Mid-20s diner leaves his phone number as the tip for waitress, baffling server: 'I would much rather text the [customer] who tipped like 30%'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 18, 2025 5:00 PM EST

As if the restaurant servers didn't already have enough on their plates, some of their customers are avoiding leaving them any cash in the tackiest possible way. 

I know money is tight and people don't really like to tip, but it's a nice thing to do anyway. Waiters and waitresses make a very tiny salary per hour because they're relying on tips from their customers. They also have to share those tips with their bussers and kitchen staff. No one is saying it's a fair system, but that's just the way it is. 

However, some folks are pretty against tipping, while others are just kind of oblivious about it. Take these 2 dudes, for instance. They ate at a restaurant, and when it came time to pay, one dude tipped 30%, while the other guy tipped 0. If they each had $10 meals and they split the bills, that means for a $20 order, the waitress got tipped about $3.33, which is a 16% tip. That's an okay tip, and in the end, it shouldn't technically matter who the money comes from so long as the waitress is getting paid. But she's laughing at the dude who tipped 0 because he's the one who left his phone number, suggesting that she call him. 

I can't imagine that kind of strategy works very well! If you want a waitress to call you, maybe you should make an impression, pal. Why don't you tip her $20 or $50, and then maybe she'll call you? She's under no obligation to message this dude, no matter how much he tips. But if she's single and he seems nice and cute, a $50 tip would probably get him a response more often than giving $0-$3 to lots of waitresses. Maybe this could be a teachable moment for this guy: if you're going to bug the waitstaffers at work, at least make it worth their while. Go ahead and show off a little bit! Then wait and see if you get a message, and if not, move on with your life and try again another time, knowing that at the very least, you've made a waitress's day a little brighter by giving her a large cash tip. 

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  • 01

    "Receipt note?"

    Red-haired waitress holds metal tray and smiles at male customer with glasses holding a menu in crowded restaurant setting
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    TSI: TC: SubTotal 8BF05544FD34E200 USD $ 35.06 Tip USD $ Q Total USD S 35.06 Signature: APPROVED BY ISSUER qui I agree to pay above total amount according to card issuer agreement. (Merchant agreement if Credit Voucher) Retain this copy for your records 04 11 for your tip ☺ Suggested Gratuity 18%= 5.83 20% = 6.48 25%= 8.10
    via u/edwardcullenmarryme
  • 03
    served two mid-late 20s? guys who split the bill. one tipped enough for the both of them, the other tipped zero and left his number and this note. I am a girl, so I immediately
    via u/edwardcullenmarryme
  • 04
    thought he was just being creepy, but why would a guy leave his number without a tip? what server would that ever work on?? I would much rather text the one who tipped like 30% loll
    via u/edwardcullenmarryme
  • 05
    Parody_of... Text him to ask about his friend
    via u/Parody_of_Self
  • 06
    cat-meow... Venmo request him at that number
    via u/cat-meowma
  • 07
    Needs Mo... Because the kind of people who tip shitty, and the kind of people who would leave their pl number on a receipt have a significant overlap
    via u/NeedsMoarOutrage
  • 08
    Lake Michi... Call the guy and ask for his friends phone number. You know the guy that actually tipped. Just as classy as the guy leaving his number that stiffed you.
    via u/LakeMichiganMan
  • 09
    jaaackatt... Everyone who has left me their phone number has paired it with a shitty/no tip.
    via u/jaaackattackk
  • 10
    One left $3 on $120 and left a note that said "if you let me take you to dinner, I'll make it up to you!" And I just thought "so you can tip our server like shit???"
    via u/jaaackattackk
  • 11
    girlwithth... I worked at a 24 hour pub/restaurant so we got a lot of people coming in when the bars closed and a
    via u/girlwiththemonkey
  • 12
    surprising number of them will try to give their own phone number as the tip. No money. Just their phone number.
    via u/girlwiththemonkey
  • 13
    Red-haired waitress looks down at dish of food, customer with glasses smiles at her with crowded restaurant in background
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 14
    OkAcanth... Tell him if he is too poor to tip you he isn't ready to date since his buddy is taking him out.
    via u/OkAcanthocephala7546
  • 15
    Auntiemens Text him and say "$0 tip + phone number is never going to work"
    via u/Auntiemens
  • 16
    Organic-Y... So there are a lot of morning radio shows that would love to call this number for you and lay into the cheapskate
    via u/Organic-Yodelz

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phone number restaurant workplace diners dining experiences waitress restaurant server
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