It’s no secret that tips can significantly increase the amount of money a server brings home. But some customers get creative in their ways of thanking the waitstaff, and give them a car, for instance, or a cruise trip instead.
These are just a couple of real-life examples of the unconventional tips servers made. They shared it on the ‘Tales From Your Server’ subreddit after one user asked them what was the weirdest non-money tip they’ve ever received. Their answers ranged from heartwarming expressions of kindness to moments that might make one puzzled at best, each likely to be something they’ll never forget. Scroll down to find them on the list below.
#1
Not *weird* but...
A mom and her little girl had been in the WH I worked at and she left a tip for me. The little girl picked up the money from the table and ran to her mom saying she dropped it. The mom explained that she left it on purpose and when a server does a good job you leave something like that for them. The girl ran back to the table, put the money back, paused for a second and took a mini slinky out of her pocket and left it on the table. It was the cutest thing ever and I still have that slinky.
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244points
#2
I had some old ladies that were regulars who would would regularly ask about My life school etc. Well some bad things happened I ended up homeless. One day without knowing they asked to pray for me. I accepted and the next week I ended up with my own apartment! I moved in and saw the ladies the next week. They asked how I have been I told them the truth that I didn't want to disclose before but I was actually homeless when they decided to pray for me and now I have my very own place to live and it's very nice and I just moved in and I am very relieved. I thanked them for prayers and always believing in me. The next day I walked in and my boss was like, "These ladies came and brought this? "It was a big cardboard box with blankets , candles , curtains, tea,mugs, socks, water bottle , towels , a book, snacks, hat , gloves, and just all these things like you buy someone who just got a new house. I was so honored to receive something so kind as a housewarming gift from some people who really cared. All very cute stuff and extremely thoughtful
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230points
#3
I once served two dudes on a date, it was near Christmas, and one of them was telling me about their side business growing Christmas trees. Thought it sounded cool, but figured he was full of it cause he seemed a little off. Well, they stayed a long time, and all my other guests were gone, and one of them leaves and comes back with a MINI CHRISTMAS TREE! Like a live Christmas tree about a foot and a half tall. I'd told them my wife and I didn't have a tree for our first Christmas cause our apartment was so small, and he decided to make sure we had a tree
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161points
It’s no surprise that tips comprise a significant part of a waiter’s earnings. That’s why it’s customary, in the US at least, to leave a tip for a job well done. However, data reveals that even when a server is rude to the customer, some of the latter still choose to tip them.
A survey of 999 Americans from all over the country suggested that customers leave a roughly 20% tip for exemplary service or for when they receive some sort of a free item. On the other end of the clientele happiness scale, there’s a 5-7% tip left by people with less than a favorable experience.
#4
When I was bartending I had a couple that were regulars who very dramatically broke up their engagement. The next day the woman came in and ordered a drink from me, and after she finished it she paid then placed a huge Victoria’s Secret bag on the bar and told me that was my tip and left. The bag had her wedding dress in it and I had just gotten engaged! We were the same size and it was a gorgeous gown, literally the best tip I ever got
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151points
#5
I got a car.
It was a ‘93 ford escort wagon. It had a completely busted windshield and the registration had been long expired so I had to pay the back registration.
I asked a regular to give me their opinion on a station wagon I was looking at getting and he goes “you want a station wagon? I got one for you”
That car drove me 1,000 miles away and really changed my life. Thank you, Kevin.
It was a ‘93 ford escort wagon. It had a completely busted windshield and the registration had been long expired so I had to pay the back registration.
I asked a regular to give me their opinion on a station wagon I was looking at getting and he goes “you want a station wagon? I got one for you”
That car drove me 1,000 miles away and really changed my life. Thank you, Kevin.
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150points
According to a Finder’s survey, quality of the service is the main factor impacting the customers’ tipping the most. (Other important ones include the total of the check, the budget, and the type of establishment, respectively.) However, it also revealed that nearly half of the clientele says that they always leave tips.
#6
A Dryer. The restaurant was near Sears and they came in for lunch after purchasing a dryer. I, of course, asked about their day and they were excited about the deal/discount on the new dryer. I was happy for them and said, "That's Awesome! I have a washer but just a clothesline for drying. Maybe I'll check out Sears when I can." As I was presenting the check they said, "We've decided to give you our old dryer. It's 3 yrs old but works pretty well." The only stipulation was I had to go pick it up. But pretty sweet tip!
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130points
#7
I didn’t personally receive this tip, but it’s a cute story.
