Server Goes On A Rant About Customers Who Don’t Tip Enough, Divides The Internet Interview
The tipping culture in the United States is unique. When eating at a restaurant, it is standard to tip at least 15%, but especially for excellent service or a large party, it’s best to leave 20-25%. Technically, there are no requirements to tip, but it is understood that servers are working for tips, as the federal minimum wage for tipped employees is only $2.13 an hour. While servers can make excellent money when customers are generous, there are always some who try to abuse the system and pay for nothing more than their meals.
After becoming fed-up with repeatedly receiving small tips, one server, Ben Raanan, recently posted a rant on TikTok calling out customers for not knowing how to tip. Below, you will find Ben’s original video as well as a follow-up, some of the comments viewers left, and an interview between Ben and Bored Panda. Let us know what you think about this situation, whether you have ever been a server or not, and then if you’re looking for another piece bringing bad tippers to light, check out this story next.
One server, Ben Raanan, recently called out customers on TikTok for leaving small tips
Image credits: blazikenben
Image credits: Iain Farrell (not the actual photo)
You can hear Ben’s full rant right here
@blazikenben Tip ur fucking servers #server #serverlife #serverproblems #restaurant #restaurantlife #serviceindustry #tips #tipyourserver #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Ben Raanan
We reached out to Ben on Instagram to find out if he has noticed an increase in small tips recently, with inflation being so high. He told us that it’s not necessarily a trend of intentionally bad tippers, but that a lot of customers will hand him small tips acting like they are being very generous because they don’t understand inflation. “Like a lady handed me $10 for a $200 tab and was like ‘There you go honey’ with a smile on her face, and I genuinely don’t think she meant it in a bad way, I really think she thought it was a good tip,” Ben explained. “That’s why I made the video I wanted to raise awareness for people who don’t understand why tip is a percentage.”
We also asked Ben if he could explain why earning tips is so necessary for servers. “Tips are our pay for our service. The bill is what you pay for the food, and the tip is what you pay for the service,” he said. “The capitalist institution/the restaurant industry has convinced people that tips are optional for some reason, and I believe that reason is that people are happier paying for something when they feel like they’re doing it out of the kindness of their own heart, rather than being forced to.”
Opinions of viewers were split, some who had worked in the service industry before agreed with the importance of tipping well
“And this is a nice thought, and I love that there are people that tip well and feel good about it,” Ben explained. “But in reality, it should not be optional, because just like with anything else, you have to pay people when they do work for you. Yes I get paid for my job by the restaurant, but I make minimum wage and several other states pay their servers far below minimum wage (like I’m talking $2) because they assume tips will make up the rest. We’re told to report at least 10% of our sales, because otherwise the IRS will audit us because they expect us to get tips as well. At the end of every shift we have to do a tipout, which means we give a percentage of our SALES (not our tips), which is the amount of money people spent with us, to the bussers, bar, and other people who work in the restaurant. So whether or not I’m getting at least 10% tips, I’m giving 10% of my tips away every day. This is why it’s so important to 20% of your bill. Because we are paid and treated by the government like tips are a given.”
Lastly, we asked Ben what he would change about the way servers are paid in the US. “Something a lot of people were commenting was that restaurants should just pay servers more, that it shouldn’t be up to the customer to pay our wage, all of which I agree with,” Ben said. “But what people don’t wanna hear is that that would still make you have to pay more. Which you should, because again you’re getting a service, you have to pay for that. But I think people take for granted that the service they get in restaurants is worth money, which is sad that the system has made it seem like it has optional worth. And technically it’s optional for me to try hard, but I don’t want to give bad service. I enjoy working service, which a lot of people seemed to not understand because I was upset. I was not upset because I work in the service industry. I was upset because I know what my work is worth, and I’m getting short-changed. You would be too. So what I think is that there should be an automatic 20% gratuity on every bill, a service fee, that we keep just like tips.”
Ben went on to explain that he knows not all service is good, so sometimes it is fair to leave a smaller tip. “But what makes me angry is when I know a table received excellent service, especially when they tell me so, and then they leave a bad tip. That’s what sparked the original video. So I think there should be an automatic 20% gratuity, and if there was really a problem with your service, you should have to ask for the manager to take it off and explain why. Put your mouth where your money is! I think most people hide behind the assumption that people can tip low if the service was bad when their service wasn’t bad, and if they were asked to back it up they couldn’t. That’s how I would change the system. No one’s work should have an optional worth.”
