Ditto, but I usually go places where the waiters come and ask you if you need anything every 15 - 20 mins. I went to a place that didn't once, they took the order and then I had to hunt down a member of the wait staff for another drink, hell had to hunt one down to pay the bill... never went back.

I was just at a bar and burger joint

Hmm, I should definitely start leaving notes when I have to leave low tips.

I don't remember what the highest tip I've ever left was, but I definitely do go above the usual 15-18% for exceptional service.

I think the biggest tip for me was £25 and that was at a pizza hut.

Kaguya - Okay, I need to know why

Coda - Like I remember once, some gal was obviously just unhappy. What she got: A quarter, a note, and a little picture of a dinosaur. The picture was the dinosaur speaking: "You seem to be having a bad day. I saw you take it out on your coworkers and customers a bit. You okay? Need a hug? Here, have a dino hug. And remember- If you don't love what you're doing, find something else. If you can't, try to make it something you can love. Tell me what's making your day bad, and I'll call my dinosaur buddies, beat up the problem ,and then we'll all hang out and watch land before time. You should use the quarter to get some candy. And remember, frowning just makes you sadder."

I saw her again two weeks later and she stopped me. I got a free peanut butter milkshake, and she actually still had the note. I have a copy in my email from her, because I love the story.

It was a birthday outing, the two servers went out of their way to make sure my partners little bro had the time of his life. Even though cause of disabilities he wasn't being easy. so I thought they deserved it.

Yes...My parents' friends in Taiwan have a running joke that the whole system here is out to rob us.

Oh all systems are out to rob you

Well, all systems are out to maximize their personal profit. Robbing you is a side effect.

Yeah, that's why I generally tend to not do systems.

lol.. I don't think I fit in this thread. XD Anyway, message me sometime on FB, Asami.

I don't know if you've talked to her since, but she's doing well. She's married with cats. :3

On the topic of tipping, I usually calculate what 15% is, then round up or down to make the bill the nearest dollar amount depending on how the service was. I've never left a note, but that does sound like an awesome idea.

That's what I do, too -- 15% is easy to figure out (knock off a digit, then add half of that) and then rounding it to make the check total a round dollar amount means I don't have my bank's Keep the Change kick in. (I don't MIND Keep the Change, I mean, the automatic savings bailed me out on more than one occasion while I was living paycheck-to-paycheck, but I'd rather send those pennies to a good waiter than to my savings account.)

Huh, I don't think my bank does that. It sounds really neat though. Mine just automatically transfers no less than $75 from checking to savings every month. I can set it higher than that if I want, but I already transfer half my paycheck to savings anyway.

Mine rounds all transactions up to the next dollar and puts the difference in a savings account.

Lucid - No, I remember it was made quite clear to me contacting her again was probably a bad idea. But I'm glad she's doing well!

Wait, you're allowed to be married AND have cats? I love modern society!