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106
“AITA For Taking Back My Tip After The Waitress Humiliated Me In Front Of Everyone?”
Many would argue that tipping culture is out of control, while others say servers are underpaid and diners should be compassionate. Two things can be true at the same time. But what happens when the service is super shoddy and the waitress is rude and entitled to boot? Do you leave a tip? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Or perhaps the bare minimum…
One guy decided 10% was enough after receiving what he described as “really poor” service. To his surprise, the waitress berated him, publicly humiliated him, and called him a cheapskate. The customer retaliated in his own spiteful way. He’s given a full account of the incident online, but many are divided about whether he handled it the right way.
RELATED:
What was meant to be a romantic night out turned into a dinner disaster for one couple
Image credits: Yunus Tuğ (not the actual photo)
Not only did they receive terrible service, but they were publicly humiliated as well
Image credits: Golden Horn Bridge (not the actual photo)
Image source: LeJeb40
Most Americans aren’t always sure whether or how much to tip for various services
Only about a third of 12,000 Americans polled by the Pew Research Center say it’s extremely or very easy to know whether or how much to tip for different services. In short, most people are confused.
According to Investopedia, you should expect to tip in places like restaurants, bars, salons, and hotels. This includes servers, bartenders, hotel bellhops, delivery drivers, valet drivers, and more, they say, adding that it’s also customary to tip your hairstylist, nail artist, and food delivery driver.
“The actual tip amount varies depending on the service, but restaurants generally follow a 15% to 20% rule,” advises Investopedia. Qantas Airlines’ experts put the figure higher. “A gratuity of 20 to 25 per cent on top of the bill (before sales tax) is standard, with extra given for topnotch service,” reads the site.
Qantas explains that servers in America work hard for the money, adding that they’re “generally friendly, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile for customers.”
What happens when you receive shoddy service?
“If your expectations weren’t met, it’s acceptable to tip less than usual—some people may tip as low as 10%, but it’s advisable not to go below that,” advises Investopedia. “Be mindful of conditions out of your server’s control, like the kitchen running slow.”
The site adds that unless the service is totally terrible, you should not skip the tip for restaurant workers.
Bad service is unusual but it happens, says Qantas’ travel experts. But they, too, don’t advise not leaving a tip unless the service is utterly “dreadful.”
“Leaving just 10 per cent is a clear indication that the experience was not up to par,” notes the site. “If you really don’t think your waitperson deserves to be paid for their service, the best course of action is to explain to the restaurant manager why you’re not leaving a tip. If you depart without tipping or providing an explanation, your server will want to know why.”
“Ungrateful”: Many netizens felt the man did the right thing
But not everyone agreed, with some saying the guy could have handled the situation better
People came forward to share their own experiences dealing with “entitled” servers
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What do you think ?
Ellinor 4 months ago (edited)
NTA, I'm not familiar with how tipping works but for a rude service 10% doesn't seem that bad, but the waitress making a scene in front of everyone was just plain wrong. It's not the client's fault if waiters are not paid properly in some countries, it is the employer's fault. OP had every rights to took back the tip after the waitress's reaction.
Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Absolutely. OP could have escalated it + told the whole restaurant *why* it was only 10%.
Load More Replies...
StrangeOne 4 months ago
The waitress was being unprofessional for making a scene in the dining area. Doesn't matter what what she was going through that night, on or off the job, you don't take it out on other customers who were just there to have a nice date night. I know this might enrage the hard-core tipping culture supporters and bad server apologists, but she was lucky to have gotten a 10% tip. Any tip amount should be received nothing less than a thank you, or just silence and take it. How much or little a server is paid is an issue between the business and the staff. If servers really aren't getting paid a base rate, relying solely on tips, then perhaps restaurants should charge a flat rate service fee on top of their order, that is stated somewhere at the front and on menus. That way, people can still leave tips for excellent service. Also, even if customers are paying 25%+ tips, say $20 per table, and that money is divided up for multiple staff, no one would still being earning enough to pay rent.
Kit Black 4 months ago
She was hoping to guilt her other tables into tipping higher for her poor service...
Load More Replies...
Wang Zhuang 4 months ago
The YTA commenters are unbelievable. Based on her poor service, she was lucky to get the 10%, and she had the gall to complain? I think he didn't go far enough. I would have taken back the tip and then found her manager to let them know about her poor service and the humiliation.
Ellinor 4 months ago (edited)
NTA, I'm not familiar with how tipping works but for a rude service 10% doesn't seem that bad, but the waitress making a scene in front of everyone was just plain wrong. It's not the client's fault if waiters are not paid properly in some countries, it is the employer's fault. OP had every rights to took back the tip after the waitress's reaction.
Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Absolutely. OP could have escalated it + told the whole restaurant *why* it was only 10%.
Load More Replies... StrangeOne 4 months ago
The waitress was being unprofessional for making a scene in the dining area. Doesn't matter what what she was going through that night, on or off the job, you don't take it out on other customers who were just there to have a nice date night. I know this might enrage the hard-core tipping culture supporters and bad server apologists, but she was lucky to have gotten a 10% tip. Any tip amount should be received nothing less than a thank you, or just silence and take it. How much or little a server is paid is an issue between the business and the staff. If servers really aren't getting paid a base rate, relying solely on tips, then perhaps restaurants should charge a flat rate service fee on top of their order, that is stated somewhere at the front and on menus. That way, people can still leave tips for excellent service. Also, even if customers are paying 25%+ tips, say $20 per table, and that money is divided up for multiple staff, no one would still being earning enough to pay rent.
Kit Black 4 months ago
She was hoping to guilt her other tables into tipping higher for her poor service...
Load More Replies... Wang Zhuang 4 months ago
The YTA commenters are unbelievable. Based on her poor service, she was lucky to get the 10%, and she had the gall to complain? I think he didn't go far enough. I would have taken back the tip and then found her manager to let them know about her poor service and the humiliation.
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