Server offers exceptional service to women who stayed half hour past closing. Then she sees her tip: ‘I thought they were girls’ girls’

A server called out two customers who came in for late service at her restaurant. Especially after they failed to tip adequately.

In a viral TikTok video with over 24,600 views, user Gina (@whatsthatmeen) explained what happened. And why she ended up feeling shortchanged.

According to the server, two women came into the restaurant between 30-40 minutes before closing. Then stayed 30 minutes after closing time.

Initially, the women appeared to be fun. So much so that Gina even told her co-workers that they had great energy.

She recommended the pair have mango margaritas, which they allegedly enjoyed. Then she even gave them free bread to go.

It seemed all was well and the server was excited to offer exceptional service.

Until she received the table’s tip.

“Can you tell me why you tipped me five on eighty-six?” the woman asked in the video.

Then, she asked Alexa to calculate just how much have to “tip share” based on the check.

The math equalled 3% of $86.00.

“So, I made two dollars and forty-two cents to take care of y’all,” she revealed, after subtracting the tip share from the total tip.

What is a tip share?

Some restaurant goers may be unaware of tip-sharing, which can impact how much tips a server gets to take home.

A tip share is a system where servers share a portion of their customer tips with other staff members. These additional staffers include bussers, bartenders, or food runners.

This practice helps distribute tips more evenly among all workers who contribute to the dining experience but may not receive direct tips from customers.

Different restaurants have varying rules about how much and with whom tips are shared. These rules are often based on management policies or local laws.

Ultimately, tip sharing can affect the total amount a server takes home.

For Gina, her tip share didn’t feel fair relative to the service she provided.

Especially after she had to work past closing hours to accommodate the customers.

Ultimately, the server decided she wouldn’t offer the two women a bag for their food in retaliation. It was obvious that she was absolutely fed up with bad tippers.

Are bad tippers common?

A 2023 survey from the financial services company CreditCards.com found that roughly 1 in 5 Americans tip 10% or less at sit-down restaurants, while a small percentage say they do not tip at all.

At the same time, most diners report leaving tips of 15% to 20% or more for good service.

The issue has become increasingly contentious in recent years as menu prices have risen. Consumers have also experienced “tip fatigue” from being prompted to tip in more situations.

Some customers argue that employers, not diners, should be responsible for ensuring workers earn a livable wage.

Meanwhile, many restaurant employees maintain that tips remain a critical part of their income. This makes low or nonexistent gratuities particularly frustrating.

So, while generous tippers are still common, most longtime servers say receiving an occasional disappointing tip is an unavoidable reality of working in the service industry.

@whatsthatmeen I’ll never understand people who don’t tip their server especially when everything was great. #serverlife #serverstories #serverproblems ♬ original sound – Gina ?

What Did Viewers Say?

In the comments section, one TikTok user provided a nuanced take on the issue.

“I’ve been a server for a little over 20 years and I do agree that tipping at every establishment has gotten ridiculous, however I dont think everyone understands if restaurants paid us a liveable wage instead a burger would cost 20 plus dollars as well as everything else. so people wouldn’t even go out to eat anymore,” user Sarah Rose3420 wrote.

Another admitted to hating tip culture.

“As a person that hates tip culture and thinks it should go back to an optional thing versus a requirement…I usually tip between 15-20%,” another said.

Others backed the server and said the customers were problematic.

“Nobody that comes 30min before close and stays way passed it , is a good guest lol,” one added.

The Mary Sue reached out to TikTok user Gina for comment via email.

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