Do you still leave a tip when you receive bad service?

United States
April 25, 2008 10:08pm CST
Today I got a wild hair and decided to get my nails done. I haven't had them done in about 3 or 4 years. Anyway, on my lunch I located the shop in the mall and I asked the girl if I could make an appointment for 6 when I got off work, but she insisted that she could go ahead and do them then. I explained to her that I only had a half hour until I had to be back, but she was adamant that she could have me back within the half hour. Well, that I had to see, so I agreed. 45 minutes later.....To top it off, the sign distinctly said $24.99 and up. I guess I should have paid more attention to the "up" because it turned out to be $38. I was pretty ticked. The nails turned out ok, not fabulous, but acceptable, but I was probably about 20-25 minutes late back from lunch. I handed the girl $40, only $2 for a tip and she seemed to get an attitude, but I feel like she's lucky that I tipped her at all. One of the only reasons she did was because I didn't have time to stand around and wait for the change. When you receive bad service do you still tip?
15 people like this
50 responses
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
26 Apr 08
Wow nails have really went up. I don't blame you I would have only payed her 2.00 for a tip also. Also with her insisting that she could have them done in time for you to return back to work that was very rude of her. I tip but if I get bad customer service not as much.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 08
They better have some serious nail polish, not just that OPI stuff that chips off before even one day. No but I have had a bad experience with my hair getting overprocessed this year and i have been walking around with the most unmanageable hair afraid to get it fixed, my roots (black) are like 3 inches long and I have blonde highlights. I have a whole new respect for my natural hair let me tell you. Still, some reason I felt compelled to satisfy and gave her 10 bucks for a 60 dollar cut and highlight. This was actually the second time I wasnt satisfied with this place but still tipped pretty well but I live in a College town and this place is right on campus and has been there for over 20 years so I just assumed it was worth trying again. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way and know they have a high turnout with their stylist so Im going to go much more glitzy this next time since tax checks are coming in.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
26 Apr 08
It's gwttig riduculis how much hair stylists charge these days. Where my mother was working at Smart Style they charged outragous prices there and this is a small town we live in perms 80.00 or more depending on the length of your hair.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
1 Jun 08
I don't go to places where I can leave tips very often, but when I receive bad service I don't leave any tips or I leave extremely little tip. After all, they also get their wages so what id a tip than an extra payment for the quality of the service you get?
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Jun 08
I completely agree. Leaving a tip is a benefit to those that have provided service not a given.
@jhartana (1084)
• Australia
26 Apr 08
It depends on my mood. If I got the bad service and the employee / manager apologizes then I still tip them. If not then they won't get a cent from me.
1 person likes this
@venshida (4836)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I do, but the tip is usually really low. I went with my daughter recently to a famous singer restaurant the food was good, but the service was horrible. The bill was over $60.00,but we only tip $4.00.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
26 Apr 08
it depends. things like my nails and my hair, i really don't play. you have to be on point when you are in personal service like that. if you are not doing you best job at all times, you will not get a tip from me.
@angemac23 (2003)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
I do not tip when I receive bad service, I only pay the lsited price....the way I see it is the person providing the service only has to be friendly and do their job in a professional way and I will tip them....if they are rude or unprofessional, they dont deserve a tip! I pay good money for them to serve me and they better do it right!
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
26 Apr 08
oh no... definitely no... i won't give a tip if the service is bad... and to force you to do your nails straight away is a bit rude i think... plus they had made you come back late from your break... i hope you won't get into trouble with your boss for being late from your break...
1 person likes this
@nyumix (1658)
• Belgium
26 Apr 08
You still did nice compare me. I would not give tip if it happen to me.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
26 Apr 08
Well in UK, we do not have to tip, many places do not require it, but some places will have a tip plate or jar on the counter if you wish to leave something. If we go out for a meal and we are happy with the service and food then we will leave a tip, but if we go somewhere and the service is rubbish then there is no way we leave a tip!!
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 08
that stinks espically since you were treating yourself. We got bad service the other day at a restrant, the waiter was in complete la la land. I mean it took him like 15 minutes to get my drink. We didnt complain. We also still tipped, but not nearly as much as what it would have been if he would have been a good serverw
1 person likes this
• Oman
26 Apr 08
I don't leave a tip for a bad service and I usually try inform them the management about the bad service so they can improve their service next time. when it comes to dining out, if the service is bad I let them know and don't comeback to that place. no sense pissing the person who handles your food then come back only for them to spit on your food.lol
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
I don't tip for bad service. I feel it encourages the same treatment if i choose to return to the same place. If asked if i want to leave a tip and the service was bad I try to be nice but let them know i wasnt happy with the service i receive. That way they know im not happy and dont think oh she was just being cheap.
1 person likes this
@magrylouyu (1627)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Honestly not really. I'll leave one dollar or nothing depending on how bad the service really is. If it's so bad that I wish I hadn't gone there then their likely to get nothing at all.
1 person likes this
@fenicliu (93)
• China
26 Apr 08
Absolutely no! I very appreciate your good personal connotation that still give the tips to that girl. If I were you, I would not. In my country, if we don't satifify with the service they provided, we will complaint strongly and refuse to pay. Of course, you have not time to argue, so you choose accept. But plz remember and try to leave yourself enough time for the next occasion.
@feris0604 (303)
• Malaysia
26 Apr 08
In my place, if the service is bad, it would be rather expensive. So, if the service is bad, I pay them cash, right up to the stated cent and no more. Many times, the waiters and waitresses would hope to ask for more, but to me, the services said it all. BAD!
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
I don't tip for bad service but my boyfriend is very shy and he tips anyway. So I don't win lol. He is the one that pays the outing we go to.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 08
If I get bad service, they do not get tipped. Their job is to be caring and to get their customers what they need and to be as nice as possible. That's their job. They either do what they need to do, or they do not get paid their tips. I feel like people that work for regular wages and tips feel that they are entitled to tips no matter how bad they treat their customers. I don't let them walk all over me. I'm paying for my meal or service and they're providing it. Don't provide it? Don't get paid.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
25 Aug 08
No. I don't think it is fair to expect a tip when you don't give good service, nor to have to pay for bad service. I hate more than that... that insanely loud, music that the places plays. I went to a place on sunday and it was so loud I won't go back again. I asked for it to be turned down and they said they couldn't. SO the music so loud was bad enough, but with it so loud, that means the other eaters have to be loud when they talk which i is multiplied by the number of eaters there and it is insanely loud. no enjoyment there!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Apr 08
Awhile back I had such bad service at my favorite restaurant that when went to use my debit card the girl asked if I wanted to leave a tip and I said rather bluntly no thanks it was not that good. And it really was not and I should have made them take it back and reheat it or cook it a little bit more. I had ordered steak med well done and it was bloody inside yuuck.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58443)
• Philippines
26 Apr 08
it seems that service providers nowadays expect to get a tip despite of their bad service. i don't give tips at all if i feel like i got the short end of the deal. if there is something tha ti need to complain about, i seek out a manager or supervisor to correct it. if things come out ok, i usually leave a minimal amount of tip. people should remember that a tip is given for great extraordinary service. i've worked hard for my money and there's no reason why others won't have to work hard for theirs also.
1 person likes this