Common practice for restaurant servers to keep change without asking? (credit cards, washer)
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This just happened to me today. It was only $.40, but it was MY $.40. Then someone with me, I guess because her change was more than $.50, she got more back, so I guess they just do not bother with coins. I guess the restaurant thinks that comes out even. Well, maybe for them, but it is NOT fair to the customers. I assumed it was the restaurant, and not the server. I think, from now on, when I go to that restaurant, I will use plastic, then they won't have to bother with coins. This just blows my mind, the fact that they keep money without asking. One person in our party said that is what a lot of restaurants do now, so I think I will be using my debit card from now on.
I have had a server keep my change twice in the past month at two separate restaurants. I frequently eat out (probably once for lunch and once for dinner each week which is frequent in my opinion.) and have never had this happen. When I say the server kept my change they kept the coins e.g. bill was $12.82 and I received $7.00 in change. Granted it's only 18 cents but it ticked my off both times because of the fact that it's money owed to me and not the server's decision. The restaurants shall remain nameless but they are both your average everyday restaurant. The first time I never saw the server again after she brought my change so I couldn't ask her about the rest of my change so I had to leave a note explaining why she got the tip that she did (Her tip was the change that she willingly kept.). The second time was during lunch at a different restaurant. I was able to ask him about my change and he acted surprised that I wanted it but willingly reached into his pocket to give it to me. Even though it did tick me off I wasn't rude or angry at the server but I inquired if this was a common practice. His response was every server he knew did that and it was common practice. I told him the practice could be considered theft and that even though he was a decent server and provided good service I couldn't leave him a tip more than what he felt he was deserving. His tip was 27 cents.
Again, I understand it's "only 27 cents" but dammit it's MY 27 cents. And yes, I understand servers depend on tips as their salary. Fine, I'm good with that and normally tip 20% for good service. But I do not agree with this new to me trend of servers keeping the change.
Thoughts?
If the server keeps the change without asking he/she has already determined the size of the tip!
I've never had this happen anywhere I've been too, though if it did, I would be furious. It is my money until I leave it on the table for you to take as a tip. If a waiter/waitress were to do this, I'd be talking with a manager about it, and if the manager didn't want to do anything about it, I would be going up the chain of managers until something was done. While there is a good chance that you are getting that change in your tip anyway, you don't take without permission.
I usually pay with plastic but it is your money. If you were going to leave a cash tip, you would probably leave an even amount like 5 dollars and pocket the change.
That is 'assuming' rather then 'stealing', in my mind, but it still isn't right. You shouldn't have to question that. Needing to question that is inconveniencing you. The payment process should be as simple as possible for the patron, rather then the server.
I would simply shave my tip down a dollar and call it even. I wouldn't get upset over that.
We had it happen once in the PNW. A server owed us something like $10 change that she did not return, so we flagged her down and told her she owed us the change. She shrugged it off with, "Oh, I thought that was the tip." Well, here is a tip from ME: It ain't a tip unless the customer GIVES it to you. Which only happens either after the server returns the proper change OR the customer says, "The rest is for you."
We most certainly did not intend a $10+ tip for a $25 meal! The nerve of that server floored me. People like that should be fired.
Status:
"In the words of Steve Winwood, Roll With It!"
(set 28 days ago)
Location: State of the closed-minded
296 posts, read 217,507 times
Reputation: 580
I tip 20% before tax for good service, but will cut it back to 15% if there are issues.
If my ticket has unexpected, unpleasant surprise charges, I reduce the tip by that amount.
Yes, I've had a server ask me if I want my change, of course I do, but through all the years there has been only one instance when someone pulled something cute.
Most of my dining is at budget-class restaurants, where I walk to the cash register to pay and then leave.
Ive never had this happen in 20 years here in the Triangle.
My pet peeve is when the waiter asked if I need change. Just make the change and leave it. Don't ask, if I need no money back I will tell you.
When I say change, I mean the balance of the money between the bill and the bills paid with. Like if I spend 13.50 and put down a twenty. Just give me the 6.50 back....dont ask!
Yes, it's rude to ask. It puts people in a position of maybe feeling bad for saying 'yes'.
As to the OP, I want my 17 cents or 27 cents too. I'm going to tip well, but the amount of my choosing. I have a little system of saving change just like the servers you are talking about do!
Also it's the principle. It's stealing and I like how you said ok, that's your tip! Teach them a lesson.
This just happened to me today. It was only $.40, but it was MY $.40. Then someone with me, I guess because her change was more than $.50, she got more back, so I guess they just do not bother with coins. I guess the restaurant thinks that comes out even. Well, maybe for them, but it is NOT fair to the customers. I assumed it was the restaurant, and not the server. I think, from now on, when I go to that restaurant, I will use plastic, then they won't have to bother with coins. This just blows my mind, the fact that they keep money without asking. One person in our party said that is what a lot of restaurants do now, so I think I will be using my debit card from now on.
Or carry coins and give exact amount for bill plus tip. I used to do this when I went to the same place and ordered the same meal everytime. I carried extra in case something caused me to need to leave a larger tip.
My issue right now with tipping is that being a former server, I think 20% is the threshold, not 15%. But I cannot seem to force myself to pay 15%. My meal is small. 15% is a teeny amount. sometimes it's less than $1! Even if 20% is a small amount I feel better on the % part.
I've had servers ask us if we want our change.
Of course we want our change! lol
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