While others thought Ben was directing his anger towards the wrong people
In theory, the tipping culture in the US provides servers with the opportunity to earn endless income. If they provide excellent service, maybe crack a few jokes and learn the names of their customers, they might receive tips higher than 25%. But the reality is that the average customer will not go above and beyond when tipping. And if they find anything wrong with their experience, like waiting 30 minutes for a table or the kitchen messing up someone’s order, a customer’s dissatisfaction tends to be reflected in how much they tip. Relying on the custom of tipping can make a server’s job extremely stressful, as there is no guarantee of how much money they’ll see on their paycheck. This uncertainty can lead to a toxic, competitive environment, and it can lead servers to resent customers who tip poorly, rather than the system in place that allows servers to earn such small wages.
Even more sinister than fostering an uncomfortable environment, tipping culture can even allow for racial inequality to run rampant in restaurants. According to data from the US Census Bureau of Labor Statistics of servers’ median hourly tips from 2010-2016, white servers earned significantly more tips than their Latinx, Black and Asian peers. Racial prejudices go both ways in restaurants though, as 66% of servers say they have witnessed co-workers show a bias against patrons of color. When it is assumed that white customers tip more, servers go out of their way to accommodate those eaters and minorities are left receiving less than ideal service.
So he made a follow-up video defending his stance
Tipping culture is an outdated norm that does not seem to be benefiting customers or servers. The experience of eating out would be much simpler if customers could pay for their meals and decide to leave a small tip if they felt so inclined, rather than knowing that their server is expecting a large tip to be able to pay their bills this month. Plenty of other countries pay servers living wages, so the United States could certainly revamp their system to do the same. How do you feel about the tipping culture in the US? Have you benefited from it as a server, or do you think it’s time for the minimum wage for tipped employees to be raised? We’d love to hear your thoughts below. And if you’d like to keep up with Ben on Instagram, you can follow him right here.
You can hear Ben’s response to the negative comments right here
@blazikenben Reply to @c_johnson55 Workers of the world unite #server #serverlife #restaurant #serviceindustry #servertok #entitled #tips #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #geteducated ♬ original sound – Ben Raanan
Your tipping culture sucks. I pay for the meal, your employer is supposed to pay your wages. A tip should be a little thank you, not what you have to live on.
1000 upvotes here if only. I could
(Working on it.) A tip should be an appreciation for good service, not an income.
Yes, absolutely! But, it's not going to change until the businesses lead the way and start paying a living wage, and making it clear that tips are not expected.
Exactly. And The business owners aren't going to decide to change the wage just because customers refuse to tip! Don't refuse to tip just because you think you're provoking change, because you're not.
I disagree. It really needs to come from the government. Employers pay them so little because you legally can, and everyone else is. Legal server wages in some states is crazy low. Even if an employer wanted to pay more, they would need to raise their prices and be less competitive. IF the government makes a realistic minimum wage, they are all forced to increase prices together so no one has to be the sacrificial lamb.
I have a problem with tipping, I am not for it, I would rather have the price of the meal reflect what it should be so that service industry people get a decent wage. My problem is this percentage of total big bs. Say two people sit down at a table. One orders a toasted cheese sandwich and another a steak with fries. The steak is obviously going to be more but the effort involved for the cheese sandwich to be presented isn't different from the steak and both guests receive the same service and experience the same atmosphere. So why is one paying more tip just because they ordered a steak vs someone who ordered a cheese sandwich. And don't get me started with take out... I'm of the opinion that until companies pay their servers proper wage, I look at tipping as a fixed amount. I'm generally only at a table for an hour maybe hour 1/2 so I go generally $15-$20 regardless of the check as I find that becomes expoiltive.
I think most Americans would agree with you.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
And therefore isn't the USA a 1st world country ...
I live in a country without tipping; you pay what's on the bill, full stop. VAT (sales tax) is already included in the price of goods; if it says $5 you pay $5. It makes life so much easier for the consumer.
Yes, the employer should pay more wages. Do we have to pay their salary too?
he's not asking, he's demanding a tip of at least $20..now tell me if I'm wrong here with my thinking (come from a non-tipping culture here) now he'll be working several tables at a time right..?? say he's working four tables per hour and demands a $20 tip from each table, he's earning then $80 ph..what's he got to complain about, right..?? he's earning 4x what his customers are earning at their jobs to afford to eat out (just) he shouldn't be taking it out on the customers, he SHOULD be taking it out on the boss...bosses in other countries are able to pay their staff a living wage, why can't American bosses..??
Generally tips are shared between front and back and it's not exclusively to the server. But this opens up the complexity as it's different at each restaurant. So I won't necessary use that math however it's still along the lines that if you handling 4 tables you still walking away with a decent wage even when shared as others have their tips shared as well.
Exactly!
Arizona law allows employers to claim a tip credit of $3.00 an hour. This means tipped employees can be paid as little as $9.00 an hour, as long as they earn enough in tips to bring their compensation up to at least $12.00 an hour, total.
