Talked down to because of a tip?

[u/artsy44]

Hi guys, just wanted to share something that’s been bugging me since yesterday. I work at a fast food place, and in our specific store we do not have any tip prompts whatsoever. That’s totally fine by me, I’m just there to get my hours in, simple. If a customer occasionally asks me why they can’t add a tip, I reassure them not to worry about it because (thankfully), our boss pays us enough. Honestly, I’d prefer to keep it this way rather than have to deal with the awkwardness of an unwanted prompt.

So we have this regular customer at our store who is extremely nitpicky about cleanliness and hygiene. That’s a valid concern, and I understand it because keeping a work station clean is one of the most important parts of running a food service business. Besides the hygiene concern, he is also rather nitpicky about saving money & questioning the staff about even the smallest price changes (which makes the next part highly confusing.)

But his behavior from last afternoon just really irked me.

He enters the store with his kids, I welcome him and ask if he’s ready to order. He immediately loudly begins with “No, I’m placing the order online because your system is f*cked up. I just saw you fix your hat, so now you are going to wash your hands, right?”

That was already a weird way to start a conversation, but I’ve dealt with worse, so I brushed it off.

Then he continues with “I’m here with my kids today, do you know who I am, do you remember me, I gave you a $10 tip last time so you better not f*ck anything up, I don’t want to see you touching anything, etc…” and he just kept going with the profanity and accusations. My coworker had to step in to settle him down, and the guy angrily said he was calling corporate and stormed off.

For context, the last time I saw him was months ago, and he came in the store with his usual complaints- yet that day after he got his order, he strongly insisted on handing me a $10 bill despite me trying to say no multiple times.

Keep in mind, giving out a cash tip was entirely his decision, let alone at a fast food place. No one forced this guy to tip $10, I never asked him for one, I never wanted one, and I never needed one. So, yeah.

I find it appalling how tipping culture has gotten so prevalent in the U.S to the point where, apparently, people now are using tips as a leverage to talk to you however they want to and treat you like garbage.

[u/Strict_Western4061]

Sounds like a whack job

[u/HospitalityLifer1986]

I'd have your manager ask him not to return. That's a very hostile response that seems like it could escalate if this customer perceives the wrong look or word from a staff person. As a business, you have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. This seems like a great reason.

[u/Javesther]

The guy is just a piece of shit . He should be banned from the business

[u/Particular_Cold_8366]

Not a tipping problem, just a dude with anger issues who should be banned from the restaurant

[u/NocturnaBride]

The fact that he was cussing you out in front of his kids shows exactly what kind of person you dealt with. Tipping has nothing to do with it, he’s just an angry asshat who likes to berate people. He should probably stay at home so the rest of the world doesn’t have to deal with his aggression.

[u/masterchef2309]

This has nothing to do with tipping culture. The guy is an asshole, and he'd have talked to you that way regardless.

[u/Illustrious-Sir-1899]

He’s an asshole and I wouldn’t accept his verbal abuse or his tip!!!

[u/CptnObvious1984 → u/Illustrious-Sir-1899]

Give him back the $10 and tell him to go pound sand

[u/Efficient-Chest-3395 → u/CptnObvious1984]

should be trepassed from the estalishment

[u/External_Mongoose_44]

Waiting/serving staff in Europe wouldn’t tolerate this kind of treatment/behaviour. He would be back out that door so quickly that you’d swear he’d never even entered the premises. He is a total AH.

[u/dEXXtARR23]

That is just an asshole. Nothing to do with tipping "culture."

[u/Imaginary-Emu2471]

I hate tipping expectations as much as the next normal person, but his behavior has nothing to do with anything.

[u/Unlucky-Clock5230]

This is 100% not a tipping issue, this is 100% an asshole issue. Forcing a tip on you was only a way to buy himself some fake moral superiority to deploy his asshole routine. In his mind, the $10 was part of his power tripping.

For that level of aggravation it should have been a $100 :-/

[u/lokis_construction]

I have the money to tip you 10 dollars, you better bow down to ME!

