Rockford Weighs In: What’s Worse, Small Tip Or No Tip?

Tipping has become one of those things that can instantly start a debate, and lately it feels like we're being asked to tip everywhere.  Coffee shops, drive-thrus, self-checkouts, food trucks, delivery apps... you name it.

I don't remember it being this bad, though.  You used to be able to go anywhere, and nobody was turning the kiosk screen around saying, "it'll ask you a couple questions" and the only thing on the screen was a tip option.  Now, you can't get away from it!

The only place I really only tip at is a sit-down restaurant.  Personally, whether the service is good or bad, I'm probably still going to leave a minimum of 20% tip every time.  If the server was super rude, that's a different story.

All this tipping got me wondering: what's actually worse?  Leaving a small tip or leaving no tip at all?

Rockford Weighs In: What's Worse, Small Tip Or No Tip?

We asked on Facebook to see what Rockford residents thought about the whole idea of "No tip or small tip", and the responses were exactly what I expected.

"Leaving a penny is a statement. If you leave nothing, they may think that you forgot." - Christine 

"If it’s bad service there is no insult. You can’t blame a waiter for a kitchen mistake as you can’t blame the kitchen for a waiter mistake." - Jen

"Leave a smallish tip and speak to a manager or if it’s a bigger chain restaurant email customer service." - Rebeccah

If I was a server and I received no tip, I'd just let myself think the table forgot to tip, but if they leave a couple pennies I'd definitely get the hint that they didn't love the service I gave them.  In my opinion, leaving a smaller tip is totally worse if I really had to pick!