One of our readers, Amelia, recently shared a story about her visit to a restaurant that highlights some key questions about tipping, customer service, and how to handle conflict.
Here’s her experience:
Amelia, 30, went out with her husband to celebrate his promotion at an upscale restaurant. Everything went smoothly until the end, when an unexpected interaction with their waitress turned the evening sour.
After the bill arrived, Amelia decided to leave a $10 tip on their $85 total. However, as the waitress picked up the money, she made a face and remarked, “Ten dollars? This isn’t the 1950s anymore.”
Amelia was stunned by the waitress’s reaction and found it disrespectful. Her husband was visibly surprised as well.
“Excuse me?” Amelia replied, trying to keep her cool. “I think $10 on an $85 bill is quite reasonable.”
The waitress sighed and responded sarcastically, “The standard is a 20% tip. Do you not know how to do the math?”
Amelia was shocked at the waitress’s entitlement and rude tone. She felt that $10, which amounted to over 11% of the bill, was fair. But the waitress’s attitude pushed her over the edge.
“You know what,” Amelia said, unable to contain her frustration. “With that kind of attitude, you don’t deserve a tip at all.”
She took back the $10, which caused the waitress to react angrily, yelling insults and drawing the attention of other diners. Amelia’s husband was embarrassed by the scene, and eventually, the manager had to intervene and escort the waitress away. The couple left without leaving a tip.
Looking back, Amelia wondered if she had overreacted. While she felt justified in standing up for herself, others suggested that perhaps she could have handled it differently. What’s your take?
Post a Comment