Great then stay home and don't take part in it.
WE KNOW. Yall remind us many times a day on top of people calling for livable wages here at home.
While I agree, the customer is going to pay either way. Through tipping or higher menu prices. Which I would be fine paying. But in the here and now, in some places, tipping is part of a servers pay. Until that chance, it is cheap to punish them for that system.
Yes customers land up paying more but I can tell you it's not going to be 20% of the final check more.
I would rather pay more for my food and tip what I feel is appropriate than be spoken to or regarded like that. Guess I’m lucky not to live in the US.
I wouldn't want a lecture from a server, either, but I'm also aware that their base pay is terrible. In Canada, the minimum wage for servers is lower than for other workers. I'm assuming it's the same all over the US.
In some places in the US, servers only make $3.75 an hour and the rest of their money is expected to come from tips. Servers in Canada don't have this differential, minimum wage for that province is minimum wage, and tips would be in addition
2.83 an hour in PA
They changed the law in the US so that if waiters don't receive at least minimum wage after tips are counted in at the end of the pay period, the employer has to make up the difference. All waiters are paid at least minimum wage in the US by the end of their pay period. If they aren't receiving minimum wage, it is the fault of their employer for not abiding by federal law, and not the customer.
Yeah how that often works in a restaurant is a server gets audited by the company for "underdeclaring tips" and/or allocated sales/tips they didn't actually make so they pay taxes on money they didn't actual get.
It is dependent on province. In many provinces server min wage is the same as every other industry.
Not everywhere in the US. It is illegal in California. The minimum is the same for everyone.
Most of the time a servers wages only cover their taxes, sometimes not even that. No tips leads to the employer having to make up for actual minimum wage and that person probably will lose their job
If I'd get a rant about tipping, your not getting any. This dumbarse should be bitching about the boss that doesn't pay a living wage. Also feeling lucky I don't live in US, nor do I plan ever visiting.
Also eating out is not more expensive here in Germany, where tax and service is always included
Yeah, blame the customer and not your boss who pays you 5$/h... What's wrong with you Americans that you think this is normal? Waiters earn between 25-30$/h where I live and guess what, tipping is something you can do if service was excellent but nobody will bat a eye if you don't tip on a 200$ meal.
We think it's normal but that doesn't mean we like it. Our waiters shouldn't need to live off tips. Also, like Moxie said, not all of us Americans think like him.
This kid seems to be so indoctrinated with our system that he doesn't even see the issue is his employer not paying a real wage. My sister is a server and they have fed her such propaganda that she genuinely believes this is the best model for a restaurant
And she may have a point. If they raised prices of meals before tip to match the average price with tip dies anyone really believe that money would really make it back to the servers?
Assuming a country with over 325 million people all having the same views on this subject is pretty wild!
Not all Americans think like him.
Yet the ones who do are loud enough to keep this system working.
ABSOLUTELY!! And I'm American and don't think this normal.
More like $2.13/hr. That is the federal minimum wage for servers. The federal law allows for it and even states that the tips must bring the employee up to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 hr or the employer must compensate (ie pay more) so they make $7.25/hr.
Same in my country. A tip is a nice surprise but no one is mad when you don't do it. It's an extra not a requirement.
Servers are paid 2.13 an hour
Your tipping culture sucks. I pay for the meal, your employer is supposed to pay your wages. A tip should be a little thank you, not what you have to live on.
1000 upvotes here if only. I could
(Working on it.) A tip should be an appreciation for good service, not an income.
Yes, absolutely! But, it's not going to change until the businesses lead the way and start paying a living wage, and making it clear that tips are not expected.
Exactly. And The business owners aren't going to decide to change the wage just because customers refuse to tip! Don't refuse to tip just because you think you're provoking change, because you're not.
I disagree. It really needs to come from the government. Employers pay them so little because you legally can, and everyone else is. Legal server wages in some states is crazy low. Even if an employer wanted to pay more, they would need to raise their prices and be less competitive. IF the government makes a realistic minimum wage, they are all forced to increase prices together so no one has to be the sacrificial lamb.
I have a problem with tipping, I am not for it, I would rather have the price of the meal reflect what it should be so that service industry people get a decent wage. My problem is this percentage of total big bs. Say two people sit down at a table. One orders a toasted cheese sandwich and another a steak with fries. The steak is obviously going to be more but the effort involved for the cheese sandwich to be presented isn't different from the steak and both guests receive the same service and experience the same atmosphere. So why is one paying more tip just because they ordered a steak vs someone who ordered a cheese sandwich. And don't get me started with take out... I'm of the opinion that until companies pay their servers proper wage, I look at tipping as a fixed amount. I'm generally only at a table for an hour maybe hour 1/2 so I go generally $15-$20 regardless of the check as I find that becomes expoiltive.
