When He Sees The Note Left On The Bill, Waiter Rushes After The Customer

A Hard Worker

To understand the story in its entirety, it is important for you to know more about the waiter. He is a 31-year-old dad of three living in Roseville, California. David Fabila had two jobs. The story happened at his job at a wine bar called House of Oliver, but he had one more job to pay the bills and provide for his kids. It is truly unfortunate that so many parents know what it is like to be in his shoes.

A Hard Worker

Not A Waiter

What is so strange about the story is that he was not even a waiter. No, he was a bartender at the House of Oliver, so he mixed and served drinks instead. However, the particular shift was so busy that they roped him into acting as a waiter for the day. The restaurant was short on staff, so everyone was ready to help out. After serving a lot of customers on that day, he began to feel a bit overwhelmed with it all.

Not A Waiter

All By Himself

While he did a good job at work, it was becoming clear that he would not be able to keep it up if he was not getting any help soon. There was not much choice for him, however, since they were short-staffed on that day. No one was there to help him, which is why he needed to do everything on his own. Maybe the worst part here was that he just got out of a shift at the other job before he clocked in at the restaurant. He was already tired, but it looked like things were only going to get even worse. Uh-oh.

All By Himself

The Customer

David had no idea that this night was going to change his life forever. There was a customer in the place who wound up affecting his life in such an unbelievable and unpredictable way. Needless to say, he did not see this coming at all. The customer we are talking about goes by the name Steffen Berr. David had not paid much attention to Steffen in the restaurant because there were too many people he attended to.

The Customer

Good And Bad Days

By this point in time, he had been in the service industry for a long time already. He knew that there were good and bad days. While it was not really his dream job, he valued it as a way to provide for his family. David was aware that you will have to deal with all kinds of people in this industry, so he knew to expect the unexpected. However, Steffen was one of a kind. David had never served anyone like him.

Good And Bad Days

Relying On Tips

In the U.S., workers in the service industry do not get paid that much money. No, they basically rely on tips for their survival. It is the only way for them to earn a living at the job. Tipping is such a big part of American culture since every bartender, waitress, and waiter depends on the tips. David was a guy who did not only need the tips, but he deserved them too. Still, it was up to the customer to leave a gratuity.

Relying On Tips

Doing It Right

Shifts like this one can cause a server to worry and doubt in himself. David already had a lot on his plate, so he started to worry if he was doing things right. He needed to make sure that he was getting everyone’s orders, serving food to the appropriate customers, and ensuring that they have a good time. A lot of customers were focused on the food and having a good time. Steffen Berr, however, was keeping an eye on David and watching this man like a hawk. What gives?

Doing It Right

Paying The Bill

A couple of hours later, the place was starting to get a little less hectic. Many customers had already gone when Steffen Berr asked for the bill. David got his check for him and handed it over to him. However, he still had to take care of the other customers and walked away right after that. Upon returning to the table Steffen sat, he saw that this customer had already left.

Paying The Bill

Not Like Them

There are people who want to settle the bill using a credit card, which is why he sometimes had to bring the card machine. Others liked to pay in cash and had to wait for the change. However, Steffen Berr was not like these folks. Upon taking a close look at the bill, David was in total shock by what he saw.

Not Like Them

Paying By Check

It was clear that Berr and his pals went there to dine in style that very evening. The total bill came up to $200. If you want us to be precise, it totaled $191.39. The group of friends seated at the table wanted to pay by check instead. However, what they left was twice the amount of their bill! In the beginning, David thought that there must have been some kind of mistake. Or he did until he saw the note on the bill.

Paying By Check

A Note

Here was what the note on the bill read: “We’re young, we’re both serving”. When it was time to fill out the check, Steffen chose to leave him a tip as big as the bill! Yes, that is quite a ginormous tip for David! He was rendered speechless when the truth dawned on him at last. While he truly needed the money, he wanted to make sure that the group truly left it for him. And so he went out to come after the client.

A Note

Going After Him

It was a good thing that David managed to track him down before Steffen left the place. He then asked him about the unbelievable tip that he left. He found out that Steffen was only a 24-year-old student at Sacramento State. He was working an unpaid internship at the time, which only makes his incredible gesture that much more amazing. When asked if it was a mistake, Steffen told him it was not.

Going After Him

He Understood

The two guys talked for a short while. It soon became clear why this customer chose to leave such a big tip. The truth was that he was a server as well. In an interview with CBS, David said that people do not appreciate the job that they do unless they had been in the same position in the past. Steffen must have felt bad about what David was going through since he had been in the same spot before. He saw that David was overworked and underpaid, so Steffen left the tip to show him that he was appreciated!

