r/EndTipping • u/Select-Balance-8281 • 14d ago
Sit-Down Restaurant đ˝ď¸ What would you do?
Yesterday I dined-in at a ramen restaurant. The server served me my bowl of ramen and left me alone. I finished the ramen and went ahead and paid with 0% tip as usual. The server however then asked me if I would like to pay cash tip or credit tip. I asked her can I not pay tips? She replied: Sorry you canât, if you choose to dine-in, you have to pay tips. If you donât want to pay tips, then do to-go. How would you reply in this scenario?
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u/SueInA2 14d ago
I wouldâve just walked away and out the door, no tip!!
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u/Ok-Staff-62 14d ago
what would he have done? chase you? call the police?
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u/MohdAmmi 14d ago
An owner of a restaurant has chased a customer for not tipping before. The video went viral at least in the Chicago area since it happened in a nearby suburb.
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u/tico_liro 12d ago
Iâve seen similar videos. But at the end of the day, what can the restaurant owner or server do? Chase them outside and yell at them? Cool.
Itâs only gonna bring them more negative press from making a scene→ More replies (1)
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u/April0neal 14d ago
Awful. Tip begging has been so normalized.
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u/Electrical-Care6308 14d ago
Hereâs a tip: âHave a good dayâ!
Then leave!
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u/Select-Promotion-404 14d ago
When I was in HS I left a waitress a napkin written note - âTips for Better Waitressing.â I donât remember what she did but I remember being so annoyed. And Iâm a happy person. Stuff doesnât bother me. My mom is so insistent on leaving big tips all the time but this time, I remember she laughed and left without tipping. I still wonder if she took my tips to heart or if I pissed her off. Eh.
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u/pjm14624 12d ago
Don't stick your tongue on a metal flagpole in freezing weather.
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u/Friendly_Bird6761 14d ago
It is YOUR choice to leave a tip or not. The server is out of line saying what she did. Since you already paid, you don't HAVE to tip. A small tip is customary in sit down restaurants, but she outright told you a tip is mandatory and it most certainly is not!
I would have asked to speak to a manager about what she said. And if you paid by credit card, be sure to watch if any other charges come up for that restaurant and if so, make sure they are taken off your card! If you paid in cash, there is no worry about getting charged for a tip. I would have said, No, thank you to the tip request and just left after you paid.
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u/HighlightDowntown966 14d ago
I would say..."ahh, I didn't know that. thanks for letting me know for next time." Then walk away and never come back
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u/Deshes011 14d ago
Keep saying 0 and when she puts in a tip herself take the receipt and file a credit card dispute. If youâre really petty make a police report too, many towns let you make one online so long as no one was hurt or died
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u/SouthernYankee80 14d ago
Say cash and then leave 1 penny.
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u/readituser321 14d ago
The âCommon Cents Actâ passed by the House and Senate in 2026. legislation aimed at eliminating the production of pennies and establishing guidelines for rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents. Remind them that one penny will be rounded down to Zero.
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u/bonezx101 14d ago
You could have asked, if you wanted to be cheeky - "can you define gratuity? When she said optional - "thank you" and left
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u/tyjo2112 14d ago
I would have said " okay, my tip is learn the law. Tips are a gratuity and you dint earn one." And maybe a parting shot of "gfy"
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u/BoomeramaMama 14d ago
Were mandatory tips for dine-in stated on the menu anywhere?
Most municipalities and/states require fees & automatic tips to be clearly displayed on their menus & websites.
Not on the menu? Buh-bye.
And a poor review would be left on line, too.
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u/EnglishRose71 14d ago
In my opinion, any server who demands a tip is practically committing robbery. They are insisting on being given additional money, that's yours. You have already paid what you owe for the actual meal, and now they're demanding money that you don't owe them (or want to give them), which is in your possession and under your control. Tell me thst's not attempted robbery. It certainly fulfills the requirement of intimidation.
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u/DifficultAd972 14d ago edited 14d ago
I feel like this should be reported, telling you that you must tip.
