Originally Posted by DakarM

BTW I tip because my family owns a restaurant and I've worked there as a busboy for several years during highschool. So I know the kind of crap people go through.

During the course of a 4hr dinner shift, you might get 1 customer who tips 20% but a bunch that tips 5% or no tip. Are they doing their job? yes, is it an easy job? certainly not, on your feet for 10-12hrs a day? I know I couldn't do it and I only did it for 4hrs at a time.

Finally I don't just blindly give 20% all the time, if I get good service I tip well, if not I don't tip well but I always tip. I've even praised waiter/waitress by calling over the manager/owner of the restaurant. In a job where you aren't appreciated very much at all and take the blame for the mistakes made in the kitchen, a little praise and a few dollar more in tip goes a long long way.