Another unhelpful store clerk

I don't think you need to worry about a wait person confronting you about a tip! That seems pretty extreme.  Yes, they might be disappointed or angry if you leave a small tip or no tip, but confrontation is not the norm.  And I don't think anyone would chase after you!

That actually happened to me in Canada once!

We were eating in a restaurant and my gran only put about $10 down for the tip (which was nowhere near 10%, let alone 15% - we didn't realise at the time that she'd put down so little otherwise we would have topped it up, since we were happy with the service).

The waitress actually came back, told us we hadn't tipped enough and demanded more  !

I don't think you need to worry about a wait person confronting you about a tip! That seems pretty extreme.  Yes, they might be disappointed or angry if you leave a small tip or no tip, but confrontation is not the norm.  And I don't think anyone would chase after you!

LOL! Geeta: don't ever go to Mama Lucia's in Bethesda. The waiter there really DID chase after us last year! 

That actually happened to me in Canada once!

We were eating in a restaurant and my gran only put about $10 down for the tip (which was nowhere near 10%, let alone 15% - we didn't realise at the time that she'd put down so little otherwise we would have topped it up, since we were happy with the service).

The waitress actually came back, told us we hadn't tipped enough and demanded more  !

That seems really nervy to me. I know they rely on tips for their wages, but that seems a bit tacky. I waitressed for a while when I was in my early 20s, so I know what it is like to really need the money to pay bills and have people not tip, or not tip enough. On the other hand, if I have really bad service, or a server who is incredibly apathetic, I will leave a very small tip. I've also left a $5 tip for a less than $2 cup of coffee just because the woman serving it was warm, friendly, and truly cared. I watched her and she was fantastic with everyone, even the ones who were rude to her.

In one of my stints as a waitress we perfected our chat-up line about "yes, I'm working my way through college" (we weren't) so the customer would leave a bigger tip. We also used to joke around about sticking out a hand and saying "tip please!" 

All of those stories are horrible! I would be SHOCKED if someone did that.  My parents were in Vegas and gave a cab driver the fare and told him to keep the change, and he was so annoyed that he threw it at them out the window! I had hoped that doesn't happen to too many people, but maybe I was wrong!

All of those stories are horrible! I would be SHOCKED if someone did that.  My parents were in Vegas and gave a cab driver the fare and told him to keep the change, and he was so annoyed that he threw it at them out the window! I had hoped that doesn't happen to too many people, but maybe I was wrong!

Seriously!  I'd be horrified if that happened.  I don't care how crappy the tip was, that's just not appropriate behavior, and you'd better believe I'd complain to management NOT increase the tip.  Yes, there are people who are lousy tippers.  There are also lousy servers.  There are people who don't understand that bad food is not the server's fault.  It happens.  But there are plenty of people who are good tippers and are quite generous, and hopefully it works out.  But yeesh.  Going after someone?  Tackola!

I don't think you need to worry about a wait person confronting you about a tip! That seems pretty extreme.  Yes, they might be disappointed or angry if you leave a small tip or no tip, but confrontation is not the norm.  And I don't think anyone would chase after you!

I should have mentioned that something similar but not that extreme has happened to me before when I only left 50c on one cup of coffee, the girl didn't chase me, as I hadn't left but I had my coat half on and it was one of those things where I'm certain if I'd been further from the table it would have been a big scene, which is one of the reasons why I'm scared of waiters in the US.
As it was I got "You've only left 50c, I know you're  a tourist, but you can't leave 50c" which seemed like it was going to turn into a rant, so I just shoved a dollar at her and ran,  I really hate confrontation as I never know what to do, although in London If they'd caught me at the wrong moment I  might have gone "Give me that 50p back you rude git!"

But why would that make you scared of waiters in the US? One or two people being rude to you? That doesn't sound like you!

You could have said the same in the USA, Cheesebiscuit. There is no need for that kind of rudeness.  I would have been mortified, and angry.  Thankfully, I have never experienced a waiter/waitress like that before, nor have I heard of any similar incidences from friends or family. I have a big family that frequently patrons all sorts of restaurants, so I am hoping that means that these rude waiter/waitresses are few and far between.

A tip is never mandatory, and there is no need to be scared of anyone. There is no need even, to be confrontational. Simply say, "You're RUDE!" and don't leave a tip, or say nothing, call later and report him/her to management.  Most waiters/waitresses I've come across are cheerful (without being obnoxious) and helpful, so shame on her for leaving a bad taste in your mouth, as it were, especially as a tourist. She's not doing much to promote the image of the good ol' USA.

But why would that make you scared of waiters in the US? One or two people being rude to you? That doesn't sound like you!

It's not them being rude to me, it's the SCENE. Like people turning around to look etc, and people joining in. It's all a centre of attention thing, it's why I don't like Birthday Parties, or people giving me presents and watching me open them, or people coming over to dinner and saying if they like the food.
If someone's just rude

I'm not scared of that in the UK, because I feel like British people are less likely to get in a SCENE, they'll just pretend it's not happening, this may just be my perception, but whenever something out of the ordinary has happened here, people just tend to look the other way, which is not a good thing really, but a good thing for me!

