Stiffing

[stabn]

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stinky - IMO, him asking if I wanted singles is the same as him asking if I planned on leaving a tip. This to me was a display of exceptionally bad manners.

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I guess i can see taking it that way but maybe you already have 1s or maybe you already left one on the table. Maybe they are low on 1s and if you have them he'd rather give you a five. I just don't think that question means what you feel it means.

[ZOMG_RIGGED!]

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Restaurants in America are set up for tipping. They are paid far below minimum wage because of the fact that they make money from tips. If tipping didn't exist, stuff on the menu would cost approximately 15% more to make up for it. What would you do then, not go out to eat?

You are freeloading on the system.

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This what I've never understood about the tipping system. a tip is supposed to be optional and used for good service. If the tip is required or expected why the [censored] dont you just add it in the cost of the meal? Why does it matter if the food is 15% more expensive or if I'm expected to "tip" 15%? By calling a tip and leaving it optional all you do is let people get around it. seems retarded to me.

[martijn]

so you guys still tip even if they messed it up badly?
do you still pay if you payd a garage to paint your car red and you got it back yellow instead?

[ZOMG_RIGGED!]

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Deleted my post as I was rereading what you said because I'm not quite sure how you're picturing it all happening. My take was that they had ordered 3 drinks, 3 times and were paying with cash without tipping.

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Does it really matter how and when you're going to tip? Ask for a tip is pretty stupid

[NT!]

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This what I've never understood about the tipping system. a tip is supposed to be optional and used for good service. If the tip is required or expected why the [censored] dont you just add it in the cost of the meal? Why does it matter if the food is 15% more expensive or if I'm expected to "tip" 15%? By calling a tip and leaving it optional all you do is let people get around it. seems retarded to me.

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The tipping system has a couple of benefits.

For the server, it means better service = more money, generally speaking. It rewards better performance.

On a practical level, servers get to keep much more of their money because they pretty much never report all their cash tips on their taxes. If it's a wage, it's a different story.

The difficulty, as you pointed out, is that making it 'optional' allows people to get around it. But most good servers will tell you they do much better than 15% on the average meal, so simply setting it in stone at 15% would hurt them and help lousy servers. It's the same reason that casinos where dealers pool tips pretty much always have worse dealers - no incentive not to suck.

[ZOMG_RIGGED!]

Not exactally. In some areas there arent a lot of choices were to play, or you choose better games over better dealers. Theres always some where better to eat. If the tip is expected it is no sort of reward. Peopl ein this thread said they still tip 15% even iwth bad service. Tipping is in no way a reward anymore. Its expected.

Sounds to me like the only reason to have a tipping system is so you dont have to report all of it as income. I have no problems with fraud on general terms, but ifyou're tryin gto avoid reporting income who are you to complain when someone does live up to their end of the scam? Just consider the lost tip what you should have been paying in taxes anyway?

[Tony_P]

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Tonyp,

Explain to someone who rides in a cab like twice a year exactly what's going on here. If he doesn't hit the stop button can he pocket the cash without giving any to his taxi pimp, or does he just not think you'll tip him if you pay with credit?

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They pay a 5% processing fee on CC transactions, including the tip. Most taxi drivers, however fail to understand what the restaurant industry has understood for years, that people will spend more and tip more if able to use credit cards.

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what's up with the cabbies not telling you the CC reader works? does it mean they have to report tips and thus pay taxes? do they hate the hassle? or do they just find that people have an easier time stiffing if they're just signing a slip?

BTW, whenever i pay by CC i tip in cash if at all possible for this exact reason. industry people who are observant will appreciate it.

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I assume it's also because they don't want to report the tips. FWIW, I always tip 20% when paying by credit card in cabs. (when they don't lie) The touch screen makes it easy. You don't have to sign or anything with the new system. Touch "credit", swipe your card, then select how much to tip. If I am paying a cab fare with cash, I round up and add $2, so they are definitely making more money off of me with CCs

[Toro]

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stinky - IMO, him asking if I wanted singles is the same as him asking if I planned on leaving a tip. This to me was a display of exceptionally bad manners.

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I think you might be reading too much into this. He might have been low on singles but didn't want to just give you a fiver and jeopardize the waitress not getting a tip if you didn't have any singles.

[Thug Bubbles]

This is known within the restaurant world as poor form. Same goes for a waiter that asks if you want change. The guy could have been innocent about it, but usually it's not the case.

[Toro]

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This is known within the restaurant world as poor form. Same goes for a waiter that asks if you want change. The guy could have been innocent about it, but usually it's not the case.

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Asking if you need change is much different imo. I still think that the guy would just give him 5 singles so he would have the opportunity to tip unless he was short on ones.