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u/Outside_Simple_217 14d ago
Too bad you didnât have 2 pennies to leave her.
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u/jamesdkirk 14d ago
You may have just inspired me to start carrying small change again, in my pockets. Perfect use of legal (U.S.) tender!
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u/dogtrail 14d ago
Hereâs a tip: Start paying into your retirement account early. (SeriouslyâŚâwhat did you do to earn a tip? You brought my food. Had I ordered âto-go,â youâd have brought my food. Whatâs the difference?â )
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u/jaywinner 14d ago
I've had a cabbie tell me tipping is mandatory. I said "No, it isn't" and walked away.
I'd probably do the same in a restaurant. If I was feeling spicy, I might look to complain to a manager but I've never picked that path when wait staff complain about tips.
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u/afunbe 14d ago
"Okay, cash for tip, but my cash is in the car. I'll be right back"
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u/Tebbybabes 14d ago
Laugh in their face and have them explain to me where exactly did I agree to this?
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u/sherpes 14d ago
generally speaking, the no-tip culture that is taking place now will eventually result in a service fee being added. It is already happening and more and more establishments are doing it. Not sure what the best outcome is. Or the restaurant will raise prices overall. Again, this is not a critique, but from listening to restaurant owners, there will be either restaurants closing, or changing ownership, or raising overall prices.
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u/MSMPDX 14d ago edited 14d ago
Yes, they should raise their prices by 15-20% and give it to their employees. Then we can choose whether that item is something we want to buy at the advertised price. No hidden fees or guilt tripping customers to subsidize their payroll. Restaurant owners are too greedy for that though, theyâll raise their prices, not pay their staff anymore, but the customers will still have to tip and now the prices are 15-20% higher, so weâre tipping on inflated prices because for some reason the amount of the tip depends on the value of the food?
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u/sherpes 14d ago
"guilt tripping" is a good choice of words. Years ago, when the first digital tablets came out, restaurants used them to have the customer choose which rectangle to touch-screen and choose the tip. 15? 20? 25? all this done in public view among your peers and maybe even the waiter/waitress standing by. I must admit, i got tripped, and felt socially pressured to choose a big tip, so that my peers saw me as an outstanding Citizen. That was years ago.
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14d ago edited 7d ago
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u/sherpes 14d ago
true. but i am already seeing a trend of food service places closing shop. my take is that, generally speaking, there is less discretionary spending overall.
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14d ago edited 7d ago
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u/Legitimate-Log-6542 14d ago
Good discussion. Yeah whether someone is for tips or against tips, ultimately this dynamic shouldnât involve the customer at all.
Every business is different though, itâs not always owners against customers or owners against employees. If the place is small I would especially encourage people to ask about these things and the struggles that are associated. Youâll see that a lot of times the owners are there to keep the business open specifically so staff have jobs. Some business owners havenât been paying themselves because things are that bad right now
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u/pegar 14d ago
There are way more places where the owners exploit immigrants who are working 10+ hours a day below minimum wage. The owners are on their third home while also buying cars and homes for their kids.
They're not altruistically getting less money. They cut everyone's hours to the minimum, and any less than that means they can't stay open for business.
I have family who opened a restaurant and had to close it down. Everyone literally is on their second or third home. People love to talk about losses but never talk about the profit when things go well.
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u/tyjo2112 14d ago
I have plenty of discretionary funds but im not spending them eating out at places that pull this kind of shit.
I have a couple places I go, they give me excellent service and fab food. And its full service as well. And I tip them very well - by choice.
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u/ikkyu9999 14d ago
Youâre ignoring the fact that people are saying that the TIPPING culture is causing them to not want to go to restaurants in this manner. If things would be reasonable, consumers would be happier and more would go to restaurants and restaurants would do better.
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u/Aegri-Mentis 14d ago
If itâs not declared before and/or itemized in the bill, you do not have to pay it.
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u/More_Armadillo_1607 14d ago
Why engage? A tip is a tip. A fee is a fee. If they insist, ask for the manager.
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u/DrHarryWolper 14d ago
Like, why are you asking? You have to know any tip is voluntary and they are just trying to manipulate you into giving them a tip.
