Accidentally Overtipping - Ask for $ back?

[mommylikestattoos]

I posted this in the pastor tipping thread, but it looks like that's died out. Have you ever accidentally over tipped a server? Like not realize it was already included, so gave your customary tip on top of the total bill? And if you have, would you go back to the restaurant later that night or the next night and expect the server to give the money back to you?

Here's my story:

I once had a customer return to my restaurant the next day and try to demand I return some of the previous nights tip, because they accidentally double tipped me when they didn't realize the gratuity was added. I absolutely refused, even though the manager/owners were pressuring me hard.

We didn't have a computerized system, it was one of the old cash register systems that prints on the check each time something is ordered. Because it was a large party with several rounds of drinks ordered it caused the total to run over onto the back of the check. It was hand written in THREE separate places that my tip was included- on the front, along the margin on the back, as well as where I clearly added my 18% to the total.

The table paid cash, I closed out the check and was walking back to the table to return the change. The customer (the father, it was a family out celebrating something) said to keep it, it was for me. I obviously knew it was an extremely generous tip with the extra change added in, but I didn't question it. If I'm remembering correctly, it was something like turning my $35 tip into $60-70. It certainly doesn't happen often, but I'd gotten extremely generous tips in the past, so it's not like I ran out chasing after the people to return the overage.

I was almost fired over not giving the tip back, but continued to refuse. I made the very valid point that it was clearly marked on their bill in several places, plus I had already tipped out the bar and busboys the previous night based on the percentage of my earned tips. If they had come back in that evening, I would have begrudgingly returned their money, but this was a day or two later. Fair game.

I would never have the balls to return to a restaurant if I accidentally over tipped and demand the server pay back some of the money!! What says the board?

ETA my proof reading fail.

[annyong]

Yes and no.

[beans]

I agree with your logic of it being the next day and already split up the tip. I would probably have given in to the pressure to give it back, but I would have wanted to keep it and thought the guy was a total jackass!

ETA I would never ask for it back I were were the over-tipper in that situation.

[annyong]

Feb 1, 2013 18:18:29 GMT -5 AutumnRose25 said:

Feb 1, 2013 18:15:19 GMT -5 annyong said:

Yes and no.

This.

If I accidentally handed someone a $100 instead of a $20 I probably would, assuming I was in the position of really not being able to afford the mistake.

BUT only if I realized it pretty soon after and could go right back, not a few days later.

Oh. No, sorry. I was answering her first two questions.

Yes, I have accidentally over-tipped a server. No, I would never go back to get anything back.

[Deleted]

Feb 1, 2013 18:13:30 GMT -5 mommylikestattoos said:

What says the bored?

I just came to LOL at this.

[annyong]

Feb 1, 2013 18:22:15 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Feb 1, 2013 18:13:30 GMT -5 mommylikestattoos said:

What says the bored?

I just came to LOL at this.

Accurate question for me.

[curtains]

I would never ever go back to reclaim a tip - That said I was a bartender and/or server for many years and always overtip.
But... If a patron came back in to request the tip back the next day I would concede and think they were a dick - but I would give it back anyway, not bacause they were right but more because I would feel bad about keeping it knowing they asked for it back over a misunderstanding.
(If I can be honest - It always said when the tip was included on the menu and on the receipt but I would "know" when the customers didn't realize it and tip anyway and I would pocket the money hoping they wouldn't realize it, flameful I am sure)

[goaskalice]

Nope I'd never ask for it back.

[mommylikestattoos]

Feb 1, 2013 18:22:15 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Feb 1, 2013 18:13:30 GMT -5 mommylikestattoos said:

What says the bored?

I just came to LOL at this.

D'oh!!

[lemondrop]

Oh, that's gross. No, I would not do that. Unless I'm drunk, I really look over my bill to make sure it's correct, and that i don't make a mistake.

[Deleted]

I agree with curtains.

The customer is sort of a dick to return and ask for the money back.

But you're a dick to insist on keeping it when you know the additional tip was in error.

[annyong]

And yes, if you want to know what we would've done in your situation, I agree with curtains and miso that I would've given the money back.

[lime]

I've accidentally overtipped a few times and never asked for it back.

Hell, I even realized I undertipped one time and went back to the restaurant the next day with cash to fix it.

[RandZB]

Awful. I would never ask for it back.

[Dusky]

I've over tipped a few times because I added the tip to the card and didn't realize somebody had left cash or something along those lines. It has never occurred to me to ask for it back.

[Deleted]

NO WAY.

I figure that's a nice windfall for a waitperson who probably works really hard and will appreciate it.

But if they ask for it back, you probably should give it back.  As terrible as that is.

[milosh]

This has happened to me and I only realized it a couple of days later when finding the receipt in my pocket. I did not go back.

[pantsparty]

I would never ask for a tip back. But I probably would have returned it in your situation.

[snakeoiltanker]

I'm a server. No I would not ask for the extra tip back. Yes I would return the extra tip if asked. I was once asked to do so a week later. I had obviously already tipped out of the amount so it stung, but I did it anyway. I'm indignant about this kind of thing though.

We have had to call security on a large party before that said they would not pay the gratuity. If they had not given in metro would have been called.

The auto grats can be tricky. A lot of people tip extra on big parties. That 18% is pretax. On a party of twenty it can end up being pitiful compensation. So when you see an extra 10% added on you would like to assume its an additional tip. Not that some jerk diddnt know about the auto grat and thought all you deserved for the whole effort was 10%.

