I tip the people who deliver my groceries.

I have no clue how much one is supposed to tip people in this circumstance.

If one of the delivery people said, "Is this what you really want to tip? Most people leave more," I would be mortified in the short term but grateful for the lesson in the longer term. It's not my intention to shortchange someone whose hourly pay is low because people like me are expected to tip. On the other hand, these people have always been very very nice to me, so I cannot imagine that it would be said in a rude way.

I really think that the inappropriateness of the comment depends on how it was made, and the problem with a letter like this that doesn't describe the way it was made is that some people out there think that the slightest hint that they're not doing everything perfectly is a vicious, rude attack and others don't -- and for those of us who do not know you, Natalie, it's hard to figure out into which category you fall. I appreciate your brevity, but I wish you had said "The waitress stood by our table when we were signing the bill and checked the tip as we were leaving our table. Then she moved between us and the door and said, 'Is this what you really want to tip?'" or "My boyfriend and I were discussing how much to tip, because neither of us was sure, and we finally decided to leave $5. The waitress was with another table as we got up, and I know she heard our discussion. As we approached the door, she said 'Is this what you really want to tip?'" or something.

That said, if you were promised a gift card you should have received a gift card. No question.