Waiter shows off note left by 'clueless' teen diners after they tipped just $3.28
A group of "clueless" high-schoolers realised they made a horrible mistake after their first meal at a restaurant without their parents.
The four 13-year-old girls were proud of their “grown up experience” at a Los Angeles eatery and praised the “best waiter they could ask for”, describing him as patient and accommodating to their dietary requirements.
Being first-timers, the girls were unaware of how much to tip the waiter, so they emptied their pockets and dropped off the US$3.28 they had on them. Their bill was close to $100.
Generally, the average tip in the US is between 15-20 per cent of the total meal cost, before tax.
The waiter - who goes by Seminole on Imgur - shared his perspective of the experience just days ago, writing: “[There's] nothing more frustrating than when I get little to nothing for a tip and the customer is smiling and thanking me profusely as they exit.”
He told of his frustration when diners fail to leave much of a tip, despite acknowledging his good service.
But rather than slamming the teenagers, Seminole told of receiving unexpected surprise when the girls later returned to the restaurant.
Less than two weeks later, the waiter arrived at work to find an envelope addressed to him, with some cash inside, and a note written in blue texta.
“About a week and a half ago, on October 7, my 3 friends and I came to eat at this restaurant as our own homecoming celebration. It was an exciting experience for us to be here alone, and it was all new to us,” the letter began.
“And you were the best waiter we could ask for. You were kind, helpful, accommodating, didn't treat us like babies, and were even able to fit the food to all my allergies!
"So I wanted to say thank you for making our ‘grown up’ experience so amazing and fun.”
The girl also apologised for not knowing any better and not tipping adequately.
“Not aware of how small this really was, we left, clueless of what we had left you for all your hard work,” she continued.
“Later, we realized our mistake and felt HORRIBLE. We knew we had to make it right. SO in this envelope you will find the correct 18% tip + extra for simply being amazing. We appreciate your help and patience, and thank you for making our night fun. Thank you!”
Accompanying the letter was $18US and some change for his work.
“I’ve been serving a long time, and nothing like this has ever happened to me, or anyone,” the waiter wrote.
“I don't know how you learned or educated yourself on tipping, but I really appreciate the effort and kindness. I hope your Homecoming was fantastic!” he shared publicly.
While tipping in Australia is optional, in the US the rules are very different. In industries where tipping is routine, like hospitality, employers are legally allowed to pay as little as $2.13US ($2.67AUD) per hour for their wage, so tips make up the bulk of their earnings.
Other Imgur users were impressed by the teens’ initiative in making things right.
