Today, I had to go back to the restaurant I had just eaten at and beg for my tip back so I could afford my bus home. FML
bensim64 tells us more.
bensim64 12
Hi, as the author I just wanted to clear this up. I'm not cold or heartless, but I forgot my Oyster card (what you need to get a bus home in England) and had given my last bit of change for the tip! I was hugely embarrassed as I always tip (although not mandatory in Britain as in America; mostly because American staff are for more helpful and nice). However, as I do go there fairly often, I will obviously tip more next time!
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Top comments
foxwasalamb 24
first time america gets a good rep.
singafairytale 11
Should probably plan ahead a little better.
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Comments (93)
Akerra89 14
Walk it off! At least you live where's bus route is.
sstahpp 33
Maybe don't eat at a restaurant if you can't afford bus fare? Yes?
PePziNL 20
Exactly!
catharsis5 9
YDI for not planning things out.
ohSNAPyall 27
You could mail a tip addressed to your server at the restaurant.
cheeeksss 29
Mailing cash is such a bad idea...
RespectMyShine 2
Maybe OP didn't realize they didn't have enough for their bus fare before eating and leaving. In any case, if you had to ask for the tip back, a great thing to do would be to go back when you can, and leave a better one!
anabanana101 15
Don't eat out if you're broke?
missbrit818 20
This needs a follow up. Did you get it back?!
HeartYou101 31
Why are people saying the OP shouldn't eat out if they're broke? S/he wasn't broke when they had their meal, they were just short of some change to make up a bus fair after they tipped...It was an honest mistake, all they did was give a tip without realising the actual price of the bus...
cm1995_fml 10
Honestly, that's still considered broke. It's a person's responsibility to plan ahead. It's YOUR fault if you mess up as a result failing to do the above said action.
cm1995_fml 10
*result of
burchwild 9
Probably shouldn't eat out if you can't afford to tip
gothicminx89 3
You only tip in UK if you feel you should. I've been to several places and not tipped because the service wasn't great or I had no change to tip.
bensim64 12
Hi, as the author I just wanted to clear this up. I'm not cold or heartless, but I forgot my Oyster card (what you need to get a bus home in England) and had given my last bit of change for the tip! I was hugely embarrassed as I always tip (although not mandatory in Britain as in America; mostly because American staff are for more helpful and nice). However, as I do go there fairly often, I will obviously tip more next time!
G00N3R 19
Good lad
foxwasalamb 24
first time america gets a good rep.
KhaleesiDannie 26
Like I said I'm sure they understand especially since you go there often and you could always give them the extra tip next time
girlofwinter 19
American staff don't always get minimum wage so their tips can be hugely important as they may only make $2 or $3 an hour otherwise. A manager at the London Hard Rock explained to me that the servers in England all get a minimum wage and that they don't rely on tips so you only tip if you felt like the server went above and beyond.
tigerisabelle 31
no stop #51 i was enjoying hearing good things about America for once
molly471 22
So just to be clear they gave you the tip back?
emmaaadotcom 20
As far as I'm aware, OP... A bus driver cannot refuse to let you on the bus (it is a danger to yourself due to having no transport to get home) as long as you give your details for a bill/bus fare to be paid. Although I'm sure that's just as equally embarrassing, but honest mistake!
doodlecloud 27
64 I have never heard that before...it may be technically true but I'm pretty sure most bus drivers would laugh in your face if you said that. I see school kids get kicked off all the time because their oyster has stopped working. What's more, buses now no longer let you buy a ticket on the bus with cash - it has to be oyster or contactless credit/debit card.
rhysfucker 24
Yeah; the tip / no tip etiquette gets tough in different countries. It's a good idea to research wether tipping is expected while making your travel plans.
SkullduggeryCain 11
Not sure you understand the concept of minimum wage. In America, it's the MINIMUM that you can get paid an hour, which is 7$. Which I think is equal to around 4 pounds.
SS 31
OP, an Oyster card is needed to get a bus home home in London, yes, but that does not go for all of England.
emmaaadotcom 20
I live in N.Ireland and that's how it works here... But my Dad is bus driver in London and he has managed to do that.
just_jess7 13
#70- In the US, many states have a different minimum wage for tipped employees, as they're expected to make up the difference by earning tips. This isn't true for all states, though. You can look up current tipped vs non-tipped minimum wages for each state on the DOL website.
copperchinchilla 19
pretty funny that your prof pic is at a bus stop haha
sstahpp 33
Obviously
roxzanne22 20
It must have been embarrassing but it was a mistake! Don't feel too bad!
iambarrel 9
#70, although there is a minimum wage in America, certain jobs don't have to be paid it. when I worked as a waiter, I made $2 an hour. it differs from state to state, but jobs that work for tips aren't required to be paid minimum wage.
Rawr6591 21
64 in NYC it's only at night they aren't allowed to kick you off although they have been more nice is recent years imo
epeeftw 16
Usually the way it works in America with minimum wage is that all of a server's money comes from tips which the restaurant keeps track of. If a server does not make minimum wage from the tips, the restaurant has to pay what is left.
Mrtigerblue 14
#51 legally the owners have to make up the money that the person isn't tipped if it comes up to less than minimum wage. so really tipping isn't a big deal because if you don't they still get paid in full. I tip for good service. also here in Oregon wait staff get minimum wage
kklamou 11
Isn't mandatory to tip in America either. I never do. They want more money? Get a better job.
beezyforsheezy 11
That's completely unfair. Serving tables isn't an easy job especially when we have to take care of people like yourself. We work hard and long hours. I attend high school and I support myself while saving to go to university, how can I get a better job without any kind of diploma? I make two dollars an hour and my place of employment is tip based which means I give a percentage of my tips to the non serving staff. If you do not tip or can't afford it which seems likely in your case because you're obviously bitter about the subject. don't go to a tip based eatery. People will start to realize you don't tip and you won't give you any kind of pleasant service at all. McDonald's is always right around the corner.
TallMist 32
FINALLY! Finally!!! Finally I hear someone from another country compliment America! THANK THE HEAVENS! THE WORLD IS WON! WE SHALL FOREV-- *gunshot*