By Misunderstood Waitress - 06/11/2012 22:37 - United States

Today, I was waitressing for a huge family. Their bill was $750. Excited about the tip, I was shocked to see only $0.50. As they were leaving, I threw the two whole quarters at their heads. Guess who also got fired today. FML
I agree, your life sucks 21 738
You deserved it 49 841
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Top comments

secretsymbiote21 5

they probably should've left a better tip, but at the same time you can't throw quarters at a customers head and not expect to be fired.

407 17
Helldemon 32

For them to leave only 50 cents it was clearly as an insult to the waitress imo.

221 13

Comments

themoodyronin 14

"Honestly the tip system in America is silly. You are employed by the establishment you work for, yet you expect people to pay a big chunk extra on top of their bill just for you bringing them their plates and drinks, which you're already being paid to do?" The establishment that she works for probably reduces her wages BECAUSE of the tips she gets, so she is more than likely NOT being paid for the work she does. While I whole-heartedly agree that she deserved to get fired for tossing ANYTHING at a customer, she also did deserve to be paid for the work that she does.

8 2
etoilenuit 15

I think the tipping system is actually ridiculous. It's your job to do the work. Why would you get extra for doing what your paid to do anyway? That's why most places in Europe don't even tip. If I have a stressful day at work I don't suddenly get $100 extra..

8 7
bstudds 1

wow this is ignorant. it varies by state to state but a lot of servers make $2.13/hour. this does not usually end up on a paycheck because it goes to cover taxes, insurance etc. so therefore tips are often the only source of income. this is the practice in much of America. you don't have to like it or agree with it and you can say things like they should get another job but then who would wait on you? they aren't getting $100 for having a stressful day they are earning it. I'm sure you are compensated hourly or yearly at your job, and it's the same concept. don't get me wrong some servers may not do a good job but in today's world at least they are EMPLOYED and not living off the system.

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chunkalicious 7

You get tips in America because waiters and waitresses in America get paid less than minimum wage, probably 3-5 dollars an hour, because they get tipped it's supposed to cover it basically, because it's expected, if they didn't get tipped, the owners would raise the prices of food substantially increase, which means the customers are forced to pay more whether the waiter or waitress did good at their job or not. Which would probably lead to less business, and losing money, people getting laid off to save money, and ultimately the store closing, and everybody losing jobs. It's not just them being greedy wanting more money. Besides, even if tipping isn't normal, waiting on a 750 dollar bill for a large family deserves a tip either way.

1 4
bstudds 1

131- 4 things: 1. Portland is in the US. 2. I did not say she was ignorant but rather the statement was (I'm sure she's a lovely girl) 3. if you are going to visit another country don't you think you'd want to know certain things (while admittedly maybe tipping customs might not be on that list it's a reasonable assumption that you will be dining out) 4. forgive me sometimes I can be RUDE :)

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bstudds 1

141- for the sake of American servers I hope you stay across the pond, you're kind of unpleasant.

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jujuthefroggy_fml 16

I think that etoilenuit and MsKati statement was " why don't restaurants and bar owners include the service into the price of food and pay waiters and waitress correct wages instead, as it is done in many countries". I don't think it will be more expensive for the customer, since i understand it is the norm in US to leave at least 15% of the total amount for the tip, and sure will be easier for the patron to know how much he will pay for his meal if he is bad at math... Some other says that tipping allow a much better service, but i've never been to US myself, so i can't compare. Also, even if you're a well informed tourist and know that it is commom to leave a very high tip in US, the reasons behind it (ridiculously low hourly wages and tax paid on presumed tip) are not always known/explained.

2 0
sportcrazychick4 7

I would have told them that they left their change on the table and gave it back to them!! I mean people don't appreciate that but it's a lot nicer then throwing quarters at them. Trust me I have ran out the door giving people the pennies they left on the table! :)

1 0
saz8599 2

haha yea that's probably what I'd have done, they can keep their quarters!

2 0
ScarlieC 25

OP, what is wrong with you?! Tips are the biggest part of your income, but let's not forget that a tip is a tip, an extra, a gift. I live in Amsterdam where I've been a waitress for 6 years, so I don't get the American tip percentage thing, but expecting a big tip and being ungrateful when you get something, no matter how small, that's just pathetic.

7 3
saz8599 2

As a waitress I feel your pain, a table that large would have taken a lot of work and to get a tip that small for it must have been infuriating. I don't blame you for throwing the coins at them, it's frankly insulting. Though I wouldn't have done it myself to keep my job, however satisfying it would've felt. To people who say you shouldn't expect tips, they should try working this job on the measly wage the restaurant no doubt pays you, which means they can charge the customers less. It is really hard work, and the extra effort you put in to earn your tips makes a real difference to the customers, and you should be paid extra for having to deal with the general public, getting treated like absolute crap by some people (as well as the chefs) completely unnecessarily and having to take it with a smile on your face is slightly soul destroying.

2 4
jennikitten 6

It pathetic that some people are saying 'Ohh they already spent $750 why would they want to spend any more' If a family can afford to go out and spend that kind of money on dinner, clearly they're not poor. I'm a waitress but in England, so we still get paid minimum wage but don't seem to get as done over as US waitresses. I still think its courteous to tip for good service, and if people say they can't afford to tip, how are they affording to eat out in the first place?

6 5
saz8599 2

If you can afford to dine out you can afford to leave £1 or even 50p each. I wouldn't always expect the full 15-20% (10% in the UK) but being able to afford to spend that much on dining out they could of left a tip larger than $0.50.

1 5
saz8599 2

As a waitress I don't like the system either, but I'm stuck in it. We get paid less because service is not included in your bill, you're only paying for the food and drink and back of house staff. So if you don't agree with the system and don't tip, you're not harming the system, you're harming the poor waiter that's working so hard to earn their tips to make a living.

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chunkalicious 7

People don't understand, even if you believe you should only get a tip for doing a good job, she was waiting on a large family with a bill of over 700 dollars, that's a lot of food to serve and a lot of people to wait on, it's likely that it was 10-15+ people she was waiting on, on top of other tables she probably had, that deserves a pretty decent tip, and if they are from a place that's not normal to tip, or don't know about tips in America, then they would have left nothing instead of a measly 50 cents, and more or likely either an insult or they're really cheap, because if they were straining for money, they wouldn't be going to restaurants and racking up a 750 dollar bill.

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Garulf 7

Tipping is somewhat optional don't you think? waiting on a large group should not entitle to a tip, doing a good job is what entitles a tip. and based on you throwing quarters at them gives an indication of the quality of service you provide.

7 4
Quikraptor 8

Tell people that when you work for less than minimum wage and have to live off tips, buddy. So speak for yourself.

1 6