I waited on a party of 11 last night. When it was time to pay, they gave me 6 credit cards and $40.00 cash.?

Question

They wrote on the tab how much to put on each card. There was still a balance of 14 cents AFTER I ran the credit cards. I brought it all back to the table and politely told them that there was still a small balance. One of the ladies acted very offended. I went around the corner and listened to their conversation for a minute. This woman was APALLED that I would bring this to their attention. I was not rude or offensive, I just wanted to make sure they knew. All of them left 20% tips, except this woman drew a line through the tip on her credit card slip. Should I have just let it go?

Answer 1

I have worked in the service industry most of my life and have developed a theory that all customers instantly become brainless twits and 60% of the time massive, impatient creeps on top of it. Theres no rule of thumb here. I dont think you did anything wrong, it sound like this person was just another average brainless twit massive impatient creep customer. Im sorry that happened though.

Answer 2

Since everyone else left you a 20% tip, my guess is that they weren't offended at all. My guess is that they didn't agree with her and wanted to make sure you were tipped appropriately, at least from them.

I would have felt just awful, if I had accidentally shorted you $.01 or $1.00 - no matter, I need to pay my tab!! I used to wait tables, and I'm very aware that wait staff frequently has to tip-out to bartenders and bus boys, even hostesses sometimes get a cut. So I never like tipping too little, but I am a stickler on my customer service... But I digress!

Regardless, this woman may have been a you-know-what or she might have just had a really, really bad day. Either way, be confident that she must have needed the 14 cents more than you did.

;-)

Answer 3

Yes. I waited tables for 2 years in college. If the only balance left over was 14 cents then it really wouldn't have been worth her swiping her card again. I know it sucks but you could have afforded to lose 14 cents out of your tips that day when you turned in your money at the end of your shift. You did the right thing letting her know she was short,technically. However, I would have just let it slide and covered it myself. The lady sounds like she was a B-word anyway. Bringing her money shortage to her attention shouldn't have cost you a tip. Forget her, she's probably one of those overly picky diners anyway.

Answer 4

That woman sounds crazy, and even if you had said nothing, she probably would have left you a lousy tip. Who gets that appalled over 14 cents? I mean it isn't as if you went to her, and very loudly in front of all the customers told her her credit card declined or something!

14 cents is a very small amount of money - regardless, none of THEIR meal should come out of YOUR pocket, so no, you were not out of line.

Answer 5

My late wife was a waitress for many years and she would report to me the HORROR shows some customers would perform when it came time to pay. I think that it is typical of some people when it comes to parting with their money. Some people are even down right moronic about leaving a tip for their server. The way you handled it, in my opion, was correct and please don't let a few "MORONS" disuade you from being a good or "GREAT" server because you will be remembered for the service you give by the best tippers and forgotten by the morons that really don't belong in public dining establishments anyway!

Answer 6

You did the right thing.I work in a restaurant and some customers have been to that special school where they are not taught manners! It's not your 14 cents to give away. However rude customers are I always remain polite. Why can they have not just split the bill. I bet her friends thought she was a bit over the top too!

Answer 7

The general public can be so ignorant. Unfortunately, I think all you can do is let it go. If that woman came back into my restaurant, I think I would be tempted to make sure she knew what the bill was before I served her. So you had to pay the 14 cents out of your tips??? Crazy.

Answer 8

No, you did what was right. I don't think people know that in Georgia and Michigan and many other states waitresses are legally paid BELOW Minimum wage and expected to get tips to make up the difference! My daughter has to pay her taxes every night when punching out, a minimum of 8% of all tabs, whether she got a tip or not on a table, plus she has to tip the bartender, busboy and salad person, who are paid minimum wage!

Answer 9

if there is one thing, i hate it is being on the other side being waited on.....and giving a waitress 40.00 for a 39.12 balance and he not bringing change back. That is rude. As for you pointing out the still had a balance..no I don't think it's rude. 14 cents is 14 cents no matter how you look at it. She is rude, hopefully you will never have to see her again. Stingy lady.

Answer 10

Let it go, it is not worth it. Everyone left a tip except for the individual who acted offended. Obviously everyone else wasn't bothered by your remark, it was not rude or they also would not have left a tip. You did a good job serving them and they showed their appreciation for that by tipping you. That particular woman is the type who will look for whatever she can to complain about, or be offended about, to feel better about herself; she is insecure and her acting offended and appalled is her way of trying to make herself look high and mighty in front of the others.

Take the high road......don't stoop to her level; be and act professional; friendly; and don't forget to smile.

That woman doesn't realize: what goes around comes around.