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> Sounds like we tip the same way (tipping before taxes, higher for good service, lower for bad). Although I have to admit I have a harder time tipping lower for bad service. I always feel like there may be some reason we don't know of that the server gave bad service... perhaps they are having a bad day (death in the family, break-up, car broke down, etc)? I know, unlikely, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I cannot bring myself to leave no tip at all (unless we are in NZ, where they don't tip). Sam doesn't seem to have this problem.
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> Also, we almost always order water. The times I went out to dinner with my parents as a kid, we would order water for the drink. I guess it got to be a habit, and now I have a really hard time ordering anything but water. Skipping soda and dessert means we can eat out twice as much. ;)
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> -Leen

I read somewere once that if the service is really bad, you should leave a dime. If you don't leave anything it might appear to be an oversight, but the dime tells them the service wasn't worth much.

I don't think I could do that because I have waited tables before. Of course that was so long ago, a dime was an average tip.
How"never made 1949 waiter of the year"ard