Two Cent Tip Left For Waitress With 'Just My 2 Cents' Note (PHOTO)

There are all kinds of ways to convey to a server at a restaurant that you're displeased with the service: there's giving less than a 10 percent tip, there's leaving nothing, and then there is leaving your two cents -- the opinion kind, that is -- along with two actual cents.

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The following note was posted on Reddit by a friend of a waitress who supposedly received this note after serving a customer:

Waitressing 101

Don't tell every customer you're very busy to excuse your lack of serving skills. Your job is to attend to us, not make us feel like we are an inconvenience. A little bit of personal attention goes a long way in the form of a tip. Just my two cents."

Beneath the last line was ... two pennies.

The note has since made its way around the Internet, with Gawker expressing surprise that such nastiness could come out of Canada (if you look closely at the picture of the note, those aren't U.S. pennies) and Eater declaring the tipper a jerk.

This is far from the first time a story of an offensive tip has earned publicity. Last fall, a customer at a Seattle bar declined to leave a monetary tip and instead went with the suggestion that the bartender "lose a few pounds." The bartender subsequently posted a picture of the receipt in question on Facebook, along with the guy's name. But the plan backfired somewhat when she pointed to the wrong Andrew Meyer, causing an innocent guy to take heat from angry commenters before the mistake was noticed.

Cruel tipping stories have proven so popular, that some people have gone so far as to make them up. Back in February, an alleged photo of receipt with a 1 percent tip on a $133 bill that was left by a banker, along with a note telling the server to "get a real job" made its way around the Internet. The blogger who posted the picture, calling himself "The Future Ex Banker," said he worked for the customer in question and wrote the following with the photo:

“I work in the corporate office of a major bank for a boss who represents everything wrong with the financial industry: blatant disregard and outright contempt for everyone and everything he deems beneath him. On top of that, he’s a complete and utter tool.”

The restaurant later found the receipt in question and stated that the one circulating the Internet had been Photoshopped and it was actually a $7 tip on a $33 bill.

Veracity aside, servers have proven adept as getting payback in such situations. A delivery man who was tired of being treated poorly by customers started the blog "15%" so those people could be shamed publicly, initially going to far as to give out people's addresses.

Other times, restaurants take the matter into their own hands: In 2010, a North Carolina woman was banned from a Japanese restaurant for supposedly being a habitual bad tipper.

PHOTO:

Photo courtesy of Imgur.com

For more outrageous tipping stories, click through the slideshow below.

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• Peyton Tips An Extra $200

  Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning left $200 in addition to the 18 percent gratuity on his bill at Angus Barn in Raleigh, North Carolina where he had a meal with his friends last Friday, <a href="http://deadspin.com/5891136/peyton-manning-leaves-insanely-good-tips-at-restaurants" target="_hplink">according to Deadspin. </a> Photo by <a href="http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/nhl-hockey-forum-message-board-general-discussion/64542-ot-just-peyton-manning-not-cheap-bastard.html" target="_hplink">Bizzle McDizzle</a>

• Tiger Woods Is Cheap

  <a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/sport/story/2011-08-18/tiger-woods-lebron-james-accused-of-being-cheap-tippers" target="_hplink">New Miami Times</a> ranked golf player Tiger Woods at the top of its list of cheapest celebrity tippers, <a href="http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shortorder/2011/08/lebron_to_usher_to_sean_penn_t.php?page=2" target="_hplink">reporting</a>: "The man worth more than $500 million says it's because he never carries cash."

