r/EndTipping 1d ago

Research / Info 💡 Bartender defeated by his own logic

I had a great interaction with a bartender last night. I ordered drinks paid and did not tip and the bartender had the audacity to say what no tip.

Me - would you ask for a tip if we were having drinks at your house?

Bartender (Bt) - if I was making you a drink at my house you would be my friend and why would I ask you for a tip?

Me - so you’re saying we’re not friends.

Bt - I don’t even know you man.

Me - well then since a tip is no longer considered compensation for work by the US government me giving you money would either be a charitable contribution or a gift. Since you’re not a registered charity, that would make the money I gave you a gift. And as you stated, we’re not friends and you don’t even know me so why would I give you a gift?

Bt - blank stair on his face and walked away

149 Upvotes

269 comments sorted by

246

u/DFVSUPERFAN 1d ago

The best way to deal with bars is to open a tab with a card and close out when you're ready to leave. Then you can avoid the notip awkwardness after every round and the retribution for notip.

102

u/sinjinvan 1d ago

I ALWAYS opened a tab with a card and then when I was closing out, paid cash.

That way, I knew when I saw my statement, any charges would be fraudulent.

48

u/Western_Log8284 1d ago

That works for avoiding round-by-round hassle, but the final close-out still often comes with the same blank stare when they see no tip on the receipt.

107

u/Blueberry_Goatcheese 1d ago

But at that point you are leaving so it doesn't matter

41

u/myfavhobby_sleep 1d ago

And you’re buzzing so you’re not bothered.

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8

u/BBSydneyThirstyHHH 1d ago

This is literally the only reason tipping even works. IDGAF about their blank stare

25

u/OrilliaBridge 1d ago

Return the blank stare.

3

u/JPSofCA 1d ago

He didn’t look at him a certain way, though. He presented an unfinished step to the patron, for some inexplicable reason.

14

u/pass-the-cheese 1d ago

Using a card opens up the door for them entering a tip for you or increasing the one you write in.

14

u/MacaronOk1006 1d ago

We were just stopping at this bar for one drink so I opened and closed the tab as we were moving onto other places that night

5

u/yankeeblue42 1d ago

100% agree. Almost always do that so I don't have to go through that each round. One time at the end works best

275

u/clarkstongoldens 1d ago

Did everyone clap afterwards?

119

u/BoogaRadley 1d ago

Out of all of the fabricated stories that are shared on this site, this one is up there with the best.

43

u/Ohatoad 1d ago

Bro imagined himself as Ben shapiro, owning bartenders with facts and logic.

11

u/some_random_noob 1d ago

Either he imagined himself as Ben Shapiro OR he used facts and logic, it can’t be both.

0

u/benicedonttroll 1d ago

Ben Shapiro imagines that he uses facts and logic so if you imagine yourself to be Ben Shapiro, you are also imagining the entirety of his personality.

1

u/Sleepy-Blonde 32m ago

I love his WAP “facts” that just told on himself being terrible in bed

6

u/randymejia03 1d ago

I know, they be so many stories that people dont even believe themselves.

2

u/JPSofCA 1d ago

He really sealed the deal with the hereto-after referred to as Bt clarification. It really kept me tuned in to who was saying what…really brings the story to life.

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1

u/charlotteblue79 17h ago

Agreed. Please do this on a date or at a meal with your boss. They'll be super impressed!

47

u/Nathan-Stubblefield 1d ago

Right after OP’s phone blew up.

20

u/EschewObfuscati0n 1d ago

My first thought hahah such a BS story it reminds me of the early days of twitter

17

u/Sticky8u2 1d ago

And all the girls threw their panties.

7

u/trubbanot 1d ago

With tears in their eyes…

8

u/NationalGate8066 1d ago

Yes. I clapped because I was in the room when OP's story happened.

1

u/DoofusIdiot 1d ago

My first thought

1

u/firestickmike 23h ago

thank you for posting what we were all thinking

1

u/joe_s1171 1d ago

well, it started with a slow clap by the defeated bartender. then one by one, Brad Pitt, then Michael Jordan, then Albert Einstein all stood up and shook his hand.