He Understood

Not A Challenge

In case you were wondering, Steffen did not tip generously for the “Tip the Bill Challenge.” He had not met David prior to that moment either. He was just a regular guy who enjoyed and appreciated the service he was given at a restaurant. For this reason, he wanted to reward the man who served him. David was completely surprised when the truth dawned on him. People are not usually that kind!

Not A Challenge

Paying It Forward

Isn’t it nice to see someone more fortunate or successful wanting to pay it forward? Steffen had been at the restaurant with his friends to celebrate the end of his senior year of college. For many years, he worked hard to earn money. At that point, he only wanted to give back. After seeing just how hard David had been working, he decided that this industrious man deserved a reward for all of his efforts.

Paying It Forward

He Was Grateful

David got interviewed about the experience by a number of local news stations. He made sure to use the opportunity to show Steffen his appreciation. The young man wanted to show the bartender that there were more people who appreciated what he did. It might have been the first time they ever met, but this did not stop Steffen from doing such a generous thing. That sum of money is no joke at all.

He Was Grateful

Not That Common

While it is common knowledge that people working in the service industry rely on tips, the truth is that not everyone leaves a gratuity. There are people who do not leave anything whatsoever, so we bet you can imagine just how rare it was for something like this to happen. The rule of thumb is to leave 15 to 20% of the entire bill. However, as much as 40% of Americans only tip smaller than that or not at all.

Not That Common

Unfair Wages

The biggest problem here is the fact that folks working in the service industry have to deal with “tipped minimum wage.” It means that the government has declared that people working in restaurants and bars should only get a fraction of a wage. The idea was that customers will make up for this by giving them tips. It would be fine if all customers left generous amounts, but this is not the case at all.

Unfair Wages

Better Wages

A lot of people know that this is a flawed system, which is why they are demanding appropriate wages for the people in the service industry. It would be a lot better if the millions of bartenders and servers had a secure and reliable source of income. Now, it would amazing if such a thing finally happens. In the meantime, let us hope that there are people like Steffen who would not hesitate to be so generous.

Better Wages

More Than Generosity

We have discussed just how generous a person Steffen is for giving his waiter such a good tip. However, the truth is that this was not only a matter of generosity. Since he was in a good place when it comes to finances, he had the chance to give David a big tip as a reward for all his hard work. While this was a very generous thing to do, let us not forget about another quality he displayed: humility.

More Than Generosity

No Credit Please

Steffen had not been after credit when he did such a thing. The reason he left a tip of $200 was that he thought David deserved this. He had the ability to do it, and so he did. The reason he left the place right away was that he did not want to get credit for it. The sole reason we even know about the story was because David immediately came after him. Ultimately, we can learn a thing or two from what Steffen did. Let us never forget that it is good to give for the sake of it and not to expect anything in return.

No Credit Please

For Other Reasons

We are sure that you have heard a lot of stories about wealthy folks giving all kinds of donations to various charities. These folks have gotten praises for their generosity, and they deserve it. However, the truth is that not everyone does these things out of the goodness of their hearts. There are people who make donations to make themselves look good. It is great that there are people like Steffen out there.

For Other Reasons

Do Unto Others

Karma says that everything we do, regardless of whether it is good or bad, will always come back to us. This is why we must treat others the way we want to be treated. There are folks who subscribe to this idea, but many do not. There are folks who do not even give it a second thought and do good things without considering if it will impact their futures. Stefan did not have a reward in mind when he left the huge tip for David. He was only trying to be a kind person.

Do Unto Others

Never Give Up

The biggest lesson here is that no one should ever give up. Even though David had been going through a rough time at work, he managed to persevere. While he must have been hoping for something to lift his spirits, not once did he expect something like this to happen. Make sure to keep this story in mind the next time you hit a particularly rough patch in life. We hope that you will remember that good things can also come from the most unexpected places. There is someone looking out for you out there. As long as you act out of the goodness of your heart, you will be rewarded in the future!

If you enjoyed that wholesome story, continue on through the article to read about the unfortunate story that affected a restaurant with a confusing tip!

Never Give Up

A Pleasant Evening

Everything started off rather pleasant for all involved in this story. A couple had come into the restaurant and were very pleasant towards the waiting staff. The man was taking the woman on a date; perhaps their first one. Similarly to the girl, he had dressed to impress and the waitress was actually pleased that she would be serving the pair for the evening, as it seemed as though everyone was in for a nice, smooth sailing time. From worker to guest, everyone was happy and all seemed well.

The Dream Customer

The man treated the waitress with the uttermost respect. He offered her compliments, gave thanks for every single refill of water she gave them and was thankful every time she came over to see how the couple were doing. Standard things that any waitress should and would do, but nonetheless the man seemed truly thankful and was pleased with the service he was receiving. In turn, the waitress enjoyed the compliments and even thought to herself how the man in question was the dream customer.

