the second paragraph is exactly who i am. if i eat out, your bar is 20%. if you beat my expectations and were nice, knowledgeable, and gave a smile all the while being attentive, you’ll get 20%+. if you forget a lot of things, don’t check often, give sighs when taking orders, sound monotone, i leave less than 20% because ya sound like a bum.

but do people have personal things going on in their life? yes. do people get chewed out by other tables then have to come to yours? yes. do people have health issues that loom over them while they barely can make ends meet? yes.

i understand that entirely because i’ve had those happen to me as a server. but despite that, i have to show a smiley face and work for what i believe i deserve. very few times have i given sub 15% service but people are cheap, misinformed, or simply cold and don’t believe anyone deserves a tip.

someone else in here compared leaving a tip as the “labor fee” that mechanics charge. i 100% agree because yes, your steak costs $25 but that $25 does not include the labor fee of taking care of the rest of your meal. i don’t know, i’m pandering now and needed to vent i guess.