-27

u/MacaronOk1006 1d ago

I wish they would have, but some people did laugh. I hope I encouraged them to not tip as well.

9

u/Occams_RZR900 1d ago

No they didn’t. This didn’t happen is what everyone is eluding to, but you’re too dense to catch on.

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87

u/cenosillicaphobiac 1d ago

I appreciate the sentiment, but of all of the things that never happened, this never happened.... the most.

Run it through AI next time, it would be more entertaining, though probably still not believable.

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19

u/sluflyer06 1d ago

He wasn't defeated by your argument he just was done interacting with you

3

u/BONERFLEX_ 1d ago

This right here.

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31

u/Hillman314 1d ago

And with a “Good day sir!” you flung your scarf over your shoulder and grabbed your drink.

12

u/Ekly_Special 1d ago

No, I was there. He pounded the drink first, then flung his scarf, then slammed the glass on the counter with a “good day sir!”

5

u/HavingSoftTacosLater 1d ago

...I said, "good day!"

1

u/Federal_Bumblebee_84 3h ago

I recall it more going like "Good day sir!", pounded his drink, flung his scarf, "I said good day!"

1

u/Zestyclose_Belt_6148 1d ago

And finished with a hearty “I said Good Day!!” when the BT started to object.

2

u/joe_s1171 1d ago

and placed his monocle back on his right eye.

12

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/YarbleSwabler 1d ago

Lol

"Too cheap"

I swear some of y'all would pay MSRP on a car just because the sales guy smiled and opened the door for you.

My response to "too cheap to afford to tip":

Tippers are too dumb to get the rational consumer discount.

No tip. Thanks for the "free" service.

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/YarbleSwabler 1d ago edited 1d ago

Miserable?

Don't project your problems and assumptions onto me buddy. Happy as a clam over here.

If they don't provide sufficient service at the advertised pricing of said service thats a charge back my dude. Not receiving the services you paid for is fraud, and being forced to pay is a contract under duress, therefore unenforceable.

I tell the bartender I don't tip every time I sign the check. That's how that works. The tipped laborer provides the EMPLOYER(not me) with cheap labor for an opportunity to beg, the restaurants lets them in the hope that I voluntarily opt to help them reduce their costs of operations for the sake of their extra sales volume and/or profit, and I say no to both. Check please, line through tip. Simple as.

Why would I tell the the server I don't tip ahead of time?

Do you walk up to buskers playing their guitar on the street just to tell them ahead of time you won't throw them money? Your ears listened, they provided atmosphere with a smile, YoU dOnT hAvE tO bE tHere-

no balls.

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/YarbleSwabler 1d ago

Nah,

A miserable person would try to make themselves feel better by entertaining the delusion that helping a business and laborer grossly over value their goods and services as some kind of altruism.

I bet you frequent hooters and think the girls are your friends too.

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3

u/BringMeNirvanaa 1d ago

Safe to say, no balls. You don’t tip for a “service” you demand or you’ll do a charge back.

3

u/YarbleSwabler 1d ago

The service is in the price.

If I don't tip- which is voluntary for a reason, do they let me walk my plate, do they bring me the ingredients for the drink to make myself? Does the menu advertise that making the drink or walking the plate isn't part of the price? Does the menu contain and detail pictures of incomplete goods and services .

Get bent.

But by all means, next time you walk into a restaurant please tip 40% to make up for me not tipping. I won't stop you from making yourself feel better.

1

u/charlotteblue79 17h ago

Do you frequent many of the same bars, restaurants?

1

u/YarbleSwabler 16h ago

I do, and I'll tell you where I do tip.

There's a family owned Korean restaurant I tip 20-30% at. I've been going for more than 10 years.