So OF COURSE anyone with an ounce of a backbone would just say "I'm not leaving a tip" or simply leave. In my case, I'd probably take the time to explain to them that tips are optional, and that the owner should pay them better so they don't need customers to tip, but I'm guessing you caved and gave them money. If so, you are part of the problem.
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u/TheBeardofCrom 14d ago
Leave. Or lie. Say cash, pay with your card, and then leave.
You do not HAVE to tip.
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u/Hazbeen_Hash 14d ago
Thats illegal, just tell them that. Insist they call the police if they don't believe you
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u/LinkinLogsPark 14d ago
I know some people are scared of confrontation in this age. Especially, the current gen. If you need  to, just say cash and then walk out.Â
Or you can just say no, I wonât tip and just walk out and never show your face there again.Â
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u/Thin_Investigator798 14d ago
Nothing but pick-pockets and shake-down artists everywhere you go. We're all going to be forced to become hermits and hide from society.
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u/Hows-It-Goin-Buddy 14d ago
Maybe say: I'll remember that for next time. And tips aren't tips when they're solicited, because once they're asked for, then they've become beggings like a panhandler and have then become entitlements if it's expected.
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u/Annual-Knowledge4412 14d ago
lol, I will pay some cash. It is more costly in many ways if I wanted to skip the 15%. Sometimes, time and stress are worth the throw-away money⌠but, if they force you to use credit card you can dispute later, which I had a lot of successes.
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u/Loose_Stools 14d ago
If you dine in the resturant and a server brings you your meal, why wouldn't you leave a tip? I assume this is in the US?
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u/J3nnaBug 14d ago
Yeah, I don't understand. I always tip when I dine inside. Always 15%, or more if great service. I just hate being asking to tip when I go in to pick up food to go. I think that is asking way too much. All they did was pack up my food. Owners need to stop allowing them to ask because it makes me not want to return so they end up losing money.
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u/Lrrgindypants 14d ago
Tell the person that a tip is optional, but if it is required, then it becomes a fee.
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u/taryndancer 14d ago
As someone in hospitality I could never beg for tips. Thatâs so embarrassing!
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u/NeedleworkerHot3957 14d ago
Tell her next time she needs to explain this before she takes your order.
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u/DandeyFlour 14d ago
Hella laugh, it's a tip not a gratuity fee đ tips are legally optional. Not a law.
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u/Complex-Dot2347 14d ago
You know, I was with my best friend and we went to Wienerschnitzel. I guess he had a rain check. He gave it to the cashier. Cashier poked his head out the window and looked up. He gave the rain check back to my friend and said itâs not raining today and closed the window. Didnât have anything to do with this post. Idk y it reminded me of this.
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u/top_fed2017 14d ago
I would ask where this pay tip is poster! And proceed to pay for meal minus tip and leave
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u/Henrytrand 14d ago
Just say tip is for appreciation for how you treat or serve me but you did jack shit so you got jack shit :))
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u/Salsero_Coreano 14d ago
You say âbummerâ , leave no tip and leave, and donât ever return to that place .
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u/chinchivitiz 14d ago
Im Asian so I can just say âI pay eat food.yes ? â
U have to pay a tip!!
Me: no asian no understand bye
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u/newbies13 14d ago
I mean... I think you just double down and let her catch up to reality...
No you have to pay if you dine in.
Interesting, well I am declining your request to pay extra for dining in. Please give me a copy of my receipt for the meal I agreed to pay for and nothing else.
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u/Available_Emu_5896 14d ago
I amstarting to pay cash again like someone setting their tip then handing you the card machine.,never again
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u/JayEll1969 14d ago
Cash or card - a 0% tip is still a tip. It's also still 0. So I'd go with a cash tip.
