We all run into bad service, but do you try to reward good service?

Yes, I do. It kind of makes me mad that you can't reward good service sometimes. There was a kid at Walmart who had to help us with some major appliances last winter. He did so cheerfully and was very helpful, considering it was cold and snowing. I think he went above and beyond the call of duty. But when we tried to tip him, he said he wasn't allowed and could be fired for taking it. Now, I'll bet all the CEOs and Sam Walton himself got major, huge bonuses for just doing their jobs, and this kid couldn't accept five dollars? What's wrong with this picture?

Only very rarely. My reasoning being that the price being asked should be the charge for GOOD service not POOR service. I might complain if the service is abysmal but I don't believe that a reward/tip should be expected by those just doing the job for which they are paid (a job they would not have if I and others were not customers).

I appreciate that some jobs don't command a good wage but in U.K. we have laws about minimum wages and I cannot see why one minimum wage earner (a hairdresser for example) should feel that she should tip a waitress - or vice versa. What the well off do with their money is their business but I have never been well off and never will be so I watch every penny.

I worked at Friendly's many, many years ago. I remember a couple came in & only wanted a soda but they want me to put chocolate syrup in it. Back then the soda was probably less than a dollar & they left me a $5 tip. So their bill was probably less than $2. I still feel good when I think of that.

One day the seafood or something was not good. I didn't know it. It was a busy day & no one said anything. I went to clean off a table & the person left NO tip. Then covered their food with a napkin which I had never seen.

Then later someone else covered their food with a napkin. I was young & probably a really good waitress but I guess I didn't ask them how the food was. I only thought about that just now.

So if a person is a bad waiter or waitress, the manager probably did not teach them properly.

I am going to rethink about how to handle this. I don't eat out much anymore but I wonder if it is partly our responsibility if we can to take it, to speak up & teach them what makes a good waiter/waitress.

I know I want the place to smell good as I enter. I want the silverware on the table so no one is asking for a spoon to stir their coffee, everything should be filled, sugar, napkins, etc. Details, details, details.

I am great with details but I never thought about asking people how their food was. I have learned most of what I know from my own experience of eating out. What if the servers are so poor they don't eat out?

Should we punish them for what they don't know? I think not or low tipping is a passive-aggressive way of communicating. So you have helped me raise my consciousness about this subject.

I always over tip everyone, whether we're out in a restaurant or the pizza delivery person, hairdresser, etc. I was in the service business and lived on tips when I first started working and know what it's like, and I know how hard most of them work. I've really never had someone so overtly rude or give bad enough service to not tip at all luckily.

I agree with the standard tipping of 20% for good service, and more, if the service is exceptional. If I am really impressed, I not only will thank the server personally, but will tell either the manager or hostess how very special their employee is.

It is unfortunate that people don't hesitate to complain about someone, but hardly ever do they go out of their way to give someone a compliment to their superior.

A person who gives excellent service should have it reflected in the tip by the customer, because "excellent" services received are few and far between anymore. But, on the other side of the coin, there is nothing carved in stone which says you have to tip those who do not give good service, and I think it is actually wrong to do so, because then you are saying that you approve of their shoddy service, when, in fact, you do not.

Yes, I want the person to know I liked the service and hopefully will receive it the same service next time I do business with them.It can be anyone from my hairdresser to the waitress. I went out for breakfast this morning with people I work with, and we had the best waitress. All of us got the breakfast specials which came to $7.12 each including coffee. Four breakfasts=$28.48. We gave her $40 and thought that was a great tip!

Yes. Very good idea. Tipping is important, because for many it's their income, since they are paid so little. But good service certainly deserves to be acknowledged. When I dine out and notice excellent service, I make a point of telling the server and express it also in a slightly higher tip.

Where I live tipping in restaurants is a minimal affir, a slight show of appreciation which usually involves just leaving the coins that are the change or a small bill equal to abt 60 cents US - so, when service is good as it often is - there is plenty of upside for a good tip. And yes, I do, often.

I have often rang a place of business to speak to management to let them know of excellent service I have received from their workers. I like to comment on the employees skills, attitude and willingness to go beyond what is usually expected of a service provider. If possible I would relay this to the workers supervisor in person. Tips are tips and often have to be shared with coworkers, some who may not be as good as the worker you have praised. However ringing management or human resources means that good comments concerning employees can be used to help the worker get promotions or passed on to future employees in references.