Server Stunned by What Diner Does After Being Told She’s 90 Cents Short on Her Bill: ‘The Audacity’

A restaurant worker was left speechless after a customer attempted to cover a portion of her bill by reaching for the staff’s tip jar.

The incident, shared in a Reddit post by user syd246 this week, tells of the “craziest” encounter that unfolded at a small, independently owned café.

The server recounted how the customer, who had only been seated for a few minutes, grew impatient while waiting to place her order. At the time, the worker was busy seating multiple tables and preparing beverages.

Cover the Difference

When the diner was finally served, her bill totaled $25.90. Instead of paying the full amount, she handed over just $25.

When informed that she was short by 90 cents, the woman audaciously reached for the café’s communal tip jar and asked if she could use the money inside to cover the difference.

“I was so shocked that she had the audacity to do that, I was speechless,” the server wrote.

The customer then turned to the server directly and asked if they personally had any money to cover her bill.

Before the situation escalated further, the manager intervened and opted to pay the remaining balance, allowing the customer to walk away without tipping.

The story quickly gained traction among restaurant workers and customers alike, many expressing similar disbelief at the diner’s entitlement.

Tipping Trends and Declining Gratuity Rates

The incident comes at a time when tipping culture in the U.S. is undergoing notable changes. According to Newsweek, Americans are tipping less often and in smaller amounts.

While factors such as inflation and service expectations play a role, some experts suggest that “tip fatigue” is leading more people to reconsider their gratuity habits.

A 2023 survey conducted by Bankrate found that only 65% of diners always leave a tip at sit-down restaurants, a figure that has been declining over the years.

Many service workers, who rely on tips as a significant portion of their income, have voiced concerns about the financial strain caused by this shift.

The Reddit thread highlights how some customers not only avoid tipping but, in extreme cases, attempt to access tips meant for employees.

Dealing with Difficult Customers in the Service Industry

Handling confrontational or entitled customers is a common challenge for restaurant staff. In cases like this, where a customer blatantly disrespects service workers, it can be difficult to maintain composure.

An article from Indeed offers guidance on dealing with rude customers, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm, setting professional boundaries and seeking managerial support when necessary.

While many Reddit users empathized with the server’s frustration, some criticized the manager’s response, believing it set a bad precedent. An individual spoke for many when stating, “Your manager was zero help.”

Others voiced concern over growing entitlement among customers, with one remarking, “People have lost their minds!”

Customer Prediction

The OP lamented in reply in the thread that servers work hard to give customers “all their needs” and tips are how servers make money to pay their bills.

“I hate [it] when people are not considerate of their servers,” the OP told Redditors.

As for the audacious customer, “Yep, she’s gonna come back and do it again.”

Newsweek has contacted syd246 for comment via Reddit.

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