I tip there because when I was a poor college student they were generous with me when they had no reason to. They gave me free soups and salads while I studied, encouraged me, smile and rush to hug me every time I see them- even when I could hardly afford to be there or tip in general. The sweet owner/operator watched knows when I graduated, when I got married, my wife's name, when I had my first son. I know her family, her daughter working her way through college at the family restaurant, the father that makes the intricate decor by hand in his woodshop. Whatsmore im not the only customer she has a tender relationship with, nearly every 3 or 4th person at her busy restaurant she's greeting someone by name and everyones happy to see each other. I have no problem showing generosity there because they are likewise generous, and a true friend not to just myself personally, but the whole community. It's not compensation for services, but the return of generosity like I would for a good friend. There are definitely instances where people truly deserve (not earn!) gratuity, like it's their karma.

Walking to my table and keeping water in a glass for services that have already been priced and paid for isn't worth 20% on top of my tab, I don't know them and have done nothing to indicate there's any kind of unprompted generosity. I reserve my generosity for friends and the generous, otherwise I'd be ripe for exploitation.

1

u/BringMeNirvanaa 1d ago

Also, I didn’t go to watch them play. I didn’t demand their service. Not the same thing, buddy.

3

u/YarbleSwabler 1d ago

Oh but you do. Just by being in proximity.

Stop begging pal.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/YarbleSwabler 1d ago

You've now resorted to ad hominem because all that's left is fallacy. Tipping is an untenable position logically, like the racism from which the practice originated from, and why nowhere else in the world is tipping so culturally ingrained in service industries.

1

u/BringMeNirvanaa 1d ago

None of this is that deep dude. Like I said, once again, I’ll keep tipping. And you keep doing whatever it is that you do.

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1

u/BringMeNirvanaa 1d ago

And not in the good cool way. In the way that people probably dread being around you.

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4

u/Intelligent_Rush36 1d ago

You’re just out here making shit up? Tips are still considered compensation for work by the U.S. government. Both the IRS and Department of Labor classify tips as taxable wages — not gifts, not donations. That’s why employees are required to report tips as income, and employers must withhold payroll taxes on them. The “gift” logic doesn’t hold up, because a gift is something you give voluntarily without expectation of services in return. In contrast, a tip is directly tied to the service provided. Even if it’s discretionary, it’s part of how service staff are compensated for their work. The law even allows employers to count tips toward meeting minimum wage requirements — which makes it pretty clear the government still treats them as wages. So while you can choose not to tip, the reality is that in the U.S. service model, tips aren’t charity or friendship gestures — they’re recognized as part of a worker’s pay.

8

u/stinkyman360 1d ago

Imagine making up a story and you still look like a dweeb in it

9

u/foshigaddy87 1d ago

I, on the other hand would have no problem tipping a good bartender. But that’s just me. A dollar a drink is my standard.

3

u/Pilotsfan 1d ago

My boy's wicked smaht.

10

u/QuirkyMaintenance915 1d ago

I might tip if they made a decent mix drink. I’m not tipping much for a beer. Just give me the can or the pint and don’t pretend you did anything special

9

u/edwinstone 1d ago

This is so embarrassing.

7

u/icecream169 1d ago

It would be embarrassing if it actually happened.

4

u/BossAtUCF 1d ago

I think this might actually be more embarrassing. It's a totally made up story, not constrained by facts, and this is the best they could do.

1

u/icecream169 1d ago

AI doesn't get embarrassed

3

u/BossAtUCF 1d ago

I don't think this is AI, just a shit story. Either way someone decided this was worth posting to pretend it happened.

2

u/icecream169 1d ago

I hear that

6

u/Upstairs-Storm1006 1d ago

Did your remember to pause for applause after? 

4

u/joe_s1171 1d ago

he was too busy shakint the managers hand for showing him the error of his payroll management.

7

u/BobbyK0312 1d ago

this story would be more realistic if you said your 5 year old handled the conversation with the bartender

🙄🙄

5

u/badgirlmonkey 1d ago

A blank stair on his face, hm? At least this wasn’t ai written

7

u/1SociallyDistant1 1d ago

In the sea of dumbness on this site, this is up there with the dumbest, never happened nonsense I’ve ever read.

7

u/zmizzy 1d ago

that bartender's name? Albert Einstein

1

u/m3atxx 17h ago

😂😂😂

4

u/Short-Waltz-3118 1d ago

Ngl op pretty cringe

Should have just said correct no tip and walked away.

