If You're a Waiter, Just Bring the Change

That’s one presumptuous waiter

I had a bar tender at Rum House not give me change for a $10 on a $3 happy hour beer. I told him to either bring me two more beers or bring me my change.

That is a surefire way to get no tip at all.

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That is a surefire way to get no tip at all.

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As someone that waited tables and bar tended through HS and college, this. Frick those presumptuous A-holes making $18k a year that think everyone should tip 50%. You tip for good service not just because.

Took the whole family to dinner last week, and tipped $75 on a $320 bill (pre-tax). As I was writing in the tip, my oldest son was on a rant about how you’re a POS if you don’t tip at least 25%. He has worked as a waiter and bartender recently, and both his girlfriend and my step-daughter (both present) are also waitresses. He said if you don’t tip 25%, the wait staff will be talking crap about you in the back. He claims 25% is the new norm.

I call BS on this. I’ll tip 25-30% on smallish bills, and around 25% on large bills, but would definitely tip less if I knew the server expected this much or felt entitled to it. In my mind, 15% was the norm for a long time and 18% is the norm now. No way the norm is 25%.

In the situation you described, their tip would become a lot less (or nada) for putting you on the spot like that. If the bill was above $15, then maybe I let it slide.

Tell him if you knew he was making that kind of money you have let him cover the dinner.

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If a waiter asks me if I need change

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"No, I don't need it. Bring it to me anyway."

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"No, I don't need it. Bring it to me anyway.

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I like that.

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That is a surefire way to get no tip at all.

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That might indicate to some that you just don’t tip.

To send a message, you leave a $0.01 or similar tip.