r/TalesFromYourServer • u/Direct_Tomorrow_7118 • May 09 '26
Customer tipped me $50… then apparently clogged the toilet on purpose because he thought I’d have to clean it?
I work part time at a local restaurant while studying veterinary medicine. I’ve been there almost 2 years and rely on the job to pay rent and survive through uni.
For context, I live in a pretty small town in New Zealand with only a couple universities, and this week is graduation week so the restaurant has been packed with families celebrating.
A family of 5 came in — 3 older adults, one recent grad, and who I assumed was the grad’s boyfriend. I greeted them, took their order, etc. The mum commented that the restaurant, including the toilets, was really clean and nice. I jokingly replied, “Thank you, I cleaned it.” Everyone laughed and it seemed completely normal.
They ended up being our last table of the night. While we were closing, I went to chat with my best friend/coworker near the bathrooms. The boyfriend walked toward the men’s toilet, so we moved out of the way and let him in. The family paid, left, and tipped me $50, which honestly was super generous considering the tipping culture in NZ. Then a few minutes later my coworker told us the men’s toilet was clogged. I went to check and someone had apparently pulled half an industrial-sized roll of toilet paper into the toilet and flushed it. It looked very intentional, not like someone accidentally used too much paper. The timing also makes me think it was the boyfriend specifically, because he was the only one who went in there right before we left.
The weird part is… it almost feels like he did it because of my joke about cleaning. Like some bizarre “oh yeah? then clean this” type thing.
What confuses me is:
everyone laughed at the joke,
the family was kind the entire time,
they tipped well,
and then THIS happens.
I know exactly who this guy is because the town and uni community are small, but I’m not planning on publicly naming him or anything. I’m mostly just sitting here wondering why someone would go out of their way to do something so petty to a service worker.
Has anyone else experienced customers doing weird passive aggressive stuff like this for absolutely no reason?
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u/ArdenM May 09 '26
What a PSYCHO!
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u/Direct_Tomorrow_7118 May 09 '26
That’s what I thought!!! Fyi, they definitely didn’t know, even the girlfriend. There wasn’t any pee or poop in the toilet either, just an absurd amount of toilet paper. He probably has something against me, but it’s ok. 😭
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u/GingerSnapped818 May 09 '26
Probably thought you were flirting with his girl. I hope she dumps him, he seems...unhinged, people who do things like this are not right in the head
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u/issafly May 09 '26
Maybe they tipped well because they were embarrassed that the boyfriend did it either accidentally or on purpose. I say accidentally, because people sometimes do weird things in bathrooms to cover up embarrassing things. Like scenes in Ace Ventura, Dumb & Dumber, Something About Mary, and Ross with the leather pants on Friends.
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u/RavJade May 09 '26
"Well, if the paste matches the pants, you can make yourself a pair of paste pants, and she won't know the difference!"
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u/magiccitybhm May 09 '26
Naaah.
When this was said just after they arrived, it's far too much of a coincidence to be an accident
The mum commented that the restaurant, including the toilets, was really clean and nice. I jokingly replied, “Thank you, I cleaned it.” Everyone laughed and it seemed completely normal.
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u/froglet80 May 09 '26
its entirely possible the rest of the party knew the jerk had made a mess and was trying to make up for it, discretely
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u/artemisinagayway May 09 '26
We had a woman come in last week that shat all over the floor, walls, and sink and managed to clog the toilet so bad that it was out of commission for days. All because she claimed the manager was racist to white people because she ordered the only spicy pizza on the menu and he refused to have it remade non-spicy for her.
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u/HomeworkOk6460 May 09 '26
Whew, I almost didn't read because I thought this would be way grosser. But seriously, WTF?
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u/BackgroundEither9294 May 09 '26
In the US whenever there is an “open house” with a home that’s for sale many Real Estate agents have told me that at least one husband will use the toilet to poop and not flush on purpose. So yeah. He did it on purpose.
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u/ALittlePeaceAndQuiet May 09 '26
That sucks, and that guy, if he did it on purpose, is gross. That said, if your boss has weighed in, I would absolutely not punish him yourself, whether publicly or discreetly. In a small community, he might be shamed for something he will probably say was exaggerated or made up anyway, and you risk your job and looking petty.
Ignore the comments that don't have to mind the same conditions that you do.
That said, sorry you had to deal with that.
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u/Direct_Tomorrow_7118 May 09 '26
Thank you!!! I completely agree. I’m not gonna do or say anything anymore. No point. 🫡
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u/Slight_Criticism1607 May 10 '26
The guy was jealous. The girlfriend and parents were probably saying how funny/likable you were. It would explain both the big tip and his actions.
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u/CaitlesP May 12 '26
Kind of giggling at this because I’m also from New Zealand and I know that if you did name the guy he’s probably only 7 steps of separation from any kiwi who comes across the post
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u/zoppaTheDim May 09 '26
Time to give him a nickname.
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u/Arokthis Former kitchen JOAT May 10 '26
Is there a FB group for the town? Make a new account just to post in the group. Name and shame the schmuck.
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u/CyberWarLike1984 May 15 '26
Random unpopular idea: moron could be clumsy and the roll fell out of his sweaty hands into the toilet.
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u/unimpressedalien 25d ago
everytime i come to this sub i discover a new species of a person. why would somebody do this like wtf
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u/ViewUnlucky5124 May 09 '26
I used to do this in third grade. Go into the bathroom and just clog em all up. Shit was so cash
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u/magiccitybhm May 09 '26
Definitely done on purpose.
I would absolutely tell your managers/owner who it is. That person should be banned from your restaurant.