A group of friends spent over $200 at a new restaurant and left a $11 tip. The server was not amused. Instead of accepting the gesture, they wrote a note on the bill telling the customers that if they could not afford a bigger tip, they should stick to fast food.
“If you can only afford a 5% tip then maybe you should consider eating fast food”
The note drew attention online, where the customer posted about it. The incident has become the latest example of a tipping dispute that went public.
The Bill Behind The Note
The customer admits the server made several trips to the table during the meal. Appetizers, entrees and dessert were ordered. The total came to $220. The tip left was $11, which works out to just over 5% of the bill.
The server disagreed with that math. The note on the bill made the position clear: the restaurant worker believed the tip was too small, and that the customers should eat elsewhere if they could not afford to tip better.
What The Survey Found
A WalletHub survey found that 81% of Americans feel tipping has gotten out of control. Two out of five respondents said they think tipping should be banned altogether. The survey was conducted earlier this year.
The survey points to a widespread belief that tipping has grown beyond what customers find reasonable.
Why Tipping Screens Irritate Customers
Cortney Norris, Assistant Professor at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Oklahoma State University, says technology is partly to blame for the friction. She points to point-of-sale systems that add tip screens to almost every checkout.
“Every time you check out somewhere, instead of just signing your name, there is a tip screen and then you have to ask yourself, do I have to tip this person and if I do, how much do I tip? Then there is the awkward moment where the employee notices you did not tip and you cringe a little inside,” she explains.
The Voluntary Tip
Norris makes a clear distinction: no one is required to tip, and all tips are voluntary except where service charges apply. But because tipping has become a social norm, customers feel pressure to leave something.
Servers Should Not Make Guests Feel Bad
John Sobota, Lecturer, Recruiter and Program Director at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, agrees that tipping is voluntary. He adds that servers should not make their guests feel poorly for tipping poorly.
“Good service should be rewarded and kindness goes a long way,” he says. He also believes that electronic payment systems with auto-tip suggestions have made the tipping process easier and more profitable for servers.
What Counts As A Decent Tip
For full-service restaurants where servers earn subminimum wage, tips are often the primary source of income. Norris says the minimum tip should be based on performance.
“If they did everything you asked, your order was correct, your glasses stayed full, and did it all with a smile and a nice disposition, then the minimum tip should be 18%,” she says. Most servers and bartenders believe it should be at least 20%.
The Risk Of Burnout
If tipping burnout gets much worse, servers who rely on tips could suffer. Norris warns that people could stop tipping altogether, which means counter workers would keep their regular minimum wage while full-service restaurant employees come up short.
The Customer’s Response
The customer chose to share the note. The story has spread since then.
The Bigger Question
Has tipping culture gone too far? The survey suggests most Americans think so. But not all experts agree.
The dispute raises questions about what customers owe servers and what servers owe customers in return. For now, the note on the bill stands as proof that the disagreement is not going away anytime soon.
The server believed the tip was too small. The customer believed the tip was fair.
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