Non-tippers are the bane of every bartender’s life. And in a viral video, one bartender from Texas shared how he discovered the perfect opportunity to get even.
Tipping culture in the U.S. is full of landmines. It can be difficult to ascertain when it’s OK to tip a bartender, with some bartenders even going as far as stopping serving someone when they don’t tip.
If not tipping was bad enough, what’s even worse is when customers decide to yell at you, too. Still, TikToker and Texas-based bartender Pete (@pimpdaddypete_) offers a very simple solution to his problem.
In the video, which is accompanied by upbeat music, Pete spins what appears to be a bottle opener in slow motion as he looks to the camera.
On-screen text says, “When a non-tipper is yelling at me but they’re a non-tipper so I genuinely keep ignoring them.”
The video has amassed 520,800 views.
What Did Commenters Have To Say About Non-Tippers?
On the one hand, there were those who lambasted this approach.
“I don’t tip anymore because service are bad everywhere,” one commenter said with a smirking emoji.
“Just pour the drink and Sybau!” a second exclaimed. “Are you really that down bad for a $2 tip?”
Pete, in turn, replied to a couple of these commenters.
In response to one commenter, who said, “You are paid for a service still, just do your job,” Pete said, “I’m paid $2.13/hour. I’ll do my job alright, the quality of it will depend on you however.”
A fourth commenter wrote, “What great work ethic you have.” Pete replied by saying, “Your inability to tip has nothing to do with my work ethic. Go ask the great tippers about all the free drinks, deep convos and phenomenal service I provide!”
That being said, there were commenters on his side, too.
“‘I hate tipping culture.’ Gurl, tipping in the USA has been a thing for nearly a century,” a fifth pointed out. While a sixth added, “One day, y’all will realize if everyone stopped tipping, prices would raise dramatically to make up for their wage losses.”
What Did The Bartender Say?
In an Instagram direct message conversation with BroBible, Pete said, “I have lots of video ideas based off personal experiences, one of which being said video and it isn’t necessarily based off my experience with one specific customer, more-so lots of different customers in general when it comes to bartending because I feel too many other bartenders have similar experiences hence the comments I have agreeing with my video as well.”
He went on to say that he “expected the vid to get SOME traction” but is “fairly pleased with the numbers it’s done so far.” On the video’s reception, he said it “wasn’t anything shocking.”
“I already knew the kind of comments I’d see before I hit that ‘post’ button,” he said. “I actually like how now ppl can publicly view how others perceive their tipping standards.”
When asked if he thinks customers should always tip, he said yes—but with an important caveat. “I personally feel that my vid confused some people in regards to me ignoring a random customer for no reason when in reality I was implying it was a previous customer I’ve had who had stiffed me prior and I was ignoring them because the non tippers tend to be the entitled, rude ones,” he added.
“We all have our days where we’re in less than great moods & even on my worst days I don’t make it the customers issue because it’s not their fault I’m in the mood I’m in, hence why I think tipping should always be relevant because when I’m out, and get less than phenomenal service, I still tip, not as much as I would with said phenomenal service, but still something because I know how hard it can be.”
Should You Tip Bartenders?
In an interview with The Takeout, Kobayashi Bar founder Yu Jiang Zhao broke down exactly how to apply tipping etiquette correctly. And the truth is, it varies.
In short, he recommends tipping “one to two dollars per well drink, two to three on craft cocktails, and 20% of the total tab cost if it is the last one of the night.”
However, things can get complicated depending on what kind of bar you’re going to.
Yu continued, “At neighborhood bars with drinks for $7-$10, tipping per drink is clearer since percentages can be somewhat awkward here. At craft bars with drinks for $18, using percentages is more appropriate. Two dollars on $18 is simply too little.”
He added that tipping on individual drinks is “important” because bartenders “keep track of it.”
“Tipping the first round brings you additional and better drinks later,” he explained. “Tipping 20% on your tab at the end of the night is mathematically correct, but won’t give you the same treatment within the shift.”
Ultimately, he argued that tips are important because “tips become a big part of salary in many states.”