A Celebration?

The waitress, despite all the compliments and good feeling, didn’t delude herself into thinking she was the source. She saw that the couple were laughing and having a good time, she just assumed that the date was going very well and the positive treatment from the pair was an indirect consequence of just that. Nonetheless, she was enjoying serving the pair. It was possible that they were even celebrating, because prices didn’t seem to matter to the man. He was ordered the best of the best and whatever his date desired.

No Expenses Spared

The pair had certainly enjoyed their evening as no expense was spared. The man had ordered the most expensive wine available, his date chose the most expensive main dish; even when she struggled to decide on an appetizer, the gentleman ordered them all, so she was able to sample and taste each one. A grand, gentlemanly gesture, but surely quite expensive. This was seemingly irrelevant to the man however, the money was flowing and the pair seemed happy with how the evening was panning out.

The Check

The evening was beginning to come to it’s conclusion. The waitress had provided the guests excellent service, and in return the couple were excellent customers. She continued and asked how the pair would be paying, together or separately. The woman tried to begin her sentence with “separately”, but the man went out of his way to say how he would be paying for all. “Definitely together. You never have to pay when you’re with me”. A little grandiose, but nonetheless she seemed okay with it and the waitress didn’t mind who paid, just that the check was in fact paid.

A Smooth Payment

After an extravagant evening, the bill comes and it totals at $289.00. The man sees the number and doesn’t seem fazed and pays the bill. Additionally, after such a pleasant evening, and some great service; the man leaves the waitress a $100 tip. He emphasizes the lovely evening they’ve had and made a big deal of the large tip he had left for her. The waitress herself was shocked at this incredible gesture. Even if her service had been good, that was her job and she treated them like she would anyone else. She was incredibly touched.

Selflessness and Gratitude

The man had shown incredible selflessness, and she was certainly grateful. She expressed her gratitude more than once, she was ecstatic with the tip and eternally thankful. The man insisted that there was no need to thank him, expressing that it is the waiting staff in general who are so underpaid and that it should be considered as covering all the previous customers who treated her poorly and tipped as such. The man went on a rant about how if you eat out, you should be prepared to pay as such; focusing entirely on his date when explaining. Nonetheless, the waitress was excited about the tip, and thanked him once again. He helped her into her jacket, and the pair left the restaurant. All seemed well until…

A Swift Turnaround

It can’t have been more than 90 seconds after the couple had left, but the man had pretended to the girl that he had forgotten something to hide his real intentions of returning to the restaurant. The man looked over to make sure that she was out of the area that she could hear him and with no shame whatsoever tells the waitress, “Mark the tip down to twenty bucks Hun, I was just playing it up for my date. You understand.” The man at this point turns around to leave without any embarrassment or care in the world.

Professionalism

The waitress was visibly annoyed, but understood that she couldn’t make a scene in the middle of work. It wasn’t her style, it would have been unprofessional and it would have disturbed the other guests in the restaurant. Instead she merely asked the man if he was sure he would like to amend his tip from $100 to $20. This gave the man the opportunity to consider his conscience, but was also polite and standard procedure from the woman.

Hostility

Despite the gentle nature of the waitress’ voice, hiding her true displeasure at the man’s horrific actions; the man was visually aggravated at the waitress’ question. He confirmed the change request on the tip, exclaiming that if he saw a cent over twenty, he would dispute the whole meal with his credit vendor. He aggressively told her not to “try and pull anything”. The man knew he was in the wrong, and was so shameless that he didn’t even care.

Deceit

Being a woman in the service industry, she had experienced unpleasant men like him before and was not phased by the events. To turn a tip that was over 30% to one that was under 10% was one thing, but this man was clearly playing his date. This poor girl had no idea what this man was really like. He had acted extremely manipulatively and had no idea what this man was really like. Acting from her past experiences with men such as these, she felt it was only in the woman’s best interests to discover what this man was like. She had to do something to alert the girl, but just so she could question his intentions herself.

A Moment Of Luck

The waitress realized again that she was at work, and decided it wasn’t her place. Altering the bill, she thought that would be it. Despite this, something interesting had occurred to her. Perhaps there was a way to maintain professionalism but help this poor girl. Darting outside, the waitress acted quickly in attempt to catch the couple in the parking lot. Luckily for her, they had parked on the street and the man was sorting out payment with the parking meter.

A Moment To Relish

After flagging the man and his date down, the waitress ran across the street. In her rush, she almost stumbled into oncoming traffic. The moment was too great to miss and with a mix of excitement and fear that she would miss them; she ran. Despite the fact his date was already in the car, she rolled the window down to speak with the waitress, who looked fairly crazy swinging her arms in the air trying to catch their attention.

