Diners Tip Server 1 Cent After Repeatedly Asking for Free Items. Then They Return to Complain to the Manager: ‘Keep the Change’
One penny feels insulting.
Being a server isn’t easy, as servers often encounter troublesome customers while having to keep a smile on their faces. That’s what Mackenzie (@cokekenz) had to do when she was allegedly faced with diners who repeatedly asked for free items and later complained to her manager while working at a restaurant in Florida.
In a video shared on TikTok, Mackenzie recalled a rough shift she had dealing with diners who allegedly had poor manners. In particular, Mackenzie said she tried introducing herself to one of her tables, but they interrupted her as soon as she spoke. She later gave them their drinks and bread, then went to serve another table.
“All of a sudden, I hear this loud grating noise […] ‘Excuse me, excuse me,’” Mackenzie said, describing the first group of diners. When she returned to their table, Mackenzie claimed she was told one of them was celebrating their birthday and asked if they could get a free item. Mackenzie told them the restaurant doesn’t offer guests free items unless they have a rewards membership.
A penny for her services
After supposedly giving the guests an extra six baskets of bread and “an extra of everything,” Mackenzie said she was asked again towards the end of their meal if they could get anything for free and was reminded that it was one of their birthdays. After being denied any free items, they eventually settled their bill of $69.99. But the real kicker was the tip they allegedly left her.
“I want you to guess what they left me,” Mackenzie asked viewers before bursting into laughter. “One penny, keep the change!” Mackenzie isn’t the only one who experienced receiving a measly tip, as one server also found herself the recipient of a $1 gratuity.
According to Mackenzie, the diners paid $70, leaving behind only one cent for her to take home. If that wasn’t enough, the diners supposedly asked for the third time if they could have free items.
The diners eventually left, but returned to the restaurant 30 to 40 minutes later and asked for a manager. Mackenzie claimed that the diners complained about her and told the manager that she was “dumb” and “had no idea what I was talking about.” They also said she “refused to honor their birthday reward.”
The diners win in the end
Mackenzie alleged that the diners had signed up for their rewards program when they left before returning inside. She also claimed that they had been on Instagram Live when the incident happened, and they did eventually get a free dessert.
Viewers were left appalled at the diners’ behavior. Some even noted that receiving one cent felt more offensive. “Somehow one cent is more insulting than nothing,” one commenter wrote. Another wrote, “She really tipped you in a currency that doesn’t exist anymore.”
Others shared their own experience dealing with similar customers. “One time a table left me a nickel, and I slid it right back to him and said ‘you clearly need this more than I do,’” a commenter said. Another added, “Dead*** had a customer say word for word ‘I’m supposed to meet a women, have you seen her?’ No picture no details nothing….”
While others felt a bit disappointed that the manager handed them a freebie, saying, “Ugh! Your manager still gave them the free dessert!?!?! I *hate* that, it just reinforces their crummy behavior!!” Nevertheless, this kind of behavior doesn’t seem like it’s going to get fixed any time soon, despite how much we wish it so.
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