When Money Flies: How a Bartender’s Petty Revenge Taught a Rude Regular a Lesson
Every bartender has a story, but few serve up justice as satisfyingly as the one shared by u/TheWorldExhaustsMe on Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge. It’s the kind of tale that makes every service worker nod in solidarity and every decent human being cringe at the memory of “that guy” at the bar—the one who believes a tip is a myth and human decency optional. What happens when a rude regular finally gets a taste of their own medicine? Spoiler: it’s as delicious as a perfectly poured pint.
Pull up a stool, and let’s dive into a story where loose change, flying coins, and the golden rule all collide on a sticky dance bar countertop.
The Rude Regular: A Service Industry Fable
Picture this: a bustling dance bar, music thumping, drinks flowing, and a bartender just trying to keep up with the Friday night chaos. Enter the regular—every bartender’s least favorite kind. He orders his usual drink, never tips, and instead of handing over his cash like a functioning member of society, he tosses his bills at the bartender. Then, in a move worthy of a George Costanza meltdown, he parks himself right in front of the bar, blocking everyone else from ordering.
As u/TheWorldExhaustsMe (OP) put it, “I felt like George Costanza yelling ‘we’re living in a society here!’” The frustration is palpable, and anyone who’s ever worked behind a counter or bar can relate.
But on one particularly hectic night, OP had enough. When the regular performed his signature money toss, OP responded with a masterstroke of petty revenge: “I pulled out his change and whipped it down toward the counter so all the coins bounced up and flew in multiple directions. He had to scramble to pick it up amidst the flying feet on the dance floor.” The result? The regular learned his lesson—he stopped coming to OP’s side of the bar entirely.
The Service Industry Strikes Back
The post struck a nerve with Redditors, many of whom recounted their own tales of customer comeuppance and solidarity among service workers. One of the top comments by u/ugly_girl_doll brought the house down: after a regular whistled and threw money at her, her gut reaction was to throw the drink right back—vodka soda and all. “Worth it,” she declared, proving that sometimes, the best tip is a splash of icy justice.
Others had their own strategies for dealing with chronic non-tippers and cash-throwers. u/clubfuckinfooted described pouring a puddle of grenadine on the bar before returning a non-tipper’s change, forcing them to fish sticky coins from the mess. “Watching them struggle to pick up a sticky quarter and then clean it off was my petty revenge,” they wrote—an image that’s as sweet as it is sticky.
There’s a shared recognition that these small acts of rebellion aren’t just about the money—they’re about dignity. As u/Sensitive_Display_73 put it, “Anyone who just threw their money onto the bar when paying got their change thrown back onto the bar in front of them. Every. Single. Time.” And with bar managers apparently encouraging this behavior, it’s clear that the service industry has its own unofficial code of honor.
Why Do People Treat Service Workers Like This?
The big question: why are some customers so rude to the very people standing between them and their good time? As u/Bayner1987 lamented, “The fact that engaging with someone positive is rare enough that it is the exception says (to me, anyways) that people are horrible when they think they can get away with it.” Many echoed the sentiment that the anonymity of a crowd—or a bar—brings out the worst in some.
There’s a fascinating psychology at play. Some customers, like the regular in OP’s story, seem to perform their rudeness as a twisted power move, perhaps hoping others will witness their dominance. As u/likeablyweird speculated, “He was doing the power move and turning to the audience to see if someone (probably one in particular) saw how people scramble to do what he wants.”
But the service industry is nothing if not resourceful. Bartenders and servers develop subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways to push back, from deprioritizing bad tippers (as several veteran bartenders in the thread confirmed) to matching customers’ energy with a carefully calibrated dose of pettiness.
The Golden Rule (and Why It Matters)
Beneath the flying coins and sticky quarters, there’s a simple message: respect service workers. Not just because “they’re in between you and that thing you want,” as OP wisely noted, but because—brace yourself—they’re actually human beings.
As the thread’s commenters pointed out, tipping isn’t just about money; it’s about acknowledging hard work and basic decency. “Never EVER be obnoxious to the bartender,” warned u/delulu4drama. “You’ll learn what 86’d means…” (For the uninitiated, that’s bar lingo for “you’re outta here, pal.”)
And if you think your behavior goes unnoticed? Think again. Bartenders and servers have memories like steel traps. As u/BadAszChick explained, regulars who tip well get served first, while chronic non-tippers become “invisible.” As one commenter summed up: “Throw your money at me every time? How about I throw your drink right back to you if we can’t pass it on the bar like normal people?”
The Last Call: Lessons from the Bar
The next time you order a drink, remember: a little respect goes a long way. Whether it’s handing over your money politely, leaving a tip, or simply treating your bartender like a fellow human, you’re not just buying a beverage—you’re investing in good karma.
And if you ever feel the urge to toss your cash or whistle for service, just remember the fate of the regular who had to scramble for coins on the dance floor. In the words of one wise commenter, “Service workers deal with so much unnecessary disrespect, and sometimes the only way to teach someone is to mirror their attitude right back.”
So, cheers to the bartenders, baristas, servers, and all the service workers who keep the world—and the drinks—flowing. Got your own story of petty (or not-so-petty) revenge? Share it below—because in the world of service, what goes around really does come around.
What’s the best (or worst) customer behavior you’ve witnessed? Let us know in the comments!
Original Reddit Post: You get what you give