A Moment To Relish

Comeuppance

The waitress was successful in reaching the car in time. Speaking loudly enough for both the man and his date to hear, she told them, “Sir, we amended your tip from $100 down to $20 as you requested, but you’ll actually need to fill out a different receipt reflecting your new total for our records. Your old receipt still has your original tip of $100 written on it, but since you just came in and asked us to charge you $20 instead, we can’t have a discrepancy in our records. I hope you understand. This is just a bookkeeping regulation that goes way above me. It has nothing to do with your retroactively downgrading your tip from $20 to $100, we’re just glad you enjoyed your evening.”

A Shock

The man was flabbergasted by the events that had occurred. He was surprised that he had found himself in this situation. He truly believed he would just walk into the restaurant, change his tip significantly and that would be the end of it. He even pretended that he didn’t know what she was talking about. He offered the line, “I only came back because I forgot my keys. You must be looking for someone else”. The waitress was cunning however, insisting again different variations of “You wanted to change your tip from $100 to $20. The more he pretended to be unaware of what was happening, she repeated herself.

Conceding

After some back and forth, where the waitress refused to back down from her stance that she needed the man to fill out a new form and the man pretending to not know what was happening; the man eventually conceded. Finally, he said, “Ok, whatever, uh, sorry for the miscommunication. If you need me to fill out a new receipt I can.” To rub salt in the wounds further, the waitress even keeled offering a final time, “you only need to fill out a new receipt if you want to change the tip”.

Task Completed

The waitress assumed that the man really couldn’t have afforded to pay the tip, because eventually he changed it. After spending big on the date, the man really thought he was going to get away as the bigshot; without his girlfriend seeing his true colors. The woman was visually shocked at the whole ordeal, the man stared angrily at the waitress. He was raging, and everyone around could feel it. The waitress on the other hand felt very satisfied.

A Thousand Revenges

After acquiring the new receipt, filled out correctly, the disgruntled man and the visually disapproving girl drove off. The waitress felt vindicated, like she had taken revenge on all the other customers who have treated her, as well as other waitresses so poorly. The exact speech he had made earlier about waiting staff not being appreciated by people, was a prime example of what he had done, if not worse! The pair drove off, and we can only assume it didn’t quite work out for them.

If you enjoyed that story, read on to discover a similar event of some unpleasant customers getting their just desserts.

A Rowdy Bar

The waitress attended the table of three guys, all in their forties and acting particularly rowdy. The man whipped out his luxurious credit card, declaring “order’s up!”. The party associated with the man seemed to find this funny, but the waitress wasn’t so impressed. The sports bar often had loud people, so that wasn’t so much the issue; rather the attitude of this group, primarily the man in question.

Time To Pay

As the night went on, the inevitable time to pay came. The waitress was looking after a few tables but she elected to help the rowdy party first. Perhaps she wanted them out sooner, or they just caught her first. Nonetheless, she apologized to the waiting tables and headed towards the group. The initial bigshot who flashed the fancy luxury card offered to use it first. The waitress took his card and attempted the payment.

Sudden Silence

Despite being the loudest table in the bar all evening, sudden silence resonated from within the group. The other tables found themselves waiting a longer than usual time, because the waitress wasn’t able to process this group’s payment. The card was declined! The luxury card which had been so boasted about was not as such anymore. At the request of the man, it was run once, twice even three times. Every time the card was declined and the waitress was losing her patience.

Alternative Actions

After many tried and failed transactions, the waitress had no choice other than to call over the manager. The panicked man declared that he could cover the bill and not to worry. The man pulled a bag from under the table, removing from it a plastic grocery bag. A jingle sound came from the bag, surprising all the staff. The bag was full of coins. The man’s new plan was to pay the bill using a bag of coins! Unbelievable!

Disbelief

At this point, the men were well in their way of counting the coins. It seemed like a race against time to find the required amount. The coins were not even in good denominations, using the lowest amounts possible at times; just to fill the requirement of the bill. The staff, along with a now accumulated crowd, watched as the men managed to accumulate $200 worth of coins in order to pay the bill. Needless to say, there wasn’t going to be enough for a tip.

Normal Guests

Finally the men accumulated enough coins to pay their bill, making a swift exit shortly after. At this point the waitress went to her other tables that were waiting to pay. She hoped that she wouldn’t have a similar experience with any others. Fortunately they were not. The next table sympathized profusely with her, paying instantly and leaving a hefty tip after experiencing everything she went through. The waitress was thankful that not everyone was a fake bigshot acting as such.

Lessons?

So what can we learn from the last two stories? Firstly, waiting staff go through a lot, and deserve to be treated well and tipped fairly- especially if the service actually was good! No-one likes a pretentious big shot, especially if it is just an act. It is important to stay humble, honest and fair.