As it was I got "You've only left 50c, I know you're  a tourist, but you can't leave 50c" which seemed like it was going to turn into a rant, so I just shoved a dollar at her and ran,  I really hate confrontation as I never know what to do, although in London If they'd caught me at the wrong moment I  might have gone "Give me that 50p back you rude git!"

Wow. She must have thought it was one amazing cup of coffee.  


My first job was as a lottery clerk/cashier in a convience-y store kiosk in the middle of big, busy shopping mall. I've had my fair share of spats with customers, but I never got into it with a customer over perceived rudeness on their part. It just motivated me to be even nicer in an attempt to highlight what a jerk they were being. I was also never one to say "have a nice day," but I did to them because in my head it was heard as "!@#$ you, jerk!"

Not that I think you were being a jerk or were being rude, but if you were, in the service industry she's not supposed to let you know that! She's supposed to talk about you to the other waitresses after you leave and vow to spit in your coffee next time you come in (and of course not actually follow through if you did).   Seriously though, I don't think you were being rude. She was VERY rude.


As far as customer service in the US and the UK, I've had good and bad experiences in both places. I don't think either country "does it right." I wish we could take both approaches and meet in the middle because I don't like feeling like I need to file for a restraining order in the US when all I want is a t-shirt nor do I like feeling like I'm inconveniencing the sales associates for shopping in a store whilst in the UK. However, it's not always like that in either country, but you certainly notice when it is like that.

It's not them being rude to me, it's the SCENE. Like people turning around to look etc, and people joining in. It's all a centre of attention thing, it's why I don't like Birthday Parties, or people giving me presents and watching me open them, or people coming over to dinner and saying if they like the food.
If someone's just rude

I'm not scared of that in the UK, because I feel like British people are less likely to get in a SCENE, they'll just pretend it's not happening, this may just be my perception, but whenever something out of the ordinary has happened here, people just tend to look the other way, which is not a good thing really, but a good thing for me!

Aw! I first learned about this British "no need for a scene" with a friend of mine here in the US. We'd gone shopping and were waiting our turn in line/queue. The cashier then turned and took an employee first before us. I spoke up (of course) and my poor British friend was mortified. She is not usually a shy person or someone who doesn't speak her mind generally, either. The cashier told us to go to another till on the other side of the store! I told her that perhaps the employee should do so, since we were here first, waiting AND paying customers!

We ended up at the other till. 

I have not experienced any rude clerks in shops (yet?) and have had some really nice experiences, like with the lady at Dorothy Perkins. She was very interested to talk to me, in fact. I'm sure once I live there full time, my day will come. Rudeness is universal unfortunately!

It's not them being rude to me, it's the SCENE. Like people turning around to look etc, and people joining in. It's all a centre of attention thing, it's why I don't like Birthday Parties, or people giving me presents and watching me open them, or people coming over to dinner and saying if they like the food.
If someone's just rude

I'm not scared of that in the UK, because I feel like British people are less likely to get in a SCENE, they'll just pretend it's not happening, this may just be my perception, but whenever something out of the ordinary has happened here, people just tend to look the other way, which is not a good thing really, but a good thing for me!

But you shouldn't be afraid of a SCENE, as you put it, in the US any more than UKY posters should be afraid of talking to people in shops or restaurants in the UK. Because aren't we always telling people that these things can happen anywhere? In other words, a SCENE is not the norm in the US any more than a rude barista saying they don't know what a 'moe-kah' is in the UK.

CB, I had that same thing happen to me and a friend.  We met up with some of our other friends at a late night restaurant.  I had only a tap water (wasn't hungry) and she only had a cup of coffee (same thing).  They guys had full meals as they got there well before us.  We were almost to the door and the MANAGER, not even the server, yelled at us saying how the servers rely on tips.  I yelled back that my friend left a dollar tip for a dollar cup of coffee!  Apparently, we didn't realize the the guys left a sub-par tip for their meals, but how yelling at customers constitute a larger tip?

My biggest gripe with lack of customer service is when a cashier is talking to their friend/co-worker and completely not even acknowledging the fact that there is a paying customer at their till.  A simple (even half hearted) hello would suffice.  Ugh!

My biggest gripe with lack of customer service is when a cashier is talking to their friend/co-worker and completely not even acknowledging the fact that there is a paying customer at their till.  A simple (even half hearted) hello would suffice.  Ugh!

I agree with that one. A simple 'hi' before ignoring me for the rest of the transaction lets me know you are at least aware that I exist. Tell me hi, then talk about whatever is more important than your customers. I've even had to stand there and listen to gross details of a surgery... in depth.. and the woman would stop ringing up my items then realize she had and hurry some through to catch up, slinging things at me for a bit before stopping completely again.