When Attitude Spoils the Service: Why I Took Back My Tip

We’ve all experienced that frustrating moment when a special evening is tainted by a negative encounter. Amelia’s letter about her recent restaurant experience brings up crucial points about tipping etiquette, customer service, and handling conflict.

New Message From: Amelia
Subject: Why I Took Back My Tip Due to the Waitress’s Disrespectful Attitude

Last night, my husband and I went out to celebrate his promotion. The evening was perfect until the end, when the waitress completely soured it with her unpleasant attitude. When the bill arrived, I left a $10 tip on the $85 check. As she picked up the money, she sneered and said loudly, “Ten bucks? This isn’t the 1950s anymore, you know.”

I was taken aback by her condescending tone. My husband was equally shocked. “Excuse me?” I said, already irritated. “I think $10 on an $85 bill is quite fair.” The waitress rolled her eyes and retorted, “It’s a standard 20% tip these days. Don’t you know how to calculate that?”

Her rude attitude really got under my skin. Ten dollars is over 11%, which is a decent tip by any standard. Her sense of entitlement was infuriating. “You know what?” I snapped, losing my temper. “With that kind of attitude, you don’t deserve a tip at all!” I swiftly took the $10 bill back. The waitress’s jaw dropped, and she began berating me with insults, causing a scene. Other diners turned to watch, and my husband was mortified.

Eventually, the manager had to step in and remove the irate waitress, who continued to shout at me. We ended up leaving without leaving a tip. I admit I might have overreacted, but her disrespectful behavior truly angered me. After such treatment, I felt she didn’t deserve any extra money. Now, I’m facing debates about whether I should have just let it go instead of making a scene. What do you think?