• Delivery Man Gets $2 For Putting His Life On The Line

  Lin Dakang, a delivery man for a Chinese restaurant on the Upper East Side, received $2 on a $15.50 bill for a 2.5 mile bike ride dodging traffic on a cold winter night, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/nyregion/for-food-delivery-workers-speed-tips-and-fear-on-wheels.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=delivery&st=cse&scp=1" target="_hplink">according to The New York Times</a>. But the incident is typical. The Times reported that restaurant delivery workers peddling take-out orders in dangerous conditions receive wages and tips that can drop well under minimum wage. Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/" target="_hplink">Steve Snodgrass</a>

• Arrested For Not Tipping

  According to <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf?/base/news-1/125843433282150.xml&coll=3" target="_hplink">The Express-Times</a>, police arrested and gave a theft citation to John Wagner and Leslie Pope when they refused to pay a $16.35 required gratuity for their order of wings, drinks and salad. The pair alleged poor service at Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreyww/" target="_hplink">jeffreyw</a>

• Racially Profiling Tippers

  Abe Shah and Hemang Virani, who are of Pakistani and Indian descent respectively, were charged an 18 percent gratuity because of the color of their skin, <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/09/13/indian_restaurant_accused_of.php" target="_hplink">according to Gothamist</a>. A manager told the pair the charge applied to all patrons of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent. After the two men paid their bill, minus the additional gratuity, they were followed out of the restaurant by five employees and then verbally and physically attacked, <a href="http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2011/09/12_baluchiscomplaint.pdf" target="_hplink">according to court papers</a>. Shah and Virani subsequently sued the restaurant for discrimination. Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen-oung/" target="_hplink">SteFou!</a>

• Denying Workers Tips

  In one of Massachusetts' largest wage cases, a settlement required Canyon Ranch Spa in Lenox to return $14.75 million in tips denied to its employees, including waiters, massage therapists, yoga instructors, according to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/us/24canyon.html" target="_hplink">The New York Times.</a>

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Comments

[ALL OK HERE ON PLANET X]

12:36 AM on 05/30/2012

I had once got a free meal from the restaurant manager because the service was so slow. I still made sure to leave a decent tip - knowing that the workers receive such a low wage just to to be there.

[Samina123]

03:35 PM on 05/28/2012

What you failed to notice here is that bad service doesn't always come from the server. There are other factors involved such as operations within a restaurant that can make it tough on making servers to do their job properly. For example, some restaurants seat every table that comes to the door no matter if they all came at the same time. How on earth as a server supposed to provide excellent service if she gets seated three and four tables at one time? Next time you go out to a restaurant look beyond your own selfish little world. Is your server slacking off or is he/she really working hard for the money? That is what you should use to be determine how much money you should leave. It's bad enough we servers are struggling! And here comes yet another jerk off waiting in line to take a piece out of you! Get bent!

[idontgetit58]

07:13 PM on 05/31/2012

I dont want to hear how you servers are underpaid.. you recieve a wage plus tips that is fair compensation for a low skilled job

[jblairbrown]

01:34 PM on 06/03/2012

Not necessarily so, idontgetit58. As a former server, I can tell you that the $3 wage earnings combined with the oft-less-than-15% tips are a far cry from minimum wages, in most cases. Unless you're busting your butt at an exquisite restaurant, your server is NOT making a decent living.

[crashcartjockey]

06:44 AM on 05/27/2012

I don't believe that leaving a 2 cent tip is appropriate in most situations. I will almost always leave at least a 20%. I can remember one time that the service was plain horrible. It took 15 minutes just to get a glass of water. And that was after I went back to the hostess at the fron and asked for the manager. After that i saw my waitress exactly 2 times. Once to take my order and once to drop off the bill. They had "servers" that brought the food to the table. Never once even asked how the food was. I spoke to the manager again on my way out about my displeasure. They comped my meal and gave me a certificate for another free "dining experience". My second time there was much better and no, the waitress was no longer there.

I think the customer was probably correct in this instance.

[spy741]

07:41 PM on 05/26/2012

I won't blame this person who left two cents. If you don't get a good service you don't leave a good tip,that simple. I always left 20% no matter what but maybe I should leave tips depends on the service I get from now on.

[edenmusic]

06:58 PM on 05/26/2012

I've been a server before. Most of you seem to be assuming the server provided good service, and the note was rude. Perhaps the service was bad and the note was deserved. Believe me, plenty of servers have crappy attitudes and don't deserve half the tips they get. I've worked with plenty of them.

