Every country has their different rules and cultural aspects when it comes to tipping. For example, people don't tip in Japan. In fact, it's considered disrespectful if you do. Here in America, tipping is usually not held as a customer obligation. It's more of a sign of appreciation and respect for the server(s)/deliverer/caterer/etc. We all have to remember that customers are the employers. Without them, there would be no money to put in paychecks. Give good customer service and you will usually get tipped for it; well, that's the norm anyways. Of course, there are some people who just don't tip no matter how great the service is. Personally, I always try to tip. If the service is awesome, I tip high. Service was okay, a little above the 15-20%. Poor, maybe $1 or 2. If the service was absolutely horrible (which is very rare), I don't tip at all. I'm sorry OP of your unfortunate luck. Hopefully karma will be on your side and you will get tipped much higher down the road.

Here in the UK, employees actually get paid a living wage :) we give tips when the service is great, I'd never go up to 25% though.. although American food is a lot cheaper right?

Shame religion doesn't help with anything

Why do you expect tips in the first place? It's not the customers' responsibility to pay your wages...

Sell the bible on ebay and make up for lost wages that way.

Why is everyone bashing religion. Their religion has nothing to do with how much they tip. Praying doesn't pay your bills but God can somehow make your bills go down or maybe get you a better job. You can't just be like I want money. Prayers don't work like that. They should have tipped better and your work should've had a policy for big parties.

Be thankful they left you a tip. $9 is better than $0. I'm a server and I know it sucks not getting 10-15% but its better than nothing.

I'm with Doc. He poses quite a fair argument, Twat- er, Twaumat. Personally, I'm from Britain and tipping isn't really embedded into the service culture here. Nonetheless, when my family does eat out on occassion, we like to leave something out of courtesy (especially my Mum - she started out as a waitress before becoming a financial manager at Shell). If you receive good service, why not show appreciation for it? Waiters are people too - it's nice to regard them for their efforts. They're more or less entitled to it for their consistent effort.

Since TIPS means "To Insure Prompt Service," I agree that a bigger tip should have been given to you. However, the bibles they gave were their version of a nice gesture. I think if they wanted to really show you the gesture better, it would have been more appreciated with a tip of 20 dollars at least. Not all religious people behave like that group, OP. Better luck next time when a group like that comes in.

Before this argument continues: Important information explaining why it's important to tip and tip well. 1) Tipped employees do not make a traditional hourly minimum wage. Do not equate it with fastfood employees. They make minimum. Your waiter makes 2-3 dollars maybe 4 if they are ridiculously lucky. 2) It's dumb to say "I don't need to pay someone for doing their job." WTF I don't even know how to begin. Well yes you do. I don't know if you fully understand the way a job works but its essentially exchanging your time, service, and freedom for money. Yes you need to pay your waiter to do their job. Basic economics 'Opportunity Cost' if I can't make enough at a job to subsist off of I won't continue doing that job. Your time is better served elsewhere. If you still want to go out to eat in establishments better than Mcdonalds TIP. 3) Did you know tipping benefits you? Yup, by having tipped employees restaurants can keep food prices down because there production cost is less. Tipping an extra 15-20% is still less than paying for just food for a restaurant with servers making true minimum wage or higher.