A restaurant customer was shocked when a waiter told her her 35 percent tip “didn’t count” because it was from a gift card.
The stunned restaurant diner who goes by the name Tiny Sparks on TikTok explained the whole situation in a video She posted this week.
According to the TikToker, she and an unidentified friend spent between $28 and $30 after buying coffee and breakfast.
Once the waiter gave him the bill, Sparks told the waitress to use the remaining $40 on the gift card he brought with him.
The waitress then handed Sparks the receipt and began a heated conversation with the TikToker over not tipping her properly.
A restaurant customer who goes by the name Tiny Sparks on TikTok explained what happened when she tried to tip her server 35 percent on a gift card.
According to Sparks, as she and her friend were packing up, the waitress wished them a good day as they were about to leave.
Things got ugly when the waiter looked at the table and said, “I don’t know if you know this, but it’s very rude not to tip the waiter.”
The waitress left Sparks confused and led her to believe there was less than $40 on the gift card.
“She says, ‘No, it doesn’t count if it’s a gift card,'” Sparks said.
The waitress acknowledged that there was $11 left on the card, but insisted that she needed Sparks to tip her in cash as well.
“I thought, ‘I don’t think that’s how gift cards work…’ Maybe he’s right: That tip doesn’t count if it’s on a gift card?'” Sparks said.
The conversation continued and the waitress ranted that she had to get up “really early” to be at the restaurant for her morning shift, and that she should leave her tip at 11:30 in the morning.
Sparks assumed the tip was accepted after the server failed to return the gift card and wrote that she thought the server just wanted more money in the comments section of the video.
Sparks and an unidentified friend spent between $28 and $30 after buying coffee and breakfast at the restaurant.
Despite what the Sparks server said, customers are allowed to tip with gift cards most of the time.
Sparks’ 35 percent tip was also generous, as average restaurant tips are between 15 and 20 percent.
There are several things customers can do to avoid any tipping issues and leave the restaurant with a positive experience.
One important thing to do before tipping with the gift card is to communicate with the server and let them know how you plan to tip.
Sparks did this as soon as the waiter came out with the bill, and according to her story, the employee never said she couldn’t do it.
Other important tips when dealing with gift cards are to match the tip to the bill total, check the balance beforehand, and carry cash in case something goes wrong.
Sparks’ server sparked a heated argument over the TikToker’s tipping method and insisted that her tip should have been in cash.
Several commenters claimed to be former or current restaurant servers. Almost all said a customer can tip with a gift card.
Several TikTok users who saw Sparks claimed they were former or current servers and claimed the gift cards work.
“Yes it does count. It’s the same as using a bank or credit card. I used to be a waiter. These new waiters are crazy,” wrote one TikTok user.
Another person wrote: ‘My restaurant doesn’t allow tipping with a gift card, but in this case we would keep the card to use the balance on our meals. It’s the same difference as with cash.’
Other TikTok users who sided with Sparks wrote that if this happened to them, they would have deleted it or reduced it to 15 percent.
One TikToker commented: ‘I would ask for the gift card back and leave $5.’
None of the commentators were angry with Sparks’ actions, but some of them explained why it would be better to have a backup plan in the future.
“Some restaurants don’t allow you to deduct the tip from the gift card, at least that’s what I’ve had to deal with. When in doubt, always be prepared to have the tip in cash on hand. It makes life easier that way,” wrote one TikTok user.
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