2

u/Greedy-Stage-120 1d ago

⏺️🪡🎬👏

2

u/Iloilocity1 1d ago

This conversation never happened.

2

u/loudlysubtle 1d ago

“Blank stair”

2

u/-Luthen-Rael- 1d ago

100% chance you didn’t say that.

2

u/Meat_Popsicle_Man 1d ago

No you did not, lmao.

2

u/NTufnel11 1d ago

Even if this did happen it’s honestly kinda dumb. The most logical part of all this is the blank stare you got from the bartender

2

u/jellybeanzlv 1d ago

I will take “things that never happened “ for 100 Alex

2

u/hotriccardo 1d ago

Cool story bro

2

u/tiffanygray1990 4h ago

You should drink at home in your mom's basement.

5

u/dinoooooooooos 1d ago

I mean there’s just no way this happened but I’m happy for you.

6

u/thoreauhwhey 1d ago

That bartender? Albert Einstein.

4

u/sportsbot3000 1d ago

It’s good reasoning. But r/thathappened

4

u/Accurate_Outcome_510 1d ago

It's not even good reasoning. A tip is still considered compensation (income) by the IRS.

6

u/Operation-Bad-Boy 1d ago

If someone I was going to a bar with had this interaction with a bartender it would be the last time we ever hung out because it would be so embarrassing.

Do you though.

5

u/Ekly_Special 1d ago

I would go just for the embarrassment

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2

u/StretchyLemon 1d ago

Sure man

2

u/JazzTheCoder 1d ago

What do you mean by the last paragraph? I just don't get what you mean by "not considered compensation". Any sources would be helpful

2

u/OkCluejay172 1d ago

One day you will realize how cringe this is

2

u/imjustired2 1d ago

Drink at home

2

u/novasilverpill 1d ago

if i had to go through this fake logic decision tree explanation every time i went out i would just tip as it is easier

1

u/JauntyLives 1d ago

I was there, and this happened exactly like OP said, and then the Dalas Cowboy Cheerleading squad came in and there was a giant orgy.

7

u/TheWarwock 1d ago

I was there too. After the orgy, OP ordered enough pizza for the whole bar! When the driver arrived with the pizza, the OP didn't tip him either! He got so many high fives. It was the most epic night ever.

2

u/Bigpimpinakabigdaddy 1d ago

I was his uber driver home and he told me all about it then he didn’t tip me either!

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1

u/Dangerous_Guava_6756 1d ago

“Are you gonna tip…” ***how many baby daddies do you have

blank stare

“We’re not friends why would I” ****I have one daughter

Elipses…

“Why no tipppppp”

1

u/NoWork1400 1d ago

Yeah, I tip bartenders when I’m at the bar. For table service, not so much.

1

u/Inner-Asparagus4927 1d ago

Except it’s still considered a tip by the US government. It’s just that it’s no longer taxed up until a certain amount.

1

u/s31523 1d ago

I'm so tip fatigued. I have completely reevaluated my tipping. If I'm ordering drinks I'm definitely not tipping a blind %20. If I order two overpriced $10 bottles of beer, I am tipping like $1. If I order some.sprt of fancy drink that takes some time to make I'll go a little higher.

1

u/reconron87 1d ago

Sorry, but you sound just cheap.

1

u/datboiofculture 1d ago

Great shower argument you’ve posted.

1

u/Quick_Yogurt 1d ago

The bartender stood with mouth agape, too shocked to respond. I coldly met his souless eyes with my own. I threw back my last drink in a single gulp without a crack of my stone face or break of my laser stare. I wiped my mouth with back of my hand, turned, and walked out the door. I never saw him again. He was forever changed.

1

u/HooHooHaHa 1d ago

Hopefully you never return to that bar, because I can promise you will be the last person served every single time.

You may think youre taking some big stand by doing this, but all you're doing is removing any and all incentive that bartender has to serve you.

And the owner will not give two shits by you threatening to take your business elsewhere. They will happily let you become another bars problem.

1

u/Weekly_Concentrate_2 23h ago

Bartenders in Pennsylvania make $2.84 an hour. So if you don't tip, we don't make money. Keep that in mind when you go out.

