A furious American waitress has criticised holidaymakers for leaving what they believed to be an insufficient tip after the diners claimed to be "over the moon" about the service they received. The worker explained how they left a $70 (£56.96) tip on top of a $700 (£569.76) bill - which is half the amount she was expecting to be given from her table.
Taking to Twitter to share her frustration, she wrote: "This table just left $70 on a $700 check after chilling for hours. My manager even asked about their service and they were over the moon about my service so he explained the customary tip is 20 per cent and they were like 'OK' and left."
She added: "Oh God I already know that this is going to get the most insufferable 'tipping isn't mandatory, just get a new job or magically change the laws overnight, I am such a genius to say this' type of replies". Her predictions were correct as her tweet stirred up some controversy online.
Some people questioned why she was pointing fingers at tourists and not her own country's "nonsensical tipping system". American servers typically expect an additional 15 to 20 per cent on top of the overall bill to compensate for their service, while in the UK, tipping is seen as more of a personal choice than an expectation.
In response to the American waitress' rant, one social media user wrote: "Only Americans would complain about a $70 tip." Somebody else remarked: "Your beef should be with your boss and your country's outdated, nonsensical tipping system."
However, not everyone believed the server was being unreasonable with her expectations. A third person commented: "If the bill is $700, then you have every right to complain about a $70 tip if you're an American waiter. And one should learn the tipping customs of places one is visiting."
Offering guidance for holidaymakers on how tipping varies across the world, a statement from the UK Post Office reads: "In most of Europe, tipping is very common. In many cases, it's just built into part of the bill – very similar to the UK. Tip sizes vary from country to country, but if you get stuck or you're strapped for cash – just add on 10 per cent, or round the bill up to the nearest €5 or €10.
"As in all countries, it's polite to tip porters, taxi drivers and the people cleaning your hotel room – the expected tip is much smaller than the standard in bars and restaurants. If the service has been poor, don't hesitate to hold back on the tip. As in the UK, it's meant to be a reward for good service."
For those visiting in the US, the UK Post Office's Advice is to "tip in almost every transactional situation".
However, in some countries such as Japan, adding on gratuity is seen as rude and insulting because "they value dignity and respect much more than tipping", according to Link Japan Careers Inc. A statement reads: "The one place you should definitely not tip in is restaurants. The majority of waiters and other restaurant staff would see tipping as not only unnecessary, but quite insulting!
"We know it may be difficult, especially when thinking about what you would do back home, but tipping is seen as rude in restaurants and should be avoided. If you want to show your respect, simply say thank you – or arigato gozaimasu!"
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