I think most Americans would agree with you.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
And therefore isn't the USA a 1st world country ...
I live in a country without tipping; you pay what's on the bill, full stop. VAT (sales tax) is already included in the price of goods; if it says $5 you pay $5. It makes life so much easier for the consumer.
Yes, the employer should pay more wages. Do we have to pay their salary too?
he's not asking, he's demanding a tip of at least $20..now tell me if I'm wrong here with my thinking (come from a non-tipping culture here) now he'll be working several tables at a time right..?? say he's working four tables per hour and demands a $20 tip from each table, he's earning then $80 ph..what's he got to complain about, right..?? he's earning 4x what his customers are earning at their jobs to afford to eat out (just) he shouldn't be taking it out on the customers, he SHOULD be taking it out on the boss...bosses in other countries are able to pay their staff a living wage, why can't American bosses..??
Generally tips are shared between front and back and it's not exclusively to the server. But this opens up the complexity as it's different at each restaurant. So I won't necessary use that math however it's still along the lines that if you handling 4 tables you still walking away with a decent wage even when shared as others have their tips shared as well.
Exactly!
Arizona law allows employers to claim a tip credit of $3.00 an hour. This means tipped employees can be paid as little as $9.00 an hour, as long as they earn enough in tips to bring their compensation up to at least $12.00 an hour, total.
Great then stay home and don't take part in it.
WE KNOW. Yall remind us many times a day on top of people calling for livable wages here at home.
While I agree, the customer is going to pay either way. Through tipping or higher menu prices. Which I would be fine paying. But in the here and now, in some places, tipping is part of a servers pay. Until that chance, it is cheap to punish them for that system.
Yes customers land up paying more but I can tell you it's not going to be 20% of the final check more.
I would rather pay more for my food and tip what I feel is appropriate than be spoken to or regarded like that. Guess I’m lucky not to live in the US.
I wouldn't want a lecture from a server, either, but I'm also aware that their base pay is terrible. In Canada, the minimum wage for servers is lower than for other workers. I'm assuming it's the same all over the US.
In some places in the US, servers only make $3.75 an hour and the rest of their money is expected to come from tips. Servers in Canada don't have this differential, minimum wage for that province is minimum wage, and tips would be in addition
2.83 an hour in PA
They changed the law in the US so that if waiters don't receive at least minimum wage after tips are counted in at the end of the pay period, the employer has to make up the difference. All waiters are paid at least minimum wage in the US by the end of their pay period. If they aren't receiving minimum wage, it is the fault of their employer for not abiding by federal law, and not the customer.
Yeah how that often works in a restaurant is a server gets audited by the company for "underdeclaring tips" and/or allocated sales/tips they didn't actually make so they pay taxes on money they didn't actual get.
It is dependent on province. In many provinces server min wage is the same as every other industry.
Not everywhere in the US. It is illegal in California. The minimum is the same for everyone.
Most of the time a servers wages only cover their taxes, sometimes not even that. No tips leads to the employer having to make up for actual minimum wage and that person probably will lose their job
If I'd get a rant about tipping, your not getting any. This dumbarse should be bitching about the boss that doesn't pay a living wage. Also feeling lucky I don't live in US, nor do I plan ever visiting.
Also eating out is not more expensive here in Germany, where tax and service is always included
Yeah, blame the customer and not your boss who pays you 5$/h... What's wrong with you Americans that you think this is normal? Waiters earn between 25-30$/h where I live and guess what, tipping is something you can do if service was excellent but nobody will bat a eye if you don't tip on a 200$ meal.
We think it's normal but that doesn't mean we like it. Our waiters shouldn't need to live off tips. Also, like Moxie said, not all of us Americans think like him.
This kid seems to be so indoctrinated with our system that he doesn't even see the issue is his employer not paying a real wage. My sister is a server and they have fed her such propaganda that she genuinely believes this is the best model for a restaurant
And she may have a point. If they raised prices of meals before tip to match the average price with tip dies anyone really believe that money would really make it back to the servers?
Assuming a country with over 325 million people all having the same views on this subject is pretty wild!
Not all Americans think like him.
Yet the ones who do are loud enough to keep this system working.
ABSOLUTELY!! And I'm American and don't think this normal.
More like $2.13/hr. That is the federal minimum wage for servers. The federal law allows for it and even states that the tips must bring the employee up to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 hr or the employer must compensate (ie pay more) so they make $7.25/hr.
Same in my country. A tip is a nice surprise but no one is mad when you don't do it. It's an extra not a requirement.
Servers are paid 2.13 an hour