I Snatched My Tip Back Because of the Waiter’s Nasty Attitude

We’ve all had those special nights out that take a wrong turn because of an unexpected encounter. Amelia’s recent dining experience highlights some important questions about tipping, good customer service, and how to handle tricky situations.

Subject: Why I Took Back My Tip After the Waitress’s Rude Behavior

Amelia writes:

“Last night, my husband and I went to a nice restaurant to celebrate his big promotion. The evening was going perfectly until the very end, when our waitress’s bad attitude completely spoiled everything.

When the check came, the total was $85, and I left a $10 tip. But as the waitress picked up the money, she sneered and said, ‘Ten bucks? This isn’t the 1950s anymore!’ Her sarcastic tone took me by surprise, and I could tell my husband was equally shocked.

Already feeling irritated, I replied, ‘Excuse me? I believe $10 on an $85 bill is a fair tip.’ Instead of letting it go, the waitress rolled her eyes and shot back, ‘It’s a standard 20% tip these days. Do you not know how to calculate that?’ Her sense of entitlement and rudeness made me furious.

At that moment, I couldn’t hold back and snapped, ‘With that kind of attitude, you don’t deserve a tip at all!’ I quickly grabbed the $10 bill back from the table. The situation escalated as the waitress started loudly berating me, throwing insults, and causing a scene that drew everyone’s attention. My husband was mortified.

Thankfully, the manager noticed the commotion and came over to intervene. He removed the angry waitress, who continued yelling at me as she was being escorted out. In the end, we decided to leave without leaving any tip.

Looking back, I wonder if I overreacted by taking the tip back, but her dismissive and disrespectful behavior was just too much to ignore. Now, I’m caught in a debate with friends and family about whether I should have just let it go instead of causing a scene. What do you think?”

Share your thoughts in the comments down below!