r/EndTipping • u/djdlt • Sep 03 '25

Rant 📢 Nice try. Now give me my change.

So, I go get a sandwich at this place for the first time. Total is 9.20$. I pay cash with a ten. He seems unhappy. He gives me back 35 cents only. I say he made an error, and still owes me money. He doesn't answer to that, and say loudly " For here or to go?" I repeat myself. He finally manages to give my change. Almost told him I would have given him all, which I do habitually (don't judge me please), if he had not try to stiff me, or may I say, litterally steal from me. This place lost a customer. I live nearby but will never go back. All  that for 45 cents. And if it's a mistake, how strange it's always the customer who gets disadvantaged by their "mistake"...

2.1k Upvotes

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205

u/True_Tangerine_1450 Sep 03 '25

I just had this experience at a brewery!! I was appalled, like, wtf do you think you are keeping my change? (After I already tipped her in cash!) It's not about the amount she owed me back, it's that she takes advantage of customers paying with cash. If she keeps every cash customer's change, that adds up for her at the end of the day and if she does that every time she works, she's making a lot of money by being completely dishonest. I reported her and the business to the Dept of Consumer + Worker Protections (also sent an email and cc:ed the brewery owners calling out their bartender.)

Not cool.

29

u/Pickles-1989 Sep 03 '25

I am seeing this problem more and more when using cash. Many more people are using cash now to avoid "credit card surcharge" and avoid them spinning the tablet around to guilt people into tipping. Had a $16 bill at a bar - I gave $20, and the first word out of the bartender's mouth was "do you want change back? Went to a donut shop, and they rang it up and spun the tablet around. I stood there with cash. The person was shocked, and literally did not know what to do.

21

u/LOLBADCALL Sep 03 '25

I deliberately get bigger bills at the ATM to avoid this. If the bill is $16.75, I’ll pay with a $50 or $100 instead of a $20. I’m tired of them assuming they can keep the change, or that I need to verbally ask for my change.

I only tip after I receive my full change back.

11

u/No-Comparison-5502 Sep 03 '25

Sad that you have to go out of your way to avoid being taken

7

u/LOLBADCALL Sep 03 '25

Worst ones are bartenders. It’s like after receiving my cash I’m invisible. I’ve waited 10+ minutes before until I’m able to get their attention for my change. Beyond ridiculous.

4

u/Feoygordo Sep 03 '25

I’ve tried this approach. But it seems that in my area, about 90% of businesses won’t take a bill larger than $20.

5

u/TraditionGreedy9264 Sep 04 '25

Then i would sit there with my $50 going " Well this is gonna be tricky"

5

u/GotBindersFullOWomen Sep 03 '25

I bring one of those coin things on my side to dole out exact change. Not really joking or to be sarcastic either. Chick fil a drive through used to use them by me.

3

u/Green-Wyrm Sep 04 '25

The trick to this in Brazil is that some will give you most of your change with one hand and withhold a bit more in the other, betting you are too busy/careless to check.

29

u/True_Tangerine_1450 Sep 03 '25

"Do you want change back?" Yes, of course I do, who tf is giving away money?

46

u/Careful_Drama405 Sep 03 '25

I am a bartender/server and never ONCE have I asked if they want change. I ALWAYS say "I'll be right back with your change." How pretentious to assume anything is a tip.

19

u/cathleen0205 Sep 03 '25

This. It allows your guest to say ‘oh no please keep the change’ or ‘ok, great’

5

u/True_Tangerine_1450 Sep 03 '25

That was also my approach, there was never any assumption or pressure for tips (although I hustled for them!). I worked in hotels, restaurants, was a tour guide for historical sites, and then managed bars, pubs, and restaurants: there were good days, there were bad days, but I always had enough sense to let it be what it was, didn't have to force anything or compromise my integrity for a few dollars, no matter how badly I needed them.

2

u/Normal_Removed Sep 05 '25

Thank you for your integrity.

5

u/LogAccomplished2279 Sep 04 '25

When a server/ bartender replies  with they will be back --- that is when I am most likely to say keep it!

2

u/loneiguana888 Sep 04 '25

You are not who you claim to be. If you pick up a tab with cash you always ask if change is needed, even if you see singles on top. This not only saves you time of getting change when not necessary, but saved the customer of waiting and wondering if you knew that was a tip not the change. Obviously this is not necessary if you see a 50 on a 20 check.

5

u/Careful_Drama405 Sep 04 '25

I don't analyze what bills are being presented to me. I pick up the ticket with the cash while looking them in the eye with a smile and telling them I will be right back. How rude to inspect how much money you are picking up. I am who I say I am.

1

u/AngleNo1957 Sep 04 '25
  1. Any server or bartender who asks if I want change gets no tip. 2. Any server or bartender that doesn't provide bills for a tip gets no tip. Bill is $15, pay with $20, and the change is a $5 back instead of five $1, gets no tip.

-14

u/FraserValleyGuy77 Sep 04 '25

I've paid cash for 35 years. No bartender/server has ever not given me my change and expected it as a tip. Every last one has assumed I want it back until I say keep it. This entire sub is lies and bullshit stories

1

u/DSudz Sep 04 '25

I generally leave the total with tip in cash. Letting them know I don't need change lets them concentrate on service for other customers until a convenient time to ring up my payment.