Is it a customary practice for waiters to keep change on a tab without asking? (Dallas: 2013, gated)

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by globe9

Well he brought your change back, just not the 27 cents or 56 cents or whatever it was? You're really complaining about that

It's the principle of it. That skimming, a.k.a. theft, really adds up over the course of a day. If a waiter kept the coins, that would be his/her tip.

[globe9]

I personally think tipping should be done away with. Pay the servers a fair wage and just raise the price of everything on the menu. That way we wouldn't have these problems. And by fair wage I definitely mean more than min wage.

[smuboy86]

Have you ever been to a country with out a tipping culture? Service is borderline acceptable at best and substandard on average at least to American standards.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Have you ever been to a country with out a tipping culture? Service is borderline acceptable at best and substandard on average at least to American standards.

I lived in more than one country without a tipping culture and the service was fine.

[ETex2]

Originally Posted by GreyDay

Really? A tip is not guaranteed. A waiter at the least should ask if the diner needs change. 20%? 15% is fair.

At least, but only if the change is not larger than the customary tip. What irks me, is when the waiter looks at me seriously and then says "do you need change?", after I leave two twenty dollar bills for a $24 dollar tab. Young waiters tend to be the worst. I tend to leave waiters like that a bit less than I normally would have unless the service was otherwise above average.

[gymrat]

I have always had them bring my change back even when what was left was the tip. Most even ask when paying with cash, "do you need change?" Including the coins. That is from as basic as Sonic to III Forks. Never had a waiter not bring me back my change or even inquire. At Sonic when I've ordered my kid 1 drink during happy hour I've tipped $1. Even with the tip it was less than what it would have been without the happy hour price.

[Willsson]

Practice giving the waiter a sign when he/she comes to pick up the payment. If the waiter is not sure then as above, he may ask the question 'do you need change.'

'We're done' > take the money, don't come back - tip included
'I need a receipt' > you will come back to my table and I will decide your tip

They'll get the message

[Charlotte1309]

Originally Posted by globe9

I personally think tipping should be done away with. Pay the servers a fair wage and just raise the price of everything on the menu. That way we wouldn't have these problems. And by fair wage I definitely mean more than min wage.

While I agree with you on the minimum wage concern - it does excuse stealing. Taking what does not belong to you is STEALING.

[produrre]

This is one of my pet peeves... the way I look at it, its my money until I specifically leