! I'm pretty easy to please as well....not one to get to easily get upset with servers so they really have to screw up or shoot me an attitude to get a bad tip and I have never stiffed a server. However if someone wants to stiff a server for horrible service that is their right. Under no circumstances should servers expect a 15% tip no matter what. If that is the case they can do and act as they please if they don't have to work for it.

[MikeO]

If he would have just left no tip......this is a non-story. Famous or not people don't leave tips all the time for whatever reason.

The fact he had to write a snarky comment on the bill as to why he didn't leave a tip.....that's why this has made headlines.

[MikeO]

Here is the debate I have with friends all the time; do you tip on a takeout order? Where you place a phone call order and go pick it up yourself? Because last year Drew Brees got ripped in the media for only leaving a $3 tip on a takeout order. Most people don't tip at all on take-out orders!

[RichThrawn]

i agree with pondwater mostly.

Tip workers are already covered by minimum wage laws .. they make a reduced wage + tips .. if those tips + that reduced wage don't' equal out to the actual minimum wage, the restaurant has to make up the difference.

As far as the sob story about a waitress not making enough .. her options are to either provide better service, or find a new career. I tip very well, when i'm satisfied with the service, it's never below 20%. If the service sucks, then that will directly affect the tip amount.

Blaming the cooks doesn't fly in my book .. if the server brings me the wrong food .. it's on them .. they know what i ordered. If the cook gives you the wrong food .. then tell them it's the wrong food and explain that to me .. i won't stiff a waiter for doing their job properly. Bringing me what i ordered correctly is the bare minimum of what they should do.

What if the food is not cooked properly and the server can't tell?   Food like steaks or chicken breast can easily be overcooked or undercooked and the outside will look perfect.

I always tip.  About 10-12% for bad service, 15-18% for ok service, and 20-25% for excellent service

[pondwater]

And actually, I don't really go by percentage. It kind of depends on the type of place I'm in and how busy they are. If I spend $20-30 I'll leave $5, if I spend $30-50 I'll leave $7, and over $50-100 is usually $10-15 depending on level of service. I never got the percentage thing. Why should the tip be different based on an $8.99 appetizer vs a $18 dinner plate. They're still bringing a plate and refilling my glass. Most waitstaff that I've known have made real good money and some have better income than me. No need to go overboard and just blow money to feel good about myself.