@Anonymous wrote:I realize this topic is dead and gone but....
Depends on my mood honestly.. I've had good checks (to me at the time for being 17 with a 1000 bucks) where I'd tip the dominos driver 10 bucks and I even tipped a waitress at twin peaks $40 once at my friends bachelor party (I was obviously inebriated but she was very cool and put up with a group of drunk guys).. The worse service I ever got I wrote "get another job" on the tip line (the girl messed up every order and didnt even bring one of my friends his food and yelled at us when we complained)
OK, the mom and former busboy in me is making disapproving clucking noises, but in fact, that's an awesome combo of a great pun on the word "tip" with the squawk of a mistreated customer. 
@quest208 wrote:i have to say though, if service is just horrible, i refuse to tip. period. there's no excuse for bad service. i can understand trying hard and still coming up short. i know its busy sometimes, so i understand mistakes happen when there are other variables outside your control which affect service. but horrible service gets zero tip.
+1
When I first came to this country (a couple of years back) I had no idea how much to tip (tipping is not customary where I come from, it's more of a "keep the change" kind of a deal), and I was especially clueless about delivery tipping.
Over time, what I came down to is 14-18% for average service, outside of that--the more you try the more you get. And by that I really don't mean anything special: there's this rather average-looking Indian place in MS where I used to live, but with amazing food and amazingly friendly service: I am always welcomed with a smile, served with a smile, courteously, and with patience. Suffice it to say, I never leave that place without leaving at least 33% of the bill as the tip, and I don't have to think twice about it.
I also tip a minimum of $3 for deliveries (my order is usually a little under $9) at the place where I get most deliveries from, and I've noticed that service (and the quality of french fries) has improved drastically since I started doing so--I used to tip about a $1 (like I said, I was CLUELESS), and I would wait on average 20-25 minutes more for my orders than I do now. Now, I might be mistaking correlation with causation here, but that's my impression. 
@quest208 wrote:i tip 20% almost 100% of the time.
if service is bad i make a complaint, but usually i make sure we start off on the right foot so that i get good service. if there are mistakes at the beginning i either get a new waiter/waitress or i make sure to mention it. i HATE having a bad experience since its my money that is being spent (or my wifes......ok ok ok "our" money).
if its a place that i frequent, i tip no less than 20%.
it also depends too. if a 20% tip comes out to, say $18, i just leave a 20 dollar bill and call it a day. i try to round up especially if its a place that i frequent, like a local restaurant or bar. i get remembered and in the long run i end up saving money.
i worked in the restaurant business years ago and i know that some people depend on good tips to make a living. ive been there so i know how it is when someone leaves a 20% tip, it feels good.
when i get comps, i like to be generous. usually over 30% if my entire check is comped and as high as 50% of what would have been my check.again, in the long run it works out.
i have to say though, if service is just horrible, i refuse to tip. period. there's no excuse for bad service. i can understand trying hard and still coming up short. i know its busy sometimes, so i understand mistakes happen when there are other variables outside your control which affect service. but horrible service gets zero tip.
I agree. Terrible service does not deserve a tip. Period. As someone who has worked in the restaurant industry (although not as a waitress) and in retail, I understand the importance of tips and how many people in that industry struggle financially. On the flip side, I am not going to line someone's pockets who treats me like I am not an important customer with my hard earned cash. Not gonna happen.
I think America needs to change tipping. Abroad, waitstaff in other countries do not rely on patrons' tips to survive. They are paid a living wage and therefore do not give fake customer service just to get a tip. That's my two cents.
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