Waitress sparks debate as she shares rage over tourists only tipping her 10% on $700 bill
A waitress in New York has sparked a debate online after criticising tourists for leaving a 10 percent tip on a $700 check.
You probably don't need a calculator to know that results in a tip of $70 (£57), which, considering you could buy a whole other meal for that amount, is a pretty decent amount of money.
But when we're talking percentages - which play a big part in tipping in the US - is it enough?
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Waitress Madison, who works at a restaurant in New York, doesn't think so.
She took to Twitter earlier this week to vent her frustration over the tip left by a table of tourists who'd come to visit the Big Apple from somewhere in Europe.
They could have enjoyed some cheap meals of heavenly 99c pizza slices and hot dogs from street vendors, but instead they opted for some pricier dishes that racked up a check of $700 (£570).
In her post, Madison said the customers were 'chilling for HOURS' at the restaurant, after which her manager asked if they'd enjoyed their service and they responded to say they were 'over the moon'.
In spite of their enjoyment, the customers left a 10 percent tip of $70.
"[My manager] explained the customary tip is 20% and they were like “ok.” and left," Madison wrote.
The tip prompted the waitress to say she 'f**king hate[s] Europeans sometimes', with her frustration likely coming in part from the cultural differences in tipping between Europe and the US, where tipping is more heavily relied upon for earning.
Madison's frustration sparked debate online as Twitter users discussed whether the tip was enough, with many people responding to argue $70 was plenty.
"Only Americans would complain about a $70 tip," one person wrote, while another commented: "Tip culture almost borders on entitlement because why are you shaming people for giving you $70 for doing a job you're already paid to do?"
However, Madison argued that people who don't work in the US don't always understand that servers in the US make a lot of their wage from tips, adding: "We KNOW it’s bad. you’re not saying anything Americans aren’t painfully aware of. but you still need to tip while we fight this fight."
One person responded to Madison's post to argue there is a 'massive cultural difference' between the US and European countries, though added that if the customers had spent $700 on food they probably could have dropped a little bit more cash for their server.
"I don't think you are wrong, if they spend 700 on food they very likely could've tipped you. I think the main reason we don't tip it's because our wages are low but that doesn't apply to this case," they wrote.
Madison thanked the Twitter user for their support, noting that she works in 'fine dining' so the customers definitely weren't 'poor'.
She also added that she wouldn't have received the full tip regardless, writing: "I have taxes, tip out, and credit card fees also taken from my tips. so i won’t be receiving a full $70 nor would i have received a full $140."
Do you think the tip is enough?
Emily Brown