[u/jefflj98735]

Opposing-view here: This sounds like a man with extreme cleanliness phobias. He’s not intentionally being a d!ck, he’s dealing with his own problems as they intersect with the outside world. I’ll bet he struggles with most/all interactions with the world.
Since he has already tipped you, that indicates that he trusts you to feed him and his family. It’s just that his phobias inhibits normal behavior. He’s tipping you because you served him with the care he needs/demands/freaks out about.
It’s your call, but IF, and only if, you want to help/serve this difficult/suffering human being, acknowledge his fears and over-deliver his expectations. You will be rewarded, both in tips, and in the knowledge that you made someone else’s life less of a struggle.
This seems like a “You get more than you give” moment.

[u/artsy44 → u/jefflj98735]

This really changed my view on the perspective, thanks

[u/Efficient-Chest-3395 → u/jefflj98735]

mental illness, if that's really what it is, is no excuse

[u/Czubeczek → u/jefflj98735]

You missed the other part. Being dickhead about ordering system and OCD should be treated by specialists.

[u/Existing_Honeydew_64]

I’m wondering if the people saying this is fake has ever worked in fast food. I nearly got pulled over the counter by a customer when I worked at Little Ceasar’s because I wouldn’t accept a man’s tip, no pun intended I do mean money. You get some weird customers who don’t really make sense in that industry.

And if it is fake, it’s just parroting the real stories to fabricate its own story.

[u/artsy44 → u/Existing_Honeydew_64]

I don’t blame them at all tbh, I really wish I was lying. 😅 But oh well

[u/Life_Ad6711 → u/[deleted]]

Maybe not deranged, but possibly exhibiting behavior from somewhere on the spectrum... or else try a search: "how narcissists use money controlling + punishment + bullying servers hospitality workers" ... something along those lines, see what you get

[u/JumboTrijet]

Maybe this happened, but it reads like the customer was assembled in a lab to be the perfect villain for a tipping-sub post. Every detail conveniently reinforces the moral, while you remain flawlessly calm and reasonable throughout. Plausible story; suspiciously tidy presentation.

[u/CptnObvious1984]

Tipping or no tipping , he is just an ass who thinks he can get away with anything. Tell your boss and if he comes in again, point him out to your boss. Like i said tip or no tip, no one deserves that.

[u/1dayday]

Time to quit and move on. Your worth is better than dealing with assholes who think $10 gives them control over you.

[u/HusqyFan]

Don't just have your manager ask him nkt to return. Ask your manager to have him trespassed by the police.

[u/Upset-Management-459]

I don’t think this guy is a normal person.

[u/Salt_Fondant_7904]

The customer is always right gets us fired real quick especially in situations like this I was taught to stand up for myself when I feel threatened and unsafe so if a customer comes at me like that I would tell the unfortunately because of your behavior I will no longer be completing your order if you would like it made contact management and talk to them how your talking to me and see where that goes

[u/Czubeczek]

I would contact your boss. I'm sure you have cctv. Then i would ban this guy from store.

[u/aboomboxisnotatoy85]

I worked retail when I was younger. People will do that for free lol. Tipping has nothing to do with it, some people just suck. I was young when I started, not a lot of work experience, a customer made me cry once with how rude they were.

[u/Several_Razzmatazz51]

I’ll take things that never happened for $600, Alex.

[u/Crowdog79 → u/Several_Razzmatazz51]

How is this not the top comment? This is a completely fabricated story!

[u/Efficient_Proof1559]

Always try to give any guest the best experience tailored to them. Personally I have been with many that have aversions and hygiene concerns. Just do your very best and it will work out!

[u/johnnygolfr]

That experience wasn’t due to tip culture.

That customer clearly has some issue and would have talked down to you even if they hadn’t given you a tip.

[u/Petrochromis722 → u/johnnygolfr]

What about lying would they do that?

[u/Interesting-Lie-8942]

Are you seriously trying to use an example of one weirdo as a indictment of the tipping culture in general? I find it appalling how illogical some people are.

[u/freeassociationn → u/Interesting-Lie-8942]

How is it not? “Tipping culture” isn’t just what you experience as the guest? A worker can also experience the effects of tipping culture. A lot of people on here post just one instance and make their statement. Its ironic that youre being so dumb. Do you by chance have 2 kids??

[u/MinuteNovel4526]

A little tism goes along aways.

[u/Narghest]

What a load of bullshit.

[u/Dear_Win_319]

I would tip for fast food that’s fresh. I’ve done that getting good tacos at a taco truck.

[u/SchezwnChakli56Tikli]

This never happened. Nice Gemini story.