Quote Originally Posted by BobbyFresco
I can understand not tipping at Sonics but I also wasn't aware that they only made the server minimum wage...that's insane...

My question to those who refuse to tip is....why seek out a service and expect the service to be quality if you don't feel the need to tip?
Quote Originally Posted by quickdodge®
I'm not a non-tipper, but I'm not a $5 tipper, either. I pay $20 for a meal/s and I tip about $2-3. I typically stay in the 10% bracket. I'm not rich. I don't eat out at restaurants like that but maybe 2-3 times a year.

But I do believe that, tip or no tip, you should always provide the most excellent service that you can because it is, in fact, your job. If the diner doesn't tip, that sucks, but that's the nature of the business that YOU (the server) chose to get involved in. If you don't like your pay, find a job that pays what you do like.

Bottom line, to me, is there is no questioning when (or under what circumstances) should it be ok to demand excellent service. It's always ok. Later, QD.
Quote Originally Posted by BobbyFresco
I agree with most of your stance on the issue however...

Conversely, for the sake of playing devil's advocate, most adults eat out on at the very least, a semi regular basis...that being said, you know that the server relies on tips to make ends meet. You may or may not know the server gets paid $2.13 an hour so you operate on the assumption that they make minimum wage, which is hardly anything at all....Knowing these facts and knowing that most servers work hard to make sure that your meal is enjoyable, why would one not want to compensate accordingly?

Additionally, the argument could be made that if you do not feel tipping is something you should do (and when I say you, I'm not speaking of you specifically) then perhaps you shouldn't patronize establishments where tipping is someone's means of living.
What they said.....

I tip when I feel like it (97% of the time), but I should still get good customer service due to it being a service oriented job, whether I tip or not. Yet it is dumb for an establishment to expect someone to live 80% off tips. That is probably why I never wanted to be a waiter.