A man sparks controversy after posting a video of a server who allegedly left a note after someone left a $2.64 tip. Viewers debate over who was in the right.
On Aug. 4, an individual (@fashion.ai42) posted this encounter in a viral TikTok that has garnered over 130,000 views as of Saturday. “So I just left a tip of $2.64,” he said. “I’ve just rounded it up to 30.”
Why Did The Server Leave A Note On The Receipt?
He clarifies that the server left a note after leaving the tip. “And after I paid, the waitress came back with a message on my receipt,” he said.
The message reads, “People like you who round up are the people I hate serving the most.”
He clarified his reasoning in the caption. “When tipping, I always round up to the nearest 10 to make it an even number,” he wrote. “What’s wrong with that?”
It should be noted that many comments speculate that this video is AI-generated, and the other videos on the account appear to likely be different AI-generated videos of a similar prompt. Additionally, the restaurant in the video, Brass Biscuit in Chicago, does not seem to exist. However, the video has caused commenters to spotlight the larger issue of differing attitudes around tipping culture.
Why Has Tipping Become So Controversial?
In the United States, tipping is generally expected for full-service restaurant meals, although the exact amount remains a matter of custom rather than a universal rule. Many experts recommend tipping 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill for wait service at a sit-down restaurant.
Tipping remains discretionary, and Americans have widely different ideas about what constitutes an appropriate gratuity. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 49% of respondents said whether they tip depends on the situation. Sit-down restaurant service was the scenario in which Americans were most likely to tip, with 92% saying they always or often leave a tip. Pew also found that 77% of Americans consider the quality of service a major factor in determining whether and how much they tip.
The controversy surrounding tipping comes partly from the fact that gratuities play a significant role in how many restaurant workers are compensated. Under federal law, employers can take a tip credit and pay eligible tipped workers as little as $2.13 per hour in direct wages, provided the employee’s wages and tips reach at least the federal minimum wage. Employers must make up the difference if they do not.
At the same time, tipping has expanded beyond traditional restaurant service, likely contributing to frustration around tipping culture. Digital payment systems increasingly present customers with suggested gratuities at coffee shops, takeout counters, online checkouts, and other businesses where tipping was historically less expected. Pew found that 72% of Americans believed tipping was expected in more places in 2023 than it had been five years earlier.
@fashion.ai42 When tipping I always round up to the nearest 10 to make it an even number. What’s wrong with that? ##receipt ♬ original sound – Fashion AI
Subplot reached out for comment to @fashion.ai42 via TikTok direct message and the TikTok comment section.
