$3.28 tip irritates the waiter. When an unexpected letter arrives days later, eyes widen.

A week later, the server received a surprise that completely changed their perspective. A handwritten letter arrived from one of the teenagers, expressing regret and a sincere desire to rectify their mistake. The letter, included in the server’s post, reads:

“On October 7, about a week and a half ago, my three friends and I celebrated our own homecoming by dining at this restaurant. Being here by ourselves was a novel and thrilling experience for us.

We could not have asked for a better waiter than you. You didn’t treat us like infants; instead, you were kind, helpful, and even managed to adjust the meal to accommodate all of my dietary needs! I wanted to express my gratitude for making our ‘grown-up’ experience so enjoyable and wonderful.

In addition, I would want to apologize on behalf of my organization. Our 13-year-old brains were unfamiliar with all of this, so we weren’t quite sure how to handle the charge. When it came to splitting the check and accepting our less-than-ideal cash, you were very helpful.

Although the price was fair, we had entirely forgotten about tips and, to be honest, had no idea how much to leave. After emptying our pockets, the total amount of money we had was $3.28.

We departed without realizing how little we had left you for all of your hard work, not realizing how tiny this actually was.

Afterwards, we felt horrible about realizing our error. We had to put things right, we knew.

You will thus find the appropriate 18% gratuity plus more in this envelope for just being wonderful. We thank you for making our evening enjoyable and for your assistance and patience. I’m grateful.”**

This heartfelt apology highlights the importance of education and awareness around tipping etiquette. It’s a common practice in many countries, and understanding its role in server compensation is crucial.

The Power of Second Chances Continue reading…