Customer sparks debate on TikTok after tipping waiter with AMAZON GIFT CARD instead of cash

A customer has sparked a fierce debate on TikTok after tipping a waiter with an Amazon gift card rather than cash.

Kaitlyn Lombera, 21, from California, US, was dining with her two siblings at the Ko Ryo Jung Korean BBQ restaurant when her brother Gustavo, 17, offered the alternative method of tipping – a £19 ($25 USD) voucher for the online retailer.

“He’s 17 so of course he’s not rolling around in money, when the bill came my sister paid on her card and he wanted to contribute so he asked if he could tip with an Amazon gift card,” Kaitlyn told Jam Press.

Their bill totalled £70.36 ($95.24) and Gustavo asked if he could tip using the gift card – something which Kaitlyn said made the waiter laugh.

Her older sister, Ashley, 23, ultimately ended up tipping the waiter between $15-20 in cash.

Kaitlyn shared a clip of the moment on TikTok, which was viewed more than 450,000 times and divided viewers in the comments section.

One person said: “As a waitress I would love it! Lol $25 that’s more than 20% too.”

“Better than the people who don’t tip at all,” another user commented.

Someone else added: “Sweet of him, who doesn’t appreciate a gift card.”

“Wouldn’t be a bad tip in my opinion,” another person said.

But someone else pointed out: “Imagine the waitress or waiter is anti-Amazon.”

“Please look up the definition of ‘tip’,” said another critic.

Someone else asked: “Why you gotta do that to him?”

But another user defended Gustavo, calling him a “generous fella”, while someone else said they would be fine with the tip if they could check the gift card balance first.

Credit: Jam Press/@kaittwest