Some people need to mind their own business

[monkey68]

The other day, my sister and I went to Grand Lux Cafe for lunch. I had a $50 Visa gift card that I wanted to use to pay for lunch. We had a somewhat more expensive lunch than usual for the two of us and the bill came out to be around $45, give or take, can't remember hte exact amount. Anyway, when the waitress hands back the thing for me to sign and put in how much tip, I just put in the tip line the rest of the amount on the gift card which made it an even $50, and then we put another couple bucks as well in cash since the $5 was not enough of a tip.

This woman sitting next to us just saw that we put a couple singles into the check holder and starts throwing a fit, saying we were being cheap and how dare we leave such a small amount after the waitress was so wonderful and friendly, blah blah blah. My sister and I just gave her a look like she was nuts, and I said to her the amount that we leave as a tip is none of her business. Now, I know that waitresses get stiffed on tips, but I never thought I would actually meet someone to outright say something to somebody, especially when that somebody actually left a pretty sizeable tip. I didn't want a gift card with only a few bucks on it, since in a lot of places, you need to know the exact amount on the card to put it through, so it was easier just to use up the whole thing. But seriously, if it's not your business, and it certainly was not her business, why can't she just stay out of it?

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I would have told her to feel free to leave more herself to make up the difference of what she thought was acceptable.

There is no law that says you have to tip.


I'm just impressed that the gift card went through! Those tend to get turned down at restaurants.

 

[MM27]

Why can't she just stay out of it? Because some people think everyone else's business is their business. The problem is, they never take a look in the mirror and see what they are doing wrong.

You have to just ignore people like that. I wouldn't have explained anything to her or even responded.

Hope your meal was good

 

[sbell111]

Practically every day in the forums, we have people making postings that boil down to their being so very proud of butting into other people's business. Why should non-DISers be any different?

 

[Ephany]

Why can't she just stay out of it? Because some people think everyone else's business is their business. The problem is, they never take a look in the mirror and see what they are doing wrong.

This! And besides, who looks close enough at another table to see how much money they're putting in the folder?

 

[happygirl]

As a past server. I'm glad that woman said something so many people leave and don't tip. I think it was nice this lady was looking out for the server.

I think the tip you left was more then generous

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Nobody is required to leave a tip

 

[sunnyday123]

tipping is optional....and quite frankly, if I don't get good service, you don't get a good tip-and I'm not talking waiting on me hand and foot, but bring me a new drink when I'm eating ice!

and I would have told her I wasn't leaving a big tip because I had been seated next to her and it ruined my dining experience.

 

[sbell111]

As a past server. I'm glad that woman said something so many people leave and don't tip. I think it was nice this lady was looking out for the server.

Here's the problem with that logic: Regardless of how insufficient the women felt the tip was, her haranguing the tipper was not going to change the amount.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Here's the problem with that logic: Regardless of how insufficient the women felt the tip was, her haranguing the tipper was not going to change the amount.

That's true.

I don't know how I would've responded to someone like that. Depends on the day. I know I'd want to ask her if she could read my bill from where she was seated. And ask her if she was bionic woman or something.

She really had a lot of nerve. Crossed several lines.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Here's the problem with that logic: Regardless of how insufficient the women felt the tip was, her haranguing the tipper was not going to change the amount.

Not only that... but it's not up to anyone but the customer to decide what a sufficient tip is! AND... just because society dictates that good service equals a good tip, there is NOTHING that requires you to leave a penny even if you are being waited on hand and foot.

 

[monkey68]

I would have told her to feel free to leave more herself to make up the difference of what she thought was acceptable.

There is no law that says you have to tip.


I'm just impressed that the gift card went through! Those tend to get turned down at restaurants.

In these situations, I always end up coming up with the good responses after the fact. I was just so taken aback by the unexpectedness and rudeness. As for the gift card, I've used them a lot at restaurants, it's basically a Visa debit card deal. I got it with my "Thank You" points from Citibank.

