‘He threw a $100 bill at me’: Top tipping stories that capture working in customer service

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
Jan 26, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Working in customer service is quite a colorful experience, as you get to meet a whole bunch of people, some of whom are polite, others, not so much.

I remember the days when I was a waitress… Actually, I fetched people coffee well into my late twenties until I managed to get a gig elsewhere that was far from the public eye. I was relieved that I didn't have to deal with customers anymore…These tipping stories really capture a couple of moments that I think everyone comes across after working at a place where tipping is the norm. One person began the thread on r/talesfromyourserver, relaying a funny experience with a customer who had a little bit too much to drink, and ended up tipping them $100, thinking it was a one-dollar bill.

Scroll down to sift through these funny stories that perfectly capture working in customer service. Next, check out this young worker who used a forklift to get back at a very entitled sales representative who thought he could park wherever he wanted.

Advertisement
  • 01
    "He threw a $100 bill at me and left..." I expected to be stiffed so I kind of wrote off getting a tip, part of the job. He wrote "terrible service" on the slip, and tipped me nearly $80 on a $200 bill. No idea. I had one guy during a busy weekend dinner service literally berate me and the service I had given to him- largely because he expected all sorts of additional stuff we used to give out that we but for years we did it upon request due to how much just got thrown out. he
    via Canva
  • 02
    A very rude customer kinda left me $99 tip. Short So, I am working as a bartender in a small bar in a small town. Not only do I fix drinks, but I am also responsible for selling tokens to an air hockey table. They come $1 a piece.
    via u/JustConcede
  • 03
    The other night this very dr nk guy asked for a single token and threw me a hundred dollar note. I gave him a token and asked to wait while I open the register and get him the change. He left immediately. I got 99 dollars as fast as I could and ran after him to return it. The dude was near the air hockey table.
    via u/JustConcede
  • 04
    I started to politely explain that I have his change and that he should take it. But I couldn't finish, cause he interrupted me with a "Who the fk are you? Fk off now." And so I just left. The guy never came back for his money.
    via u/JustConcede
  • 05
    HighClassHate · 2 days ago I love when this happens. I've also done it a few times, I tipped cab driver $40 when I was drunk once, didn't realize until a few hours later why he was so appreciative. I was like d. 1. he was really excited for that $10 tip, now where is that $50 I had?" Was bummed but I'm glad I made his night. 887 Reply Share
    via u/HighClassHate
  • 06
    . LadyLixerwyfe 2 days ago · edited 1 day ago I had a super dr nk guy come into my restaurant when I was tending bar. He ordered a drink and I said I couldn't serve him. He got ped and asked what the biggest steak we had was. I told him it was a 16 oz. prime rib. He ordered that and proceeded to eat it at my bar, WITH HIS HANDS. He was gross and rude the entire time. I gave him the bill and asked if he wanted me to call him a cab. Him: "Why?! I drove here!" Me:
    via u/LadyLixerwyfe
  • 07
    "And if you try to drive leaving here, I will have to call the police. Just let me call you a cab and come back and get your car tomorrow." He called me every name in the book, but eventually agreed he didn't want the police involved. He counts out his total in dollar bills and quarters. I just shook my head and took it to the register. Cab shows up and I let him know. As he is walking to the door he says, "Here's a dollar, but you DON'T DESERVE IT!" and proceeded to throw a wadded up bill at me
    via u/LadyLixerwyfe
  • 08
    Tenzipper. 2 days ago As a cab driver, drinks either tip very well, or not at all. Generally, the ones who tell you about how great they tip are the ones that stiff you. The ones who just sit, bleary-eyed, in the back seat, are the ones who tip well.
    via u/Tenzipper
  • 09
    Sometimes, they're in such a hurry to go to the next bar or party, they just throw some crumpled-up bills over the seat and jump out. As long as I see at least enough to cover the fare, I'm good. Have found a crumpled up $100, a $50, and several $20 bills that were excess to requirements. 429 Reply Share
    via u/TenZipper
  • 10
    Reavie 1 day ago I had one guy during a busy weekend dinner service literally berate me and the service I had given to him - largely because he expected all sorts of additional stuff we used to give out that we but for years we did it upon request due to how much just got thrown out. he pulled me aside and asked why the fik hadn't I done those things, to which I explained, and that I gave exceptionally bad service.
    via u/Reavie
  • 11
    I expected to be stiffed so I kind of wrote off getting a tip, part of the job. He wrote "terrible service" on the slip, and tipped me nearly $80 on a $200 bill. No idea. Reply Share 15 JustConcede OP - 1 day ago The way I picture this guy from your story is that he used to be a regular at that place for a while, then stopped visiting. During the time he was absent the crew changed and the terms of service changed, so
    via u/JustConcede
  • 12
    when he came back it was not quite the stuff he was used to. Maybe the way he acted was just him saying "This is not the place I used to love anymore, but I still have really nice memories about it. To reignite my positive experience, I am going to do at least something the way it used to be". Idk ↑ 11 Reply Share
    via u/JustConcede
  • 13
    Getupb4ufall 1 day ago One time about eight or nine friends/ brothers were out partying it up at this pretty upscale dinner place, getting a head start on a night on the town. We'd kinda half as d agreed on we were doing with the tab. Got outside and realized we'd DOUBLE tipped, tab was easily several hundred.. we had to shrug tho because it just seemed obvious to us that common decency would dictate that you just plain never return to retract a gratuity. Not where we come from anyway. 15 + Repl
    via u/Getupb4ufall
  • 14
    mulder1921- 1 day ago I drive rideshare and offered 3 dr k girls a ride about a mile down the road since the friend who ordered their ride left the car when we got to her place ( no other stop was added). I said $10 I'll get you home safe. The drink in the middle proceeds to hand me a wad of change, receipts, and money. I took a $10 and tried to give the wad back. She kept refusing. I drive them
    via u/mulder1921
  • 15
    home and again try and give the money back. She just says that "it's for me" and all three girls run inside. I left and then organized the pile- $175.25! As they say, karma! 13 Reply Share
    via u/mulder1921
  • 16
    Kodiak01 2 days ago Back in the day, it was common for patrons to ask to borrow a bit, ostensibly to write down a girl's phone number. Sure! $20 deposit. At least a few times a week, they'd forget to come back for their money. Just more for the tip jar! Reply Share 10
    via u/Kodiak01
  • 17
    Ok-Cantaloupe 2564 2 days ago I like to over tip like crazy sometimes. I once left a waitress a $2,020 (it was 2020 and I had read somewhere that someone had given a waitress 20,200 tip, but that's richer than me) tip at a chain restaurant near an airport. Kind of place where you might get a nice $10 tip from a customer on occasion. I didn't stick around for her reaction, but it made me feel so good to give her some unexpected joy. ↑ 13 Reply Share
    via u/Ok-Cantaloupe2564
  • 18
    Curious0597 - 2 days ago Bet he thought he gave you a dollar..What did you do with your windfall? 4.4 Reply Share JustConcede OP - 2 days ago It went towards my savings for a new phone ↑ 7 Reply Share
    via u/Curious0597, u/JustConcede

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

customer service tips server stories servers waiter customers tipping restaurant bartender cab waitress tales from your server service industry cash register dollars dollar bills money
Scroll Down For The Next Article