Maybe the waitress had been stiffed all night. Maybe her feet hurt, her patience worn thin. Maybe Amelia’s ten-dollar tip felt like the final insult.
But professionalism is about grace under pressure. And no matter how hard the shift, lashing out at a customer rarely ends well.
Customer Service in Crisis
Hospitality used to mean warmth. Now it often feels like a transaction. Diners expect attentiveness. Servers expect understanding. Somewhere in between, mutual respect gets lost.
That night, the waitress didn’t just lose a ten-dollar tip. She lost a customer — and maybe more, once the story made its rounds.
Lessons Served Cold
Amelia admits she acted out of anger. But regret? Not really.
“You can’t speak to people like that and expect a reward,” she said later. “Tipping should be about gratitude, not obligation.”Continue reading…