Server gets $0 tip on $70 tab. Then she realizes their kid left something behind

A server says that a table left her a $0 tip on a $70 tab. But she got a little bit of revenge by ending up with something important to one of the guests.

In a video with more than 423,000 views, TikToker Notisa (@_isahatesu) tells her audience that a table didn't leave anything behind for her, other than a cheap but potentially sentimental Pokémon card.

“I had a table take me $0 on 70, but their kid left his Pokémon card at the table,” she says. “ So that … card is mine. It's not even that cool of a card. It's… I don't care. It's mine now.”

Commenters offer takes on the missing tip

In the comments section, viewers said they've had similar experiences. But some managed to take action despite receiving marginal sums.

“[I] had a party leave $5 on a $900 tab and left a mess on top of it. I made them clean it up … [They] were upset but [I] didn't gaf,” one commenter said.

Another viewer said, “Some lady tipped me $2 but left her nice metal credit card. I'm gonna give it to a homeless person.”

Other viewers said they wished they threw away customers' items when they were left on the table instead of being generous.

“Got tipped $3 on a $170 check and grandpa left his teeth on the table,” one viewer added. “[But] me being a good person saved them, and when he came back for them, he didn't even thank me. [I] should have thrown them away.”

The ethics of keeping a table's items

Based on online accounts, servers aren't completely against keeping items that are left on the table, as long as those items aren't especially valuable. When someone loses an iPhone, keys, or wallet, servers usually reserve those items in a lost and found, regardless of tip.

However, there are situations where servers have kept more expensive items or made sure customers don't get their possessions back.

BroBible recently covered a situation wherein a server served dine-and-dashers. One of the teens left their phone behind, so the server waited until their parent tried to pick it up. The restaurant refused to return it, until the cops showed up and they took the server's side.

In other situations, servers might throw away items that customers leave behind rather than keeping them. A server named Gil Cano told his audience that he trashes items left at the table if customers leave bad tips.

Some commenters seemed to take Cano's approach.

“I've thrown away car keys, and prescription glasses,” one viewer said.

Other viewers, however, didn't see the point in throwing away customers' items.

“Threw away replaceable items and you still got $0 tip,” a viewer responded.