When I was in high school, my church took our youth group to a youth camp in Colorado every year. My youth pastor, a young guy who had just graduated college, always left a funny “tip” written on a napkin in addition to a couple bucks for the nice folks serving us meals. They were always something stupid like “don’t drive a convertible in the rain” “babies aren’t dishwasher safe” or something dumb like that, but he got a laugh from the waitresses about it. As the week goes along, a particular waitress starts serving out table more and more, collecting my youth pastor’s tips with a giggle every time. On one of the last days we were there, youth pastor writes “Tip: here’s my number, you should call me :)” on the napkin. Fast forward 8 years, and they’re happily married with two kids. Cutest thing I’ve ever seen
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124points
#8
Some old man who was a regular for me when I served breakfast left me a miniature squeaky pig toy. He told me her name was Princess Petunia.
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122points
With more and more things adjusting to the digital age, so do some of our habits, such as reading, communicating, and—you guessed it—tipping, just to name a few. Forbes revealed that the vast majority of people tend to tip more digitally than they do in real life. The numbers speak for themselves—73% of those surveyed reported leaving a tip at least 11% higher when they tip digitally compared with tipping in cash.
#9
Had an older gentleman gift me a Columbia winter coat a couple of weeks before he passed. He and his wife were regulars of mine and he knew I needed a coat. Offered it ahead of time because he was worried I might be offended. His wife came in to tell me the news and that she probably wouldn’t / couldn’t be coming anymore. I stopped working Sundays after that.
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119points
#10
It wasn't weird but shocking. There were a bunch of our happy hour couples going on a cruise. The one couples daughter was also going, who was around my age, didn't have anyone to hang with so they invited me. I thanked them but told them I could either afford the cruise or afford to take the week off, not both. Ten minutes later they called me over and told me they were going to pay for my trip. 7 days leaving out of Puerto Rico, 5 islands on a 13 story cruise trip. Most amazing anything I ever received from a regular.
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112points
#11
I know….. someone….. whose friend used to tip them in adderall back in the day. Also now I have a regular who periodically brings both albuterol and steroid inhalers (I’m prescribed the same in both) because she knows mine is $300/mo WITH insurance and she gets like 3/$15.
What a health care system we have.
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98points
Not all customers, clearly, are equally inclined to leave tips digitally; not all of them choose to leave money as tips to begin with, and this list is excellent proof of that. However, some of these instances are likely to be even better than the monetary expression, whether because they mean more than money would or because they are so wholesome a price tag would never do them justice.
#12
My best friend worked pizza delivery in highschool. It was a small town. Like 5000 people. There were these two retired guys who'd order every Wednesday and tip her with stuff from their garden. One time it was like a whole bunch of zucchini. I only know this because she came by my house and asked me to make her zucchini bread for her birthday. Then handed me her bag full of zucchini. I made 5 loaves out of that. One year was really bad and they didn't have anything in the garden. So she got tipped a bunch of leftover Halloween candy. Another time it was beer, this was right after the Superbowl so very fitting. These two dudes were always a surprise. This was about 10 or so years ago and I recently found out they both passed. W***y and Ron may you rest in peace.
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94points
#13
A decade ago in a midwestern college town, I had thyroid cancer. I worked for a bar and the owner threw a Service Industry Health Insurance party for me (that I worked). He said he would double the credit card tips. All in all, I made about 1 grand in cash tips and almost 4000 in credit card tips. The owner, completely flabbergasted, offered to match, rather than double and that was INCREDIBLY gracious. Nearly 10 grand in 1 night tending bar.
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87points
#14
One of my regulars at the bar brought me Chantix. We had previously discussed how she’d just quit smoking using it, and I said in passing that I’d love for my husband to try that but that we didn’t have health insurance so it’d be too expensive. (The cost of the doctor’s visit and prescription would be over $300.)
Next visit she showed up with a full prescription of Chantix. She’d gone to her doctor and said she needed another prescription and brought them to me for my husband.
He did quit smoking too.
84points
#15
I was new to serving, and gave a customer a $5 bill, a $1 bill, and some change for his $20.
The customer gave me the dollar and change, on a $13+ pizza, and told me, "If you'd have given me five more ones, I'd have given two more back to you. Always make it easy for the tipper to give you your 20%."
Weirdest non money tip ever. And it probably earned me more $$$ than anything else I was ever taught about waiting tables.
76points
#16
I guess it's not weird, but definitely the most lucrative: i got a card from einstein bagels for one free bagel every day for a year. The kicker was that it didnt include the cream cheese.
I happened to have an einstein's about 100 feet from my house. I bought a tub of cream cheese for my fridge and got that bagel every single day. At the time, a plain bagel was i think 90 cents. So i made at least 300 bucks from that tip.
71points
#17
A customer brought me a crock pot because I was talking about wanting one to make pot roasts
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71points
#18
I just got a free haircut & dye from a customer. Would’ve been $250… absolutely free. & she did a great job.
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71points
#19
Some new age woo woo lady left me Tibetan prayer bells once. They were actually pretty darn cool.
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70points
#20
Two tix to see The Temptations! It was a super sweet older couple. I was wowed. I took our dishwasher and had a great time.
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67points