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I've never had service that I deemed to be "untippable." If the service were bad enough that I wouldn't leave a tip, I'd probably just talk to the manager. Be doing the restaurant a favor.

Furthermore, if you just don't leave a tip at all, most waiters would presume that you were just one of those a**holes who never tip "on principle", instead of concluding that you were trying to "make a statement" about the service. It's better to leave a substandard tip for substandard service, than to leave none at all.

Also, in my experience it's amazing how many people who make a point of loudly proclaiming "I don't think you should tip if the service is bad" manage to find reason to decide that the service is "bad" more times than not... e.g. "Hey, my water glass ran dry for thirty seconds before the waiter came by to refill it -- bad service, no tip for you!" Okay, that's an extreme example, but I've seen too many tightwads "justify" their crappy tipping on the thinnest of excuses, or because (from similar motivation) they set their standards of "good service" ridiculously high.

Hint: If you leave substantially less than the standard 15-20% tip more often than 1/5 of your restaurant visits, you're a cheapskate -- service isn't *that* bad *that* often. Or if it is truly that bad, it's because a) you specialize in picking trashy dives to eat in, or b) you keep doing something to inspire most waiters to snub you. And either way, *you're* the problem, don't take it out on the wait staff.

Let them presume whatever they want, I'm not going to pay extra for bad service. Like I said, I waited on tables and I drove a cab. I also delivered pizza (big time pizza delivery hint - make sure you get the pot heads. They are so happy to see you, they throw money at you. The drunks rarely tip, and they usually complain that you took too long.)

There's a big difference between a busy night for the establishment, an employee having a bad day at work, and someone who should not be in a customer service job.

Perhaps once a year, I won't leave a tip. The manager hears about it, too. And no, I don't abuse the manager. I tell him what happened.

I once had an experience in a restaurant where the chef, obviously not pleased with the party I was in not choosing the buffet, decided to send bread half burned half frozen, soup that was not ordered, and purposely delaying the main course for over an hour.

My hosts were mortified.

I mentioned casually that perhaps I should have a 'word' with the chef (personally), upon which the waitress disappeared.

Well, when I journeyed back to the kitchen, no chef to be found....

My party left, and they hosted what turned out to be a fine dinner in their home, ad hoc.

I do agree with tipping. In general, the service is decent (considering the venue) in most places. Aside from the occasional ditz, which is forgivable, I haven't encountered 'bad' service in most cases.
On the handful of occasions where the service was truly bad, a penny left as a tip sufficed to communicate displeasure.