Obvious boy, that overall message is in the Bible though, which is obviously where Ben F. got it from. "Faith without works is dead" James 2:14

I agree with you! I would never tip anyone 15-20% of my bill at a restaurant over here in Germany, so I would probably not even think about doing so in the US. I mean...that's like a lot of money. The waiter probably deserves fair payment, but I don't think the customer should be the one adding up their wages? I've never been to the US, but I guess eating out isn't significantly cheaper than in other western countries, isn't it? So I would be paying a lot more money at a restaurant just because the owner doesn't pay appropriate wages to his employees? This system pr obably needs a change. I had no idea that the minimum wage in the US is that low!!! :(

Hey, the Bible may not be money, but it sure does help in life, believe it or not.

Having worked in retail I understand that customers are all jackasses. Unless you work or have worked with the public then you don't know what you are taking about. I always tip 18-25% if they are decent. If they really wow me I go higher (but it is hard to find happy people because read above) if they are horrible I try to ask them about it and try to understand. Mostly it was because someone just before me was a real ass. Sometimes they look at my clothes and think I am poor and won't tip so I get bad service in advance.

America should take a leaf out of Australia's book. Don't ever need to tip then. Honestly though a meal + tip in America is probably significantly cheaper than a meal in Australia, but eh, GST works fairly well.

Fine. SO the server should have helped herself to their wallets for a larger tip. Maybe she can sell the bible on the internet?

A tip is a tip! Lucky you even got one haha.

OP- Clearly a lot of the responses are from people with a very limited understanding of food service and waiting- I'm sorry this happened to you and it's unfair the bible thumpers (were they thumping their bibles during the meal?) stiffed you like that.... Nothing's going to make that better, I know, buy you have my sympathy for them making a hard job worse.

It could be possible that $9 was all they could tip. There have been times where the bill was a little more than I expected and I could only tip a small amount.

I'm so sorry you were treated like that. I waited tables one summer and it was harder than most people think. Hopefully you'll get a big tipper on another meal. I always try to tip at least 20%.