Restaurants asking for tips to be left in cash

[ua_guy]

I can't imagine ever walking out of my house without cash in my wallet.

This is a habit I picked up here, or within a short time of joining here. "Emergency cash" --I can't count how many times it's saved the day for me or someone else.

On cash tipping, makes sense. It's not my responsibility if it never gets reported as income and I generally think wait/bus staff at restaurants are marginalized by wage laws, so, they do what they need to do.

[myrdale]

This is a habit I picked up here, or within a short time of joining here. "Emergency cash" --I can't count how many times it's saved the day for me or someone else.

On cash tipping, makes sense. It's not my responsibility if it never gets reported as income and I generally think wait/bus staff at restaurants are marginalized by wage laws, so, they do what they need to do.

Technically I guess I am not completely cashless. I do maintain about $250 which I keep in my truck, for emergencies. I think I've only used it once due to a gas station's card system being down. Also on occasion I will pull $20 out for the Shriner's collecting money or girl scout cookies (non-emergencies).

[ua_guy]

Technically I guess I am not completely cashless. I do maintain about $250 which I keep in my truck, for emergencies. I think I've only used it once due to a gas station's card system being down. Also on occasion I will pull $20 out for the Shriner's collecting money or girl scout cookies (non-emergencies).

Another good point. I keep a separate stash in each vehicle too. Never know when I might be separated from my wallet and/or need to fill the tank by paying cash.

[disneysteve]

What would you do if the restaurant automatically charged a gratuity as in let's say parties of 10 or more automatically assessed an 18% tip? Or as in my case last night at my Indian casino for a party of just myself when I checked the bill tip was automatically assessed.

I think it's quite common for the tip to be added automatically for parties of 6 or 8 or more. I've never seen it added for 1 or 2 people. And I have seen times where it wasn't clearly stated so it's always important to check the bill before you sign off. Also, if you're in a larger group but getting separate checks, they may still add the tip to each individual check because they treat the table as one party.

[ua_guy]

A local restaurant just added a 3% "wellness charge" to each bill to support providing health insurance benefits and sick time to their employees. Each table has a little printed tent advertising this new practice.

What say ye? The price of a burger there is already $15.00. Why not just quietly increase prices and make the burger $15.45 instead? Would you tip the same or less (to include the added 3%).

Me, I gladly pay the charge and still tip well (provided nothing about the service was terrible). Again, the food service industry and wage laws concerning the same leave a lot to be desired. But I'm sure some people are miffed about it and probably leave nasty notes on receipts or short the tip.

[disneysteve]

A local restaurant just added a 3% "wellness charge" to each bill to support providing health insurance benefits and sick time to their employees. Each table has a little printed tent advertising this new practice.

What say ye? The price of a burger there is already $15.00. Why not just quietly increase prices and make the burger $15.45 instead? Would you tip the same or less (to include the added 3%).

Me, I gladly pay the charge and still tip well (provided nothing about the service was terrible). Again, the food service industry and wage laws concerning the same leave a lot to be desired. But I'm sure some people are miffed about it and probably leave nasty notes on receipts or short the tip.

I think that's an awful practice - not the providing insurance, that part's great - but pointing it out like that. Customers shouldn't be getting an itemized bill for anything other than the food they ordered. The owner's costs of doing business should be built into the prices charged.

I think making a big deal about it like this can just irritate customers. It would be far better to include that cost in the food costs and then advertise, "We provide health insurance for all of our employees."

And no, it wouldn't affect how much I tip either way.

ETA: I also have a problem with the restaurant doing this in this way. They should be doing the right thing because it's the right thing, not to wave it in the customers' faces for recognition. That's just obnoxious.

[scfr]

Another good point. I keep a separate stash in each vehicle too. Never know when I might be separated from my wallet and/or need to fill the tank by paying cash.

I'm another in the "always have some physical cash on hand just in case" camp. I always have a bit in my wallet, and a bit more at home. But I'd never thought of keeping some in my vehicle … until now! I just set a $30 on top of my purse and I'm going to stash it in my car when I head out today. I can get pretty far on $30 worth of gas (hybrid driver). Thanks for the tip myrdale and ua_guy

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[LivingAlmostLarge]

Do you guys not worry about car prowls? My neighbors have lost a lot of money through car prowls. one even had his car stolen because he accidentally left the keys inside. I don't leave crap in my car. And on a funny note the other day I have the sensor key for my toyota sienna in my pocket.I hope into another sienna. As I am sitting down I realize this is not my car. I hope out totally embarrassed but realizing that person obviously didn't lock her doors. Not like the car would have started but still!!!

[ua_guy]

Do you guys not worry about car prowls? My neighbors have lost a lot of money through car prowls. one even had his car stolen because he accidentally left the keys inside. I don't leave crap in my car. And on a funny note the other day I have the sensor key for my toyota sienna in my pocket.I hope into another sienna. As I am sitting down I realize this is not my car. I hope out totally embarrassed but realizing that person obviously didn't lock her doors. Not like the car would have started but still!!!

Valid point. It should not be kept where it could attract visual attention or where it could be easily grabbed by a prowler.

If someone were to prowl my car, they probably wouldn't find the cash.

[Thrif-t]

^ I only keep $10 in my car and I have a garage so I'm not worried about anyone breaking in it.

[~bs]

I think criminals tend to target older beatup cars with less chances of security features for smash and grabs or thefts. There's much lower hanging fruit than cars with electronic locks/ignition and alarms and maybe gps.

[moneybags]

I think criminals tend to target older beatup cars with less chances of security features for smash and grabs or thefts. There's much lower hanging fruit than cars with electronic locks/ignition and alarms and maybe gps.

In our neighborhood, cars that are unlocked are targeted. We have a lot of neighbors that leave items worth stealing in plain view & don't lock their cars. It's an easy grab-n-go for a criminal.

[disneysteve]

In our neighborhood, cars that are unlocked are targeted. We have a lot of neighbors that leave items worth stealing in plain view & don't lock their cars. It's an easy grab-n-go for a criminal.

Stealing is absolutely wrong but I have zero sympathy for idiots who leave their cars unlocked and have things stolen from them. There was a string of thefts in our neighborhood last year and everyone was all worked up but it turned out the thieves didn’t break in to a single car. They just walked down the street and checked for unlocked cars and when they found one, opened the door and removed the stuff from inside. You might as well leave the door open with a “free stuff” sign in the windshield.

[QuarterMillionMan]

[disneysteve]

QMM is that at a place in the casino? If so, I guess they get stiffed a lot. People want to save their money for gambling so probably tip poorly or not at all.