Diner staggered after server turns down $25 tip: 'He placed it back on the table'

People usually tip waiters out of sheer gratitude for their services when they eat at a restaurant. It also has become a cultural norm in parts of the world, with workers relying on tips to supplement their income. But, nowadays, we are seeing a shift in the generous social practice to it becoming an expectation, at least as per u/Koiguy94, who did not shy away from taking it to Reddit. The diner shared they recently went out with their friends; all of them were having a great time, chilling while having food – until the bill came.

The diner started the post by explaining how their friend group had a really nice dinner. It was all going great, but as the bill came, things did not go as expected. “When the check arrived, the bill totaled $197.96, and I tipped the server $25,” they added. The patron found the amount to be extremely fair for the kind of service they received. Additionally, they found twenty-five bucks to be more than enough.

“Twenty-five dollars is a significant amount for some people when it comes to tipping, and I believe it was more than fair for an hour-long dinner,” the diner claimed. However, to their surprise, the waiter was not at all impressed with the amount. In fact, “he placed it back on the table,” the post read, stating, “that he only accepts tips in the range of 18–20%.” The move left the guests completely amazed as they were not expecting this coming from him. “I thought what the hell, I’m not obligated to tip and I felt very disrespected,” the diner added. The server’s decision was uncalled for and it made the diner angry. “If I’m going to give you extra money, then just accept it—don’t ask for more,” it elaborated further. 

However, the patron concluded by asserting that the “tipping culture has gotten out of hand.” It made them wonder if their venting out was necessary or an overreaction. Their post drew massive attention on social media, with the diner themselves later acknowledging that those sharing their opinion were divided in a 50 to 50 ratio. Notably, the post received differing opinions from those siding with and opposing the diner’s POV. u/Funny-Code6495 remarked, “Yes, the servers work too hard for little pay, and I always tip in cash so they don't have to claim it.” “Tip at least 20%, and feel free to deduct the taxes if you wish. You were out of line, but the waiter was far more out of line,” u/Spudtater wrote. “Everybody should stop tipping ideally, so these companies pay their employees properly,” added u/Stunghornet.

“Everyone who said, ‘Don't tip, make your employer pay more,’ are the same people who get pissed when the prices go up or the service is slow because no one wants to work there,” pointed out u/III-Kaleidoscope-501. u/airforceguy28 said, “I simply don't go out to eat anymore. The waitstaff is entitled to make money on tips despite the low skill and education requirements. If waitstaff gets tipped, pilots, air traffic controllers, and others certainly should as well.”