[mskitkat]

I would not have returned the tip, and I didn't when I was in a similar situation. I had a table that intended to stiff me - not for anything I did, but because they were cheap. They were a large table that was auto-gratted. They paid the bill with the autograt clearly circled and labeled as such, then came back a little while later furious that I had "tricked" them into tipping me. My manager surprisingly had my back and told her that the auto grat was clearly labeled, she handed me the money willingly, and it was now mine.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

No way. I would never have the guts to return, especially days after. I would just beat myself up for overlooking it. Also, curtains...I love the video in your profile! It makes me laugh every time I see it!

[runforrest]

I would not go back to the restaurant if I overtipped, and if this happened to me when I was a server, I don't think I would give the money back either. Maybe if the guy came right back, but not a day or two later.

He should have paid more attention to the bill, IMO.

[snakeoiltanker]

Feb 1, 2013 20:55:40 GMT -5 @booby said:

this happened to my dad. he took a group of people out for a business lunch to an expensive steakhouse. he didn't realize that the gratuity was added on to the bill. he tipped $150. he got back to the office and looked at the receipt and that's when he noticed. he called the restaurant and spoke to the GM and told him what happened - "that he accidentally tipped twice". the GM was very understanding and sent my dad a gift card for $150.

i think the GM was reasonable.

you? are a douche.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your dad calling back in this situation. He obviously meant for the server to get a good tip. If I see a customer tipped me 20% on top of the auto grat. I assume it was probably a mistake. Sometimes we get that lucky but not often. I will tell the busser and my manager look we got tipped this expect a call. I just hope the customer calls by the end of the shift. Because once I get my credit card tips I have to tip the staff out of that money. It's awesome the GM handled it the way he did.

[underwaterrhymes]

I have accidentally overtipped, but I would never ask for it back unless I hadn't left the restaurant yet and realized it while I was still in my seat.

[tulip]

Hell no!! I would feel like crap doing that.

To me you should always tip on top of the 18%. If I understand the way it works, a larger party takes up the servers table tops so I always tip at least 7% more to bring it to 25% to make up for the potential loss on tips. Or maybe I'm wrong on how this works, but good service deserves a good tip.

[snakeoiltanker]

Feb 1, 2013 21:22:14 GMT -5 tulip said:

Hell no!! I would feel like crap doing that.

To me you should always tip on top of the 18%. If I understand the way it works, a larger party takes up the servers table tops so I always tip at least 7% more to bring it to 25% to make up for the potential loss on tips. Or maybe I'm wrong on how this works, but good service deserves a good tip.

You are right. If its just an 8 top than its ok, but anything over that and we lose money on big tables if they only tip the 18%. A large party closes down a whole station not only while they are there but for the hour before they arrive, if its a reservation.
At my restaurant I handle most of the big parties, even though its not as lucrative as taking individual tables. I love doing big parties that are usually celebrating something. Anniversaries, family reunions, 90th birthdays I love that stuff. Seeing that extra something on the tip line means a lot to the server.

[revolution]

I am not aware of overtipping at a restaurant, and if I did I would not go back and ask for my money back - especially a day later.

So, the guy tips you, you tip out the other staff and claim the tips in the computer so you now have to pay taxes on the tips... and the guy expects you to give the money back a day or so later? No.

I did have friends over once, we all pitched in money for delivery. Food came, gave the delivery guy money and told him to keep the change. He actually called about 10 minutes later and said he had just delivered food and that we gave him a large tip and thought it was a mistake. I told him to hold on, all of my friends were fine with the money they pitched in, got back on the phone and told the kid to keep the tip and have a good day. I am still dying to know how much we tipped him. We have no clue to this day.

[Deleted]

Feb 1, 2013 20:59:30 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

As an owner if someone tips my staff and comes back and asks for the tip back I would show them the door. You have to stand by your staff and that would be so ridiculous. This has never happened to us.

Although once a delivery guy was tipped a $100 bill and he didn't realize it...he took it upon himself to call the customer back and double check. The food was for a wall street guy and he had stiffed the delivery guy like a year before and was making good.

I was proud of them that day.


If you aren't good to your people they won't be good to you. Know who taught me that? My mom

But in this situation, I think the businessowner who is good to his/her people would recognize that the customer is always right, but on the other hand this isn't the waitress's fault, and would give the customer the money back out of the restaurant till rather than the waitress's pay rather than showing the customer the door.  *That* I think is being good to all of your people.

That's probably what happened with booby's dad's situation, and I think that's right.

[ralphlauren]

Ew. No way would I ever ask for the tip back. If I do not read the bill it is totatally my fault if gratuity is already added.

[tulip]

Feb 1, 2013 21:33:28 GMT -5 snakeoiltanker said:

Feb 1, 2013 21:22:14 GMT -5 tulip said:

Hell no!! I would feel like crap doing that.

To me you should always tip on top of the 18%. If I understand the way it works, a larger party takes up the servers table tops so I always tip at least 7% more to bring it to 25% to make up for the potential loss on tips. Or maybe I'm wrong on how this works, but good service deserves a good tip.

You are right. If its just an 8 top than its ok, but anything over that and we lose money on big tables if they only tip the 18%. A large party closes down a whole station not only while they are there but for the hour before they arrive, if its a reservation.
At my restaurant I handle most of the big parties, even though its not as lucrative as taking individual tables. I love doing big parties that are usually celebrating something. Anniversaries, family reunions, 90th birthdays I love that stuff. Seeing that extra something on the tip line means a lot to the server.

That's what I thought, I know the money is good for the most part for servers but no way could I do it. Hungry people are sometimes not happy people!!