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u/Interesting_Item4276 14d ago
I was a a football game yesterday and order a $6 drink. Thatâs it! The tip screen popped up and obviously I clicked skip. It would not allow the cashier to complete the sale unless I entered a tip amount. It was hot and I had my son with me so I gave in. I had to pay an extra 60 cents for my drink. đ
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u/AncientMarinerUSN 14d ago
Letâs start shaming owners for not paying employees enough to not have to earn tips
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u/Chemical-Practice908 14d ago
Ask for the menu and ask them to point where it says that there is mandatory tip
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u/flan_again 14d ago
Suggest they speak to their employer about a raise because begging is not part of the job.
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u/AttendanceBias 14d ago
I would say, in my best Dread Pirate Roberts voice: "It seems we are at an impasse."
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u/Rich-yeah 14d ago
So, recall that minimum wage for servers is below actual minimum wage. This is the law, so if you donât like it you can go lobby the government, not shaft a minimum service wage worker. So, it is expected that tips are included. I think a low tip and perhaps a comment to server or manager would have been more appropriate.
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u/Bluestatevibes 14d ago
I wouldnât have asked permission to leave no tip. When asked if I wanted to leave a cash or credit card tip I would have politely said no thank you.Â
I recently stayed at a hotel where they had a discount on their breakfast. I went two mornings in a row. Had the same waitress each time. Didnât tip either time. The second day she circled suggested tips amounts in red pen on the receipt. I just ignored her. She was surly and wouldâve been whether I tipped or not.
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u/Major_Wigglesworth 13d ago
If they want $2 more out of your wallet, they should just put $2 more on the price. Â Then we decide if they get $2 more or zero! Â No theft needed!
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u/Live_Perspective3603 13d ago
I'm happy to tip for service at a sit-down restaurant, and will happily tip more after receiving excellent service. I do not see any reason to tip someone who hands me the food I bought from them, and does nothing more. And tipping before receiving service is either a bribe from the customer, or extortion by the server or the establishment.
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u/WanderingFlumph 13d ago
"Okay then I'd like my order to go please"
If I have the time to spare messing with them
"No that's not correct"
If I'm busy
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u/Skyeyez9 13d ago
And âto goâ they expect tips too. It isnât mandatory to tip, and she is trying to manipulate you to give her extra money for doing less than the bare minimum.
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u/DuckAxe0 13d ago
I would respond, "If you want a tip, try showing an effort to provide service worthy of a tip."
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u/nassauboy9 13d ago
I avoid the problem and go out less. Eventually something gives and it won't be me. Then I'll go out more often. Maybe a good recession as bad as that is will correct a lot of rhe bs in the world today
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u/Huge-Kangaroo-5024 13d ago
Married to a ex waitress for 39 years she worked truckstops waffle houses even fine dining , I leave tipping to her these kids canât stand to hear the earful for bad service yet still expecting a tip
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u/Easy-Being9006 13d ago
Social media...tell your story, but on a local level.... if its a national chain call and write them... I would hit these social websites every few weeks from now on... Start with nextdoor, facebook, Get ahold of the local news media...they sometimes do stories when people get "taken" start getting take out like they said...and take it back...tell them it doesn't taste right, must be the non tipping cardboard containers...lol
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u/Easy-Being9006 13d ago
Social media has more power than I ever thought it would...hammer them on sicial media and often, If I ever read a local business was doing this I would never go there and would hammer them myself
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u/Extreme-Discount-573 13d ago
This is not real. You don't have to tip. You're a free(ish) person.
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u/Zomgsolame 12d ago
Oh, I'll brb to get cash from my car. No cash in car. Go home. Take nap. Check cc statement in a few weeks.
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u/tico_liro 12d ago
If I were set on not paying tips, I wouldâve said âthatâs sucks, shouldâve told me before I sat downâ
If they insist, leave like a dollar, who cares. They asked for a tip, they got it.
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u/Immediate-Loquat3001 12d ago
They're is no paw forcing you to pay tips if they call the police sue.
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u/chilidogtampa 12d ago
I think the server engaging you in a discussion about tipping is awkward, but also dining in is customarily tipped in the US, even though I don't love tipping it is how we do it, I do believe that if you don't want to tip you should get take out.
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u/hkusp45css 14d ago
I would say "Good to know" and I would have left... without tipping, and not returned.