As a past server. I'm glad that woman said something so many people leave and don't tip. I think it was nice this lady was looking out for the server.

I think the tip you left was more then generous

Fact is though, the woman was butting in where she didn't belong. She had no clue how much I put on the gift card or if I left my tip in cash. And if I was that type of person, I would probably taken out some of the tip altogether as a big FU to the person in question. Course, I would probably hand the real amount to the waiter on the side, but she needn't know that. She really had no business saying anything to me. She had no clue how much I was leaving, and really, it's not her business to know just how much money a person is giving.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

As for the gift card, I've used them a lot at restaurants, it's basically a Visa debit card deal. I got it with my "Thank You" points from Citibank.

I'm glad they work for you The reason they don't a lot of times is because they have a set limit on them. When you use a card at a restaurant the amount being held is usually 15 - 20% higher than the acual purchase because of restaurants having a tip feature. When the card is run, they don't know what the final cost is going to be as people add their tip after the card is approved. So depending on how the restaurants system is set up, they up the approval amount to make sure that the entire transaction is approved.

For example... in your case, it was a $50 card. If your meal came to $45, in some restaurants it's possible that the amount trying to be held was over the $50. It all depends on how the restaurant has their merchant services set up.

Just fyi in case you ever do run into a problem We've had people call complaining that they purchased a specific dollar amount and then when the transaction is declined they think there's something wrong with the card. I always feel bad when it happens!

 

[DarthKTrava]

Not only that... but it's not up to anyone but the customer to decide what a sufficient tip is! AND... just because society dictates that good service equals a good tip, there is NOTHING that requires you to leave a penny even if you are being waited on hand and foot.

Goes to show who doesn't leave tips. BTW: We.Get.The.Point.

I'd have glared at that rude witch and then ignored her. Good thing she's not near me as I put mine on the debit card as I usually don't carry cash.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Are you implying that I don't leave tips just because this person's attitude ticks me off?

 

[Rebelmom67]

As a past server. I'm glad that woman said something so many people leave and don't tip. I think it was nice this lady was looking out for the server.

You are glad that this woman made a comment on an erroneous assumption? Alrighty then.

Proof right here that some people have skewed judgement and should be overlooked, imo.

 

[Darsa]

Holy bananas, I went away camping for three days, and I come back to what seems like QUITE an overabundance of rudeness, snideness, and all-around SNARK on this board!

While I totally agree that what you were doing financially with your OWN bill and that woman was completely OUT OF LINE to say something to a complete stranger at the next table (you know what happens when you assume?) I really really don't dig the way people are harping at each other over their opinions these days! Goodness, debating is one thing, but being snotty, presumptuous and catty is completely another!

Okay, sorry to derail; back to rude strangers!

 

[MariDisney]

As a past server. I'm glad that woman said something so many people leave and don't tip. I think it was nice this lady was looking out for the server.

I think the tip you left was more then generous

I disagree. I sympathize with people who work hard and don't get what they deserve, but it is no business of anyone else's what someone tips. Talk about a busy-body! Maybe someone isn't tipping well because the wait person what horrible. Maybe someone put in 5 tens! How could someone at another table possibly know the denomination the other person put it. Or, how could the other person know that money wasn't left on a credit card. I would hate to be embarrassed like that!

 

[Binnie]

Seriously, that was so rude!

That said, I've had servers ask me if the service was OK after seeing part of the tip (like we were leaving cash, or sharing the tip, etc.). It really cheeses me.

I don't know what gets into people when it comes to tipping! So often it gets treated like an entitlement, and it's not! If you provide good service, I will tip you generously. If you don't, I won't. It's really that simple. (And I'm not that hard to keep happy...)

 

[merryweather20]

As a past server. I'm glad that woman said something so many people leave and don't tip. I think it was nice this lady was looking out for the server.

I think the tip you left was more then generous

So the tip the OP left was fine? But it was still okay for the woman to single them out and make a scene?

Huh?

The other woman had no idea what was going on, and should have kept her mouth shut.