Our reader, Amelia, recently shared a story with us about her dining experience that brings up important discussions about the etiquette of tipping, customer service expectations, and managing disputes.
Amelia’s Experience:
A night out celebrating my husband’s (30M) well-deserved promotion turned sour due to an unexpected encounter with a waitress. We were enjoying our evening at a lovely restaurant, and everything seemed perfect until it was time to settle the bill.
Our bill came to $85, and I chose to leave a $10 tip, believing it to be reasonable. However, as the waitress collected the money, she looked at me with a smirk and remarked loudly, “Ten bucks? This isn’t the 1950s anymore, you know.”
Her comment left me and my husband taken aback. It felt like an unwarranted blow, and I couldn’t help but speak up. “Excuse me?” I retorted, my patience wearing thin. “I think $10 on an $85 bill is quite fair.”
The waitress continued with her dismissive attitude, rolling her eyes and countering, “It’s a standard 20% tip these days, cheapskate. Do you not know how to calculate that?”
I was flabbergasted by her audacity. Though my tip amounted to over 11%, which I considered a decent gesture, her entitled demeanor was infuriating.
“You know what,” I said, my frustration getting the better of me, “With that kind of attitude, you don’t deserve a tip at all!”
In the heat of the moment, I reached over and reclaimed the $10 from the table. The waitress was visibly shocked, and she began hurling insults and causing a scene. The attention of the whole dining area was soon on us, adding to the embarrassment. My husband seemed mortified by the unfolding drama.
The situation escalated to the point where the manager had to step in and escort the angry waitress away. The commotion left us with no choice but to leave, without giving a tip.
Looking back, I question my decision to react so strongly, yet her smug approach was too much to endure quietly. Despite some debating that I should have ignored the behavior, I felt standing up for respect was necessary. What are your thoughts?
