Waiter was stunned by $100 tip despite 'poor service' — but it was the note left behind that left him emotional
Makenzie and Steven were trying to enjoy their anniversary dinner, but the service was super slow
"A little love goes a long way," Makenzie Schultz wrote on her Facebook status a day after doing a kind deed for a server. On a September night several years ago, Makenzie and her husband, Steven Schultz, went out for their anniversary dinner only to experience one of the worst nights ever. However, despite the horrible service, the Schultzes still tipped Kyle Hanson $100. Makenzie posted on Facebook, "So here's the deal. Our service tonight sucked. Took 20 minutes to get water, 40 minutes for an appetizer, and over an hour for our entree." The reason behind their huge tip is simple — they were once in Kyle's shoes.
Makenzie and Steven were trying to enjoy their anniversary dinner, but the service was super slow. They noticed that Kyle was the only one serving and bartending at the same time. At one point, he was serving 12 tables but "never acted annoyed" with any of the customers. "We just kind of switched our mindset into, 'let's just enjoy dinner and our anniversary,' and everything, yeah, just took a long time," Makenzie told ABC affiliate KCRG-TV. While waiting for their food, they discussed how once upon a time, Kyle was both of them, waiting tables and doing it for the tips. They also thought Kyle would not make much money that night because his service was slow, and people were less likely to tip him well. So, they decided to do one good deed.
Before leaving the restaurant, they paid their bill, which came to $66.55, and added $100 as tips. They also wrote on the bill, "We've both been in your shoes. Paying it forward." Kyle was also interviewed by the news outlet, and he said, "That was super unexpected and really nice. I mean, it caught me off guard. I expected — I wasn't expecting that. A little misty, I guess. I don't know, it was a very good ending to a really stressful night."
The whole reason Makenzie and her husband did this is because she wants people to "think of the entire situation, before you judge. And always, always, always, remember where you came from." Kyle could not have done better on account of the restaurant being understaffed. So, the next time you wish to yell at a waiter or deduct their tips, try remembering what it felt like to have your boss breathing down your neck while you carried the entire office's workload. Makenzie's story went viral overnight, and people were flooding her Facebook timeline, leaving wholesome comments.
Tipping culture in America began in the late 1800s and continues to exist even today. A study by the Pew Research Center revealed that not everyone agrees with the idea of leaving tips. At least 29% of U.S. adults think tipping is an obligation, while 21% believe it is a choice. The other 49% are on the fence and say that it depends on the situation. Another Pew Research Center study revealed that 9 in 10 people (92%) who eat at restaurants say that they always or often leave a tip. In the case of the Schultzes, they had the option of not leaving a tip because of the bad service, but decided to do the opposite, choosing kindness over frustration.
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