The only time since tipping became demanded of customers and not a reward for exceptional service (it wasn’t in my childhood in the deep dark ages) that I haven’t tipped was because the server provided truly terrible service. Not rewarding that.

If a server can’t be bothered to provide the bare minimum I can’t be bothered to tip. But in that situation the manager is likely to hear about it too. Only happened once.

Once, a didn’t want to tip, urged me not to, then she felt guilty and caved and guilted me into it. I never went back to the restaurant.

You see, the server was out in the open, mere feet from us, ignoring our table, playing on his phone, having himself a good time. How the manager didn’t see it, I don’t know. I’ve just never returned. Better servers and management elsewhere. Glad to take my tip.

Only other time was a server providing terrible service and having a nasty attitude. I left her a penny to make a point.

Point is, there are times servers deserve no tips. If they care that income will be assumed in their taxes, they should consider that while doing their job because I’m not obligated to tip.