Audio By Carbonatix
There’s no doubt that being a server can be a challenging job. Mistakes will be made due to the high-pressure, fast-paced environment. As the most customer-facing workers in the establishment, servers will often be blamed for those mistakes—as a result, it may impact their pay. Therefore, sometimes servers feel pressured to lie in order to get a decent tip.
Eat This, Not That! notes that some common lies include telling the table they are still in training and blaming any mistakes on the kitchen. One New York-based server fessed up to telling a different lie entirely. And the payoff was huge. He says he got a 40% tip as a result.
Popular TikTok creator and server Dean Redmond (@deanredmonds) posts content about life in the restaurant industry, which he has worked in for eight years. In one of his latest viral videos, he recalls serving a group of unruly, rich customers. “Lie to the rich because I was just serving a 20-person table, and they’re instantly snapping at me,” he begins the video. The clip already has 2 million views.
When he approached the group to get their drink order, he says they ignored him. As soon as he started leaving, one of the members belittled him.
“I start walking away. This one is like, ‘You seriously walked all the way over here to not even get a drink order?’” the content creator recounts one of the women in the group saying. “[She] starts hysterically laughing as she says, ‘Not off to a good start.’”
But this was the tip of the iceberg of insults from the same woman throughout the entire service, Redmond says.
Trying to remain composed, he says he collected their drink and food orders. Once he retrieved the group’s menus, the woman remarked, “‘Try smiling next time. It might taste a little bit better.’”
It Gets Worse
After half an hour, Redmond says he served the customers their plates of food. “‘Careful, guys, the plates are hot,’” he says he warned.
However, the woman hurled an accusation. “‘Oh, I know microwave food when I see it!’” the woman allegedly screamed.
Then, he says he explained to her how this was the establishment’s method to preserve the food’s freshness.
“‘Are you trying to test my intelligence or something?’” The woman reportedly snapped, earning a chorus of laughter from some of the other women at the table. Frustrated, the content creator says he took back the food, dumped it onto new cold plates, and returned it to the group. These plates were met with approval.
“‘Oh, this is much better. We love fresh food,’” the server remembers one of the women saying.
At the end of his service, Redmond says he was still criticized despite his efforts to go above and beyond. “I’m clearing all of the plates. The same main woman is like, ‘You know, tonight wasn’t giving, what’s the word? Hospitality.’”
The Lie That Changed The Mood
Redmond thought of a lie that he felt would change the tune.
“‘I’m sorry, guys. My mom died a few days ago,’” he says he told the ladies. He notes that he made his voice crack, as if he were on the verge of tears.
“‘I just not have been myself,’” he says he told them.
While Redmond’s mother is, in fact, deceased, she died five years ago, according to the server’s Instagram account.
But Redmond’s decision to bend the truth turned out to be beneficial for him.
Immediately, Redmond says everyone was in shock, gasping and dropping their forks. Even the same woman who had disparaged him the entire time expressed sympathy.
“‘I’m sorry. That explains a lot. You shouldn’t be working,’” he says the woman told him.
“‘My mom always taught me to push through the hard times,’” he says he responded.
The lie tugged at their heartstrings, and he ended up receiving a large tip.
“They literally tipped me 40%,” he says. “The same mean woman slipped $20 in my apron and was like, ‘I’m sorry for being bitter.’”
The Lie Is Praised
Many praised Redmond for this trick.
“Genius. SERVING and teaching empathy. Love it,” one viewer applauded.
“You’re so smart for that !!!!” another agreed.
“Delicious. Immaculate. 10/10 lie of the year,” a third praised.
This inspired others to use real or made-up deaths of their loved ones to their advantage.
“See my [fiancé] died a few months ago, I’m gonna start using it,” one commenter stated.
“This is a good idea, gonna use this one next time some stranger is mean to me,” a second echoed.
How To Handle Difficult Customers In The Restaurant Industry
If you work in the restaurant industry, it’s inevitable you are going to run into a rude customer or two. If you don’t feel comfortable lying or exaggerating, there are several alternative methods you can use to tackle the situation. Toast recommends:
- Keeping your composure
- Listening to their concerns
- Apologizing even if you’re not the one at fault
- Offering solutions
- Expressing empathy
Not only will these lift their sour attitudes, but you may be rewarded with a decent tip. But if matters escalate, it’s best to get your manager involved.
BroBible reached out to Redmond via TikTok comment, direct message, and email.
Content shared from brobible.com.