“You Okay?”: Waitress Confronts Customer Over Offensive Tip, Gets A Reality Check

Tipping has become a key part of the service industry, allowing staff to earn more for going the extra mile for the customer. However, in the last few years, we have seen the practice evolve into something that feels more like an added tax.

Reddit user KeyComplete4809 recently shared an experience at a restaurant where a declined credit card set off a chain of uncomfortable exchanges between him and the waitress. Eventually, he fully covered the bill but left a sub-1% tip because of the bad taste the interaction left him with. This sparked a tense standoff and a question that followed him all the way home: was he standing up for himself or just being petty?

In many places, tipping has evolved from a gesture of appreciation for exceptional service into an expectation

Customer discussing 83 cent tip with waitress in a cafe, highlighting a tipping etiquette conversation.

Image credits: Pressmaster (not the actual photo)

So much so that if you skip it, the staff might think it’s simply because you’re deliberately being a jerk

Text excerpt about tipping 83 cents, describing a dinner with wife and waitress card declined, related to tipping question.

Screenshot of text discussing tipping, focusing on the question of being a jerk for tipping 83 cents.

Conversation text on a white background about returning and waiting, related to am I the jerk for tipping 83¢ discussion.

Customer questions employee’s tone and asks for manager, highlighting conflict related to tipping 83 cents debate.

Text excerpt from a discussion about tipping and a waitress’s caution, related to tipping 83 cents debate.

Text excerpt about tipping 83 cents after a $91.17 bill, questioning if the small tip was justified due to rude service.

Customer tipping 83 cents while paying with a card in a cafe, barista holding a payment terminal in a casual setting.

Image credits: Pressmaster (not the actual photo)

Text conversation about tipping 83 cents, debating politeness and responsibilities of tipping bartenders and busboys.

Text excerpt about a tipping dispute highlighting the question of being the jerk for tipping 83 cents.

Text on a white background explaining a bank flagged a card for fraud due to pending $1 change, resolved by the user, discussing tipping 83¢.

Image credits: KeyComplete4809

Despite how commonplace tipping is, it can still seem confusing to calculate how much money you should leave in different situations

According to Bankrate’s 2025 Tipping Survey, 63 percent of Americans hold at least one negative view about tipping (which is up from 59 percent last year), and 11 percent are confused about who and how much to tip.

Around two-thirds (67 percent) who dine at sit-down restaurants always tip their server, and over a third (35 percent) typically tip at least 20 percent of the bill (down slightly from 37 percent last year).

Cortney Norris, an assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management at Oklahoma State University, studies tipping habits and says that the waitstaff should get at least 18 percent of the bill.

Beyond that, the size of a restaurant’s gratuity depends on how well you’re served, including whether your order is correct and whether the server checks on you after you receive your food.

“I think that percentage range has moved up, based on inflation and cost of living. [Waitstaff] wages haven’t,” Norris says. “$2.13 has been the sub-minimum wage since 1991. That tip amount has to increase to offset everything else going on in today’s economy.”

Tips are not considered necessary at fast food restaurants, counter-service restaurants, or for take-out orders. Counter-service restaurant workers will likely appreciate any tip for fantastic service, but unlike waitstaff, they probably already receive a full hourly wage, Norris says.

However, the aforementioned survey also found that while 58 percent say the amount they tip is most influenced by the quality of the service, that’s down from 64 percent last year, meaning servers could have a harder time earning a generous tip with excellent performance.

Furthermore, only 26 percent of respondents feel good when they leave a generous tip, down from 29 percent last year.

Image credits: Sam Dan Truong (not the actual photo)

The guy revealed more information about the evening in the comments

Screenshot of a forum discussion about tipping etiquette, focusing on tipping 83 cents and sharing tips among employees.

Screenshot of a forum discussion debating the ethics of tipping 83¢ and whether it is considered rude or an AH move.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing tipping and the value of tipping 83 cents on a restaurant bill.

User discussing tipping etiquette and service experience in a comment about am I the jerk for tipping 83 cents.

And most people said he was completely entitled to leaving such a small tip

Text post from a user sharing experiences with payment issues and tipping, related to Am I The Jerk For Tipping 83¢ topic.

Comment discussing tipping etiquette and handling declined cards, related to the question about tipping 83 cents.

Comment on tipping etiquette and server manners in a discussion about tipping 83 cents.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing tipping and asking for a manager related to tipping 83 cents.

Comment about handling declined cards delicately posted in an online discussion about tipping 83 cents.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing tipping 83 cents from the perspective of a former server, labeled NTA.

Comment on tipping 83¢ debating fairness, service quality, and customer expectations in a tipping culture discussion.

Comment from user Realistic_Spite2775 addressing tipping etiquette and rude accusations in an online discussion about tipping 83 cents.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing tipping and rude waitress behavior related to tipping 83 cents.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing service industry tips related to tipping 83 cents and customer interactions.

Comment discussing frustration with tipping culture and service staff wages related to tipping 83 cents dilemma.

User comment in an online discussion about tipping, sharing advice on addressing poor service with restaurant management.

Comment on tipping dispute, discussing waitress behavior and customer's perspective on tipping 83 cents.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing tipping etiquette in the context of am I the jerk for tipping 83 cents.

Reddit comment discussing tipping and attitudes toward paying for service in a conversation about tipping 83 cents.

Text post on social media discussing a tipping situation with an 83 cent tip and server response.

Comment discussing tipping culture and the consequences of tipping 83 cents in a restaurant setting.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing tipping etiquette and customer accusations related to an 83 cent tip.

Comment on a forum discussing tipping etiquette, with user JJQuantum stating tipping fairness at 83 cents.

Comment about tipping principles and rude service, discussing tipping and fair pay in a tipping 83¢ debate.

Comment on tipping etiquette discussing customer service and the dilemma of tipping 83 cents in an online forum.

User comment on tipping etiquette and restaurant service, discussing responsibility and tipping 83 cents as a lesson in proper job performance.

Comment on a forum post discussing generosity and tipping 83 cents in a debate about being the jerk or not.

Screenshot of a user comment discussing tipping attitudes and service, related to tipping 83 cents.

Screenshot of an online comment stating disagreement about tipping 83 cents in a discussion about tipping etiquette.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing a tipping situation, referencing tipping 83 cents and professionalism.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing attitude affecting tipping behavior in an am I the jerk for tipping 83 cents thread.

Screenshot of a forum comment defending an 83-cent tip, emphasizing the waitress earned every penny of the tip.

But some said he was just being petty

Comment on tipping etiquette, discussing a declined card and the impact on tipping 83 cents in a social context.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing opinions on tipping etiquette and the controversy over tipping 83 cents.

Comment discussing tipping 83 cents as childish and suggesting a 10% tip with a review instead, highlighting tipping debate.

Comment discussing the situation about tipping 83 cents and the consequences of running out on the bill.

Reddit comment expressing frustration about service, related to tipping 83 cents in a restaurant dispute.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment debating the etiquette and judgment around tipping 83 cents and related social behavior.

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