Should I Have Tipped $35 on a $105 Mani Pedi? AITA or WITA?

Some people treat tipping like a simple math problem, but this mani pedi story turns it into a full-on cash-register showdown. A $105 service, a $150 bill, and suddenly one customer is asking strangers if they accidentally stiffed someone.

The OP says the nail job was uneven and not going to last two weeks, but they still handed over $150 and requested $10 back. Instead of just counting out the change, the nail tech allegedly tried to argue the amount was not enough to cover the service, then fumbled with the register, handed back only a dollar, and made little effort to find the rest.

By the time OP grabbed the $50, left a $5 on the table, and walked out, the question was no longer “was the tip too low?” It was “who made it weird first?”

Original Post

I got a mani pedi. It came to 105.

He did an ok job, its uneven and is definitely not going to last 2 weeks. Whatever.

I gave the guy 150 and asked for 10 back. He showed me the money and said 'but you only gave this' and tried to confuse me into thinking it wasn't enough to cover the service.

I looked at him and said, its 150, the service was 105. Please give me 10 back.

He fumbled with the cash register and gave me one dollar. Then didn't make many effort to get the other 9.

I snatched the 50 rudely, put it in my wallet, put a 5 on the table and walked out. Is 35 too low of a tip for a mani pedi?

No one's complained before about it. Have i been ripping them off?

Im confused and really have no idea if i pulled a double a*****e move or if the guy was the a*****e.

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This $35 tip argument feels like the same kind of tension as the cousin who skipped a wedding to exclude their same-sex partner.

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The whole mess starts when OP gives $150 for a $105 mani pedi and asks for $10 back like it’s no big deal.

Then the guy shows the money and tries to confuse OP into believing the payment does not cover the service.

After the fumbled register moment, OP gets back only a dollar, and the tech doesn’t seem to rush to fix it.

OP snaps up the remaining $50, leaves a $5 behind, and leaves the salon wondering if they just pulled a double a-hole move.

What's your opinion on this situation? Join the conversation!

Nobody wants to be the villain in a tipping dispute, especially when the register only comes back with one dollar.

For another family blowup, see why this bride excluded her critical sibling from the wedding.