A $100 Bill Slip Up Turns Into An Awkward Tipping Moment
A simple tip turns into an unexpected standoff.
Sometimes the smallest moments turn awkward in seconds.
OP ordered food through a delivery app and, like usual, added an electronic tip through the app. But they also like to hand drivers a little extra in cash. It’s a personal habit. A way to give something directly to the person doing the work.
This time, OP planned to give an extra $5.
When the driver arrived, OP reached into their pocket and pulled out a crumpled ball of cash. At the front of that messy little wad was a $100 bill. The driver immediately saw it. His eyes lit up, and he started thanking OP before the money was even separated.
Then came the reveal.
OP unrolled the cash, pulled out the intended $5 bill, and handed it over. The $100 went back into the fold.
The driver’s mood shifted instantly. According to OP, he looked disappointed and offended. He said “no thanks” in a tone that felt more resentful than polite, then drove off.
Later, OP told a friend about the exchange. The friend didn’t laugh it off. Instead, he said OP should have just given the $100. He argued that flashing a large bill and then handing over $5 felt like dangling something bigger and taking it away. Since the money was balled up, he said the misunderstanding was OP’s fault.
Now OP is wondering if that moment came across worse than intended.
Was it an honest mix-up, or an accidental tease?
Scroll through the screenshots below to see the full story and decide for yourself.
Let’s dig into the details
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We gathered some interesting comments from the Reddit community
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“Your friend's an id*ot, saying you should give a massive tip just because you had the money there.”
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“Your friend is ridiculous. But next time maybe set the tip aside before the driver gets there.”
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“NTA. He was probably just embarrassed for assuming the tip was for him.”
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“NTA. You weren't obligated to give him the money just because he saw it and anticipated getting it.”
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“NTA - the driver was ungrateful especially if they were already receiving a tip electronically…”
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“NTA. I deliver for another service. That guy is a jerk. $5 PLUS what was tipped on the app is really generous.”
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“IMO it's kinda rude to look at someone else's cash, as a server at a restaurant.”
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OP planned to give a small extra tip and followed through on that plan. The driver reacted to what he thought he saw, not what was actually offered.
While it may have felt disappointing in the moment, no one is obligated to tip more simply because of a misunderstanding.
At the same time, public tipping situations can be sensitive, especially when expectations shift in seconds.
Do you think OP handled this fine, or should they have avoided the awkwardness differently? Share your thoughts in the comments.
