AITA for not tipping on change?

r/

Around two years ago I stopped at a bar and asked for change for the cigarette machine. I hand the lady 20 dollars and she shorts my change by a few dollars (can’t remember the exact amount). So I say “You only gave me x amount, I gave you a twenty”. She got mad and assumed she earned a tip for getting me change? Eventually she gave me the rest of it but never in my life would I ever think to tip when asking for change. Thats shady imo what do you think?

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    Around two years ago I stopped at a bar and asked for change for the cigarette machine. I hand the lady 20 dollars and she shorts my change by a few dollars (can’t remember the exact amount). So I say “You only gave me x amount, I gave you a twenty”. She got mad and assumed she earned a tip for getting me change? Eventually she gave me the rest of it but never in my life would I ever think to tip when asking for change. Thats shady imo what do you think?

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    Welcome to /r/AmITheAsshole. Please view our voting guide here, and remember to use only one judgement in your comment.

    OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:

    > I didnt tip someone
    I assumed you dont leave a tip when you need exact change back.

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  3. Merivel1 Avatar

    NTA. Even if tipping for giving change was a thing — which it most decidedly is NOT — you don’t unilaterally decide to tip yourself in the process. Absolutely insane on all fronts.

  4. chubbyflip Avatar

    NTA
    Sounds like she was trying to steal from you. Automatically tipping yourself is theft. I can’t believe she wanted to be tipped for such a basic task all cashiers perform.

  5. H_Lunulata Avatar

    NTA

    That’s more of a WTF situation. Realistically, she was hoping you weren’t counting.

    Tipping has to end. We’re supposed to be civilized.

  6. Some_Release2350 Avatar

    NTA. Even if it was a mathematical error on her part, all you did was correct it.

  7. missbehavin21 Avatar

    I thought cigarette machines were illegal as the machine has trouble carding the kids. Please tell me is there a cigarette machine in 2025?

  8. missbehavin21 Avatar

    It’s easier for an 18 year old to get pot than cigarettes. Where is there a cigarette machine in this day and age?

  9. Fiempre-sin-tabla Avatar

    ESH:

    – The bar for underpaying bartenders so they have to rely on tips to make a living.

    – The government for letting them do it.

    – The bartender for trying to extract a tip from non-tippable work.

    – You for supporting the monstrous tobacco industry and wrecking your health and endangering others with cigarettes.

  10. kountapla Avatar

    This culture of tipping has gone too far. Soon I’ll be asked for a tip just for explaining to me how to get somewhere, or opening a door for me, or letting me sit on the train instead of them. You can’t imagine how much fun it is to visit countries like Australia and Japan where tipping is not customary. And you don’t have to try to figure out how much you need to tip and why

  11. Disastrous_Patience3 Avatar

    You’re asking this dumb question 2 years later?

  12. GoCardinal07 Avatar

    NTA. Tips are for actual service (e.g. waiter/waitress, driver, bellhop, housekeeper). Making change is not that.

  13. HeatherM74 Avatar

    NTA – one doesn’t tip on change. I bartend and people have tried and I always say it’s not necessary but I appreciate the thought and gently push it away. I do the same for a glass of water. (If they order 15 which takes more time to do and offer a $1 or $2 I’ll take it. My water gun is so slow and it takes the same amount of time as a few drinks and slows me down when I’m busy. Never ever expect it.)

  14. Cheebs1976 Avatar

    That’s kinda cheezy. Are you in a city?

  15. nasnedigonyat Avatar

    That’s called shorting. It’s a thief tactic not someone genuinely believing they’re owed a tip.

    She was a thief. Good on you for calling her out and demanding the cash in full.

    NTA. She is

  16. ButItSaysOnline Avatar

    NTA that’s crazy.

  17. DynamicHunter Avatar

    That’s not tipping, that’s theft. She tried to steal from you. Whenever you get change verbally tell the person how much you are giving them and have them repeat it before handing it over. Even harmless mistakes happen when people accidentally think you gave them a 10 instead of a 20. This person wasn’t harmless and did it on purpose though.

  18. BilboBigBaguette Avatar

    NTA….BUT, the thing is, this isn’t actually about tipping on change. She simply was trying to steal from you and used that as an excuse when she was caught. But now here we are, debating tipping culture again. Sigh.