This is what I have a problem with. If the tip wasn't up to your standard you going to throw shade on them next time they come in? Since they didn't tip good once, they never going to tip good? The could've left the restaurant and raved about the food and service (yours in particular) and sent more business (more tips for you) your way. Appreciation of service doesn't always have a set monetary value to it.
Have a problem with it if you want....but that's just the way it is. And lets get one thing straight. It's not MY standard, but the standard that American society has already established. If I consistently get 20% or more from my tables EVERY night, then it's obvious that it's EVERYONE'S standard, not just mine.
You might call it "throwing shade", I call it looking out for myself and my fellow co workers. I know how good of a waiter I am. If I try my *** off for you, nailing every desire, modification, and request you want perfectly, while anticipating needs you didnt even know you had (like wet napkins BEFORE the end of the meal, refills BEFORE they go empty, and other endless details of service you don't normally expect of your server)....AND YOU STILL tip me only 10%? That's terrible. 10 dollars on a 100 dollar bill is an insult. I'd only expect that if I was absolutely terrible as your server. And if I see them in the restaurant again, I forewarn the waiter of how ****** they tip (unless I dropped the ball somewhere during their last visit). ALL SERVERS do this for each other. Same way that we tell each other if a good tipper is sitting in their station.
Yes, I'm very courteous, attentive, nice, and hard working for my customers. I go above and beyond as much as I can. But let's be realistic. It's because I'm selling something, and I expect proper compensation for it. I'm selling my service. A service I feel is worth a certain amount. If that amount is not met, then I feel like only one of us held up our end of the deal. Then, in the future, they'll only get the bare minimum of what's expected, if not less, because that's all you are going to pay for anyway. Pay for ****** service, get ****** service, it's only fair. If you don't wanna pay for good service, we have take out. You don't have to tip them much, but that's because they won't do anything we do, for you, at your house. (even take out gets about 8-12% on average, from their customers).
On the other side, i feel TERRIBLE when I know I messed up a few times during the guests' stay, and they STILL tip me 20 or more percent, when I feel like I only deserve 15. I feel like they got cheated.
And to everyone that thinks minimum wage is enough compensation to serve tables, you're crazy. It's a skill, a craft, that takes a long time to learn, and even longer to get good at. A lot of people fail at it and quit. Remember, we aren't just serving your table, but upwards of 6 other tables, all expecting the same timely, quality service you're getting. ALL OF THE TABLES, AT THE SAME TIME. Say what you will, but it requires a RIDICULOUS level of multitasking mentally and physically...well beyond any minimum wage job. There are extended periods of time where my mind is RACING with everything I need to accomplish, constantly prioritizing everyone's needs. If I wanted minimum wage, I'd go work at game stop where I could be stoned and or drunk out of my mind and still excel at my job.....or basically do nothing for extended periods of time.
Last night a server wore a pedometer during his 5 hour shift. He walked 8 miles during his shift. Just an interesting tid bit.