Question. How many times have you used your credit card? It doesn’t look new to me. The stripe and your signature is faded. SO why the fuck would you take the MERCHANT COPY? Do you not understand by now that the merchant copy is the one you sign and leave for the server? Do you not also know that when you don’t tip at all, we servers have to PAY to serve you? It’s called tipping out. We tip out to the hostess, bar tender, and kitchen staff. If the service isn’t great, don’t leave a huge tip. But don’t be a selfish jerk and not tip at all. You clearly have enough money to tip if you are eating out at a nice restaurant. And if you don’t have enough money to leave a tip, then chances are you don’t have enough money to eat out.
Oh, and for all the Europeans/tourists who are visiting, tip is NOT included in the bill unless it says so on the bill! So tip your servers!! Most of them work really hard to make your experience a good one. All we ask for is a little appreciation.
ALSO! It is illegal to smoke on restaurant Patio’s! I know it’s hard to understand for Europeans, but it is the law! And that means you and the restaurant gets FINED. So please respect our laws!
JEEZ.
This article appears in Jul 3-9, 2008.
So, this is a little off-topic, but since it came up can anyone tell me why it makes a difference if I leave the customer copy or the merchant copy? And why does the customer copy have my credit card number ******ed out when the merchant copy has the whole thing there for someone who’s disgruntled with poor tips to rip off? Once you swipe the card, it’s authorized for the total of the bill, what do you need my card number for anymore? I notice that a lot of places have the number blanked out on both copies anyway, but if not, i usually leave the customer copy (with Tip included) just because the credit card number is hidden.
Awesome, another waitstaff person pissed off about how fucked up the system works w/tipping. Look, now that you’ve figured it out either suck it the fuck up or move on to a job in the mall for min. wage and no tips. BTW, I don’t think any tourists are reading this. Why don’t you explain it at your table(s) whenever foreign speaking customers sit down, okay? See how that goes over.
Miles – it all depends on the agreement between the card processor and the business. Leaving the card number on the merchant copy makes it easier to look up the transaction in the event of a dispute (ie. questionable use of card, etc) but also means the business needs to keep those copies safely locked away. Those who block out their copy can file it away in a non-secure manner. Your copy is blocked out since most people aren’t real careful with their debit/CC sales slips.Just because the number appears on the slip doesn’t mean it can be used again, that could only be done if the clerk took the time to write down the 4-digit code now appearing on each card. A server would be stupid if they believed a customer wouldn’t notice an additional charge against their card.Hope this answers your question.
Right. Why is it the customer’s concern how your tipping system works. Really. I don’t care. Don’t like how the system works where you are? Work someplace else. I will tip MY MONEY if I’ve enjoyed the service I’ve gotten. If I can afford the price listed on the menu, I can afford to eat out. I will tip IF: I get good wait service and the food was good. Otherwise, you’ll have to write up another whiny ass bitch about how what you signed on for is hitting your pocket book.
I think the point AS was trying to get across is that if they don’t get any tip at all, they lose money. Tip out happens at all restaurants – so switching jobs wouldn’t help the situation. To cranky – how would working in the mall for min wage and no tips help out the situation? dumb response. I personally wouldnt dream of taking someones credit card number from a slip and buying things. plus you would have to know the expiry date and that three digit code. if this server works at a nice restaurant, they dont need your credit card, they just dont want to be ripped off by people who are too big to tip for the service. Those people perhaps have been sheltered by rich parents and lived a selfish and spoiled lifestyle and didnt have to get a part time job paying minimum wage to pay for college and all their bills. must be nice. ass holes.
Well said cranky and Elvis Q. If I am not happy with my experience, I will not tip. That’s the way it goes. Nobody is required to tip. You want tips? Make sure you’re doing a great job as a server. If you don’t like that you are not receiving the tips you want, find another job.
what about for those of us who honestly, most of the time, can’t afford to tip or tip that well? I try, but most of the time? I’ve saved up a bit or alloted a certain amount of money to treat myself to a nice meal out or a couple of drinks with friends once in a blue moon. I HATE it when people say if you can’t afford to tip well, you can’t afford to eat out!!! I CAN afford the items, and tips are that extra little something nice- I’d LIKE to be able to leave something, and I always try to leave at least a little….and if I know it’s a pretty bad tip, I will smile at the server and say ‘I wish I could tip more..but,,,’ (that is if it was good service. if not this is all a moot issue). Half the time that’s fine; a lot of servers understand being broke. but have I ever gotten glares from people sometimes too!
Who came up with this bullshit of ‘tipping out’ anyways? Whatever happened to just being able to slip your server a little something extra when they did a really good job? Instead, now we are expected to tip whether the service was excellent of piss poor!
It does take away from the intent of a tip. However, I’m sure its an effective method of insuring your employee’s provide the service that’ll bring the customers back in the door. See any complaint on here about Hooters and you’ll know what I mean.I can also see if the wait staff splits the tips with the kitchen staff, why should a chef who prepared really good food lose out due to bad servers?Don’t get me wrong, I’m not for tipping out. I’m conflicted on this issue and glad I am not a server really.
“Tipping Out” provides a fund to cover dine&dashers and also to partially finance staff parties.
I think tips should not be taxed, should not be expected and servers should not have to count on them as part of their income. With all that said, the restaurant staff (and not necessarily the management) can decide how to split up the money that comes in from tipping. It’s a custom that has gotten a little out of control. If the tip is that important as a source of revenue then make it automatic, add it to my bill and then everyone will know what to expect, what to pay, and then we can all finally shut up about it.
When did tips become mandatory?? I worked as a waitress & the tip was a luxury, a sign of a job well done. I personally took 10% off the top to the cook. if I pulled in over 100$ he got 20%. My rule of thumb- If u suck as a waitress/waiter then you get 0$ plan and simple; i f it was ok – u get 5$; if it was fantastic u get 10$ if u blew my mind – 15$ If the tip was included on the bill; your service would address to the owner./manager before I pay. SO if u are not receiving tips u feel u should be, then have a look at the level of service u are providing- easy as that . the MERCHANT COPY, I will take what ever copy that shows my cc number. *FYI places that have them xx on both copies– have no problems when tracing credit card transactions if need be … Give me a hard time about it, I will take my tip back.
unfotunately miles, you have to tax tips. SOme people dont make as much as others on tips, but what about them girls that worked at some of the clubs that i played? They cleared $400 a night, 5 nights a week. That puts them into a tax bracket a few notches higher than me. WHile most dont make them numbers in this province, there are chicks at them downtown clubs which are pulling in 3 figures nightly. Add that to the pay, they are clearing $50/ hr in some cases. If i cant make $50/hr tax free, why should they?