[idontgetit58]

07:15 PM on 05/31/2012

thank you..I agree

[walk1111]

06:39 PM on 05/26/2012

For me tipping is a pleasure. I love to show my appreciation for the hard work that the servers do. It reminds me of my Mom who was a waitress and all the change she brought home would be counted at the kitchen table. When I have a woman serve me, I try to remember how cherished those tips were to my Mom.

[walk1111]

06:36 PM on 05/26/2012

I just made a post about my dear mom but it hasn't been posted. :(

[walk1111]

06:33 PM on 05/26/2012

My Mom was a waitress when I was a child and I remember her bringing her dimes and quarters and we would sit at the kitchen table and count them. She was a real hustler and got good tips. Bless her soul

[Carson Katrina]

05:12 PM on 05/26/2012

Everybody knows foreigners don't know how to tip.

[rich8049]

02:57 AM on 06/01/2012

And why is that a bad thing. Have you traveled? In so many countries the tip is added to the bill for every order and it is paid. Actually they love americans because most wont see that and they will tip again. So the foreigners who thinks the tip is included in the bill will not leave additional money, why should they?

[sfcat]

07:01 PM on 05/15/2012

for delivery I tip $4 no matter how small the order is, more if it is very large ( more than 2 people) or bad weather. My hubbie delivers food, and I know how tough it is. Most people don't realize a lot of restaurants pay only the tipped employees minimum to delivery staff- in IL that's 4.95, it's much lower in many states, if they get hourly at ALL They don't get the delivery fee often, or only a portion of it, they may be paid as a 1099 contractor, and not even have workers comp insurance, let alone anything else. They usually have no benefits, and at most restaurants, the delivery person is also responsible for packing and checking your order. So they earn the tip.

I have left 1cent tips in restaurants, because it was deserved. By deserved I don't mean one small mistake, I mean either a terrible attitude or many, major mistakes that were not the kitchen's fault. I will ask to see the ticket to determine who is at fault. I will also explain to the manager what the problem is, and when the service is very good, I always tell the manager, and what the server did that made it such a good experience. I regularly overtip for good service, especially if it's breakfast or a small order.

[livingdangerously]

03:41 PM on 05/06/2012

I watched Britney Spears once at Gordon Beirsch in Las Vegas make the server go down the block for her to get a Starbucks Frappaccino, which the server did.

Spears and entourage left no tip.

[livingdangerously]

03:38 PM on 05/06/2012

We're a country of entitled citizens. I've frequented a favorite Indian buffet 2 times a week for the past three years. I always tip the busperson. In my emperical survey of tipping behaviour at that restaurant, my behaviour is rare.

People at the buffet eat, pile up their plates, then ask for a to-go box. No tip.
People stuff food in their purses. No tip.
People wasting enough food to feed a family. No tip.

I expect better from my fellow diners.

[livingdangerously]

03:21 PM on 05/06/2012

Man, I wish for the opportunity to out this 'customer.' The serving staff didn't realize the king was eating...his every fart the purfume of the night....his chomping lips....the music of the gods.

[crashcartjockey]

06:36 AM on 05/27/2012

Did it at all cross your mind that maybe the waitress did provide crappy service?

[lofttypeofaview]

02:32 PM on 05/05/2012

What I don't understand about typical restaurants and fast food, is why one pays under minimum wage and collects tips and the other pays at least minimum wage and doesn't collect tips. They each have a building, parking, indoor and/or outdoor dining area, restaurants have a hostess while fast food has a drive thru, both have cooks and a restaurant has a waiter while the fast food has an order taker/gatherer. They each practically have the same operating expenses and yet restaurant food is almost double what fast food is for the same size meal. Fast food also has ninety nine cent/dollar menus and many even have play areas for children, all while paying their employees more than a restaurant with no tipping. If fast food can operate like this and still earn a sustainable profit, then why can't a restaurant?

[idontgetit58]

07:20 PM on 05/31/2012

in California it is minimum wage plus tips

[JStading]

05:57 PM on 05/04/2012

Tips are nonsense. I wish they would just add $1 to each menu item and .25 to drinks and ban tipping altogether.

[indypeg57]

05:54 PM on 05/26/2012

Yea, You`re an attorney alright.