Amelia, a 30-year-old woman, talked about a recent dinner that shows how tricky tipping and customer service can be. She and her husband, who is also 30, went to a restaurant to celebrate his promotion. Everything was fine until the end.
When the check came, Amelia left a $10 tip on an $85 bill. The waitress picked up the money and said, “Ten bucks? This isn’t the 1950s anymore.” Amelia was shocked by her rude tone. “I think $10 on an $85 bill is fair,” she replied. The waitress rolled her eyes and said, “A standard tip is 20% these days. Do you not know how to calculate that?” Amelia, now angry, replied, “With that attitude, you don’t deserve a tip at all!” She then took back the $10.
The situation got worse when the waitress started yelling at Amelia, causing a scene. The manager had to remove the waitress, and Amelia and her husband left without tipping. Amelia admits she might have overreacted but thinks the waitress’s behavior was unacceptable. Amelia said, “That $10 was over 11%, which is a decent tip. Her entitlement really bothered me.” The waitress’s public outburst left the couple embarrassed and upset, ruining their celebration.
This incident brings up questions about tipping and handling conflicts in service situations. Should Amelia have stayed calm, or was her reaction justified given the waitress’s attitude? People are discussing how to deal with such situations without making things worse.
