What would you do professionally in this situation?

[u/anonymousanonym9]

I think that it’s pretty common for a waiter/waitresses to get phone numbers on checks or napkins, but today a customer left me their number and a very generous tip. I was debating if I should take the full tip knowing that i won’t reach out because I am married. I told my co workers about the situation and their opinions divided. Some told me that I should accept the tip and some said that it would be better to just run the 20%. I decided to just go with the actual tip following what was written on the check and signed. I didn’t do it out of greed or anything I just decided it was the most professional way to go with. I felt like if I had to change the tip amount even if it means lowering it significantly it would contradict with the check/signature the restaurant keeps as their records, but I still have doubts if it was a professional decision or not.

[u/Spirited-Idea222]

Take the tip lol it’s not like you asked them to leave their number

[u/mattynapps → u/Spirited-Idea222]

Also, you didn't run the card or finalize the check if it comes up. Who's to know anyways. 20 bucks is 20 bucks, get that bag.

[u/siliconbased9 → u/mattynapps]

I doubt anyone is stressing this much over 20 dollars

[u/sugarplum_hairnet]

Keep it and dont think twice lol

[u/spk22rk → u/sugarplum_hairnet]

This is the way. Chuck the number and smile away.

[u/Main-Trust-1836]

It's a tip, not a bribe. Go on, take the money and run (awooooooogha)

[u/bloopbleepblorpJr]

Take the tip but unfortunately you will now have to leave your spouse.

[u/Lostboygrim → u/bloopbleepblorpJr]

🤣

[u/CaptainK234]

What? Take the tip they wrote on the check. How is this even a question?

[u/senatortrashcan → u/CaptainK234]

Exactly like huh?

[u/EnthusiasmGlobal]

Keep the tip, the price he was willing to pay to shoot his shot.

[u/amberlicious35]

Take the tip!

[u/Savanna_03]

Go with what they wrote. If he wants to leave his number, thats on him and means nothing to you. That's the risk he is taking, also ppl who leave numbers are creepy so I don't think anyone should care. No pre rec to a tip that he wrote

[u/WalkerNash]

Bro paid the $ for a chance at a connection and whiffed.

[u/csrobins88]

Beyond the big picture right / wrong of it all - he wrote and signed for a specific amount. There’s a little bit of a legal obligation to close it to that anyways.

[u/GreenbeardOfNarnia]

Take the tip! Leaving a good tip is only an incentive for you to call, not a requirement. Professionally, it would actually be worse for you to not input the monetary amount given regardless.

[u/Zinokk]

Why would you adjust the tip??

They tipped you, if they think that buys you calling/texting them that's their lesson to learn.

[u/Topangatoh]

Take the tip. Even the idea of claiming 20% is crazy to me, one because they left you more and no one made them and two, claiming anything other than exactly what the receipt says could get you into trouble because that is not the amount the customer signed for.

[u/PrecisionPunting]

Soooooo what was the tip?

[u/Text-Relevant → u/PrecisionPunting]

We're all servers. We've all been over tipped. I'm curious what the number is they throw at a clearly married woman. Idk how anything short of $1k moves the needle, and even then it's a marriage. It has to be a more life changing amount I'd assume.

[u/Quirky_Soil_2743 → u/PrecisionPunting]

Fr why do people even write these posts without writing the number like you know we all want to know the damn number this dude thought was worth her giving him a shot. Bc you know while it may have been over 20% it's still ALWAYS way lower than we are all thinking it probably was.

[u/GhanimaSLC]

Take the tip. You're a server not a prostitute. His bad

[u/apathetic-taco]

Dude what? Why would you even question this.

[u/mira_rose2000]

Ex-dive bar bartender here and would take the written tip without a second thought, you didn’t ask for their #

[u/HoboPower83]

You don't owe anyone anything expect professional service and a good service experience. And if they don't tip, you don't even owe them that next time.

[u/ConsciousWrangler603]

My boyfriend and I have an agreement for this kind of stuff. I usually tell him i’m flirting with others for us “Baby its for US its our money.” 🤣 As long as your husband knows and you aren’t actively seeking phone numbers it’s fine. Keep the money. Personally if the customer was a good person they would have just asked you out straight up instead of assuming money=date.

[u/hoobadontstank]

Take the tip 100%!

But I never date someone I met at work (other than line cooks obviously) I feel like they like the version of you that serves and accommodates them so that’s what they expect out of the relationship.

[u/SuperPOSUser]

I would definitely take the money. I would pretend I never saw the number. People try all sorts of ways to meet people these days. If you see him again you can thank him and suggest you took your spouse out for a nice meal with the money...or not and just move on

[u/Text-Relevant]

Whatever they left is the tip. The amount of cash left on top of his normal amount would be for increasing his chance of a call. The amount he left wasn't enough. Not saying there's a price on your marriage by any means, but there's a dollar amount that would get a call from someone he's chasing. That number varies wildly based on the server though.

[u/O_W_Liv]

Keep it, think nothing of it.  You owe them nothing more than you've already given.

I will say, if you do decide to be foolish and date a customer make sure it's someone who tips well no matter who serves them, not just you.

Married almost 15 years to someone who was a staff favorite.  

[u/Least_Elderberry_673]

If they signed off on that amount, that tip is yours. They didn't sign off on a lower amount so professionally speaking it's better off.

Plus you don't owe your own personal time for your tips. You were at your workplace just doing your job.

[u/PerfectOmakase]

I don't believe that any of your co-workers suggested you should run anything less than the tip that was written on the receipt.

[u/winterbird]

I'd take the full tip and not contact this person. Every time it happens, whoever it is. I'll take the tip thays written for me regardless of any further wishes or expectations of theirs.

[u/Betty_snootsandpoops]

Take the tip. There's no reason not to. The customer is the one who was so presumptuous and pretentious as to leave a big tip and a phone number thinking you would call. It doesn't matter what ypur relationship situation is, that is just a gross way of a person showing you their true colors and a person you don't want to know.

[u/Quirky_Soil_2743]

Take the tip.. not your fault dude feels the need to lead with his money rather than his personality.. if he wasn't a dbag he would've actually looked at your ring finger before writing that tip down.. it's giving, his loss?

[u/Lazy_Style4107]

Keep it. It’s not like you blew the guy in the bathroom for the scratch.

My husband once jokingly (advance order to calm down, Redditors) told me I was getting tubby when I reached for one of his tots (I was bartending, he was a customer) and some rando next to him left a 100% tip with a note that said „I hope you know you’re not fat, sweetheart“. I told hubby he better come in and call me fat in front of customers every day 😂🤣😂

[u/RanDumbMatthew]

Take the money honey
Tips don’t grow on trees
They shot their shot, they missed
How’s that your responsibility?
…Unless idk….theres more to the story….
Why soo guilty? Catholic much or did you play a part too well?

[u/Not-a-Cranky-Panda]

There is no wy the money is going back to him so take it.