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Old 09-09-2008, 04:36 PM   #86
octothorp
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sainters7 View Post

So my question is this: If a friend/family member/significant other/co-worker, etc.. treats you to a meal and they tip terribly, is it rude of you towards the person treating you to pull out some coin and add to their tip? As by doing so, you're basically announcing to them that you think they're a cheap-ass tipper.
Yeah, if you've got cash, it's easy and not too rude to say, 'hey, thanks for dinner, the least I can do is get the tip,' and then give them back their four bucks and add a real tip.

However, I've been in that same situation where a friend was taking me out for dinner, and I didn't bring my wallet, and then he tipped about $4 on a $60 meal. There was only one waitress serving about eight tables, and she did a great job all things considered. I felt awful about her getting such a bad tip. I handled it like this:
Me, knowing I have no money with me: "Wow, thanks for dinner. Let me get the tip, it's the least I can do."
Him: "Okay, sure."
Me, taking the bill, start adding it: "Let's see, fifty, times fifteen percent, that should be... uh..."
Him: "Eight?"
Me: "Yeah, about eight. Service was pretty good, should we call it ten?"
Him: "Yeah, and she was cute too. Ten sounds good."
Me: "Oh damn, I didn't bring my wallet, since I knew you were paying."

At this point, he's already agreed that $10 is a fair tip, and he'd look like a big ass for not ponying up at that point, so of course he puts in the rest. Tactful? I thought so. The waitress gets a fair tip, he gets to look generous, and I look slightly stupid for forgetting my wallet.
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