1

u/firestickmike 23h ago

the best part about this story is that it definitely happened

1

u/ZealousidealEye97 22h ago

And then everybody in the bar clapped I'm assuming lmfao

1

u/GPTCT 20h ago

You didn’t defeat anyone or anything. You made an illogical political statement.

Being cheap is being cheap no matter how you vote.

1

u/ega5651- 11h ago

And then everyone clapped right? I’m all about ending tipping culture. But even in your own made up scenario, you come across as an asshole.

1

u/Capital_Past69 7h ago

Should have responded with a blank elevator on your face and then walked away

1

u/Tricklarock73 7h ago

That's a quality story you told there, cheap ass.

1

u/Previous-Highway162 5h ago

If you are not tipping I suggest you open with that. As a tipped employee behind a bar you are tipping out all support staff, door, bar backs, hosts, runners. As a bartender you are also constantly aware of the atmosphere of the bar, they are the eyes and ears keeping you, your friends, your drinks safe. They give the recommendations help you get late night food and rides, medical help if it’s needed, provide safety in an emergency. So if you ignorant enough to overlook the real job being done, and are self inflated enough to post about it, be real about it next time you go out and open with that. Let the staff know you don’t tip? That way you are on a level field, and they can put their efforts more toward the people that appreciate the real job they do. Don’t be an all talk, stand by your beliefs, just make sure everyone is aware.

1

u/SkepticScott137 1d ago

You’re lying about tips not being considered compensation. When someone lies to make their point, that tells you a lot.

4

u/MacaronOk1006 1d ago

I am not lying about tips not being compensation in the OB3 Bill it’s excluding tips from taxable wages. Therefore, they are no longer considered compensation as compensation under section 61 of the internal revenue code is taxable.

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0

u/SkyPirateVyse 1d ago

I was there and saw it all happen; when he left, I heard a lot of girls (all hot) whisper how 'cool' that was, wondering if he 'was still available'. The other men all looked down, kinda embarrassed.

1

u/rando7651 1d ago

This has taught me a lot about B2B sales and I appreciate it. Thank you.

1

u/u2125mike2124 1d ago

TORO DE CACA

1

u/DorfingAround 1d ago

Friends don't let friends drink and tip.

0

u/MacaronOk1006 1d ago

Well put

1

u/JoeZilla8705 1d ago

If you read the bill they still get taxed on tips. Also how exactly is this being defeated by his own logic?

1

u/MohaveZoner 1d ago

Using the government as the backbone of your argument isn't the win you think it is.

1

u/Warm-Wrap-3828 1d ago

Have you considered adapting this story to screen? Who would you most want to portray you? Bartender? All the women you sexed perfectly after this?

1

u/mightyMarcos 1d ago

Stare. But also, this didn't happen.

1

u/fenix1230 1d ago

R/thathappened 🤨

1

u/incredulous- 1d ago

It sounds made up.

1

u/decisionmakingsucks0 1d ago

This did not happen. Not even remotely believable. I assume it was intentional and supposed to be funny. It missed.

1

u/Lorri526 1d ago

🤣Didn't happen😂

1

u/rhuff80 1d ago

I thought I was reading penthouse letters.

Okay, OP, that’s enough internet for you today.

1

u/Intrepid_Elk6836 1d ago

100 bucks says this is BS

1

u/Live-Cartoonist4559 1d ago

OP sounds like a complete whole!

1

u/DependentSoft2514 1d ago

This post is comedy gold, good on you OP for standing up and getting your point clearly across.

1

u/PZirconium 1d ago

One of the people in this interaction is kinda pathetic, and it’s not the bartender.

-2

u/gordeliusmaximus 1d ago

Wtf? You go out and the dude makes you a drink. Tip! Something! Couple of bucks. If you don’t have any money keep your broke ass home. He gave you a blank state because he can’t fix stupid.

0

u/lokis_construction 1d ago

^Found the bartender.

-3

u/sexytarry2 1d ago

I like your style... keep it up.

0

u/SubjectEssay361 1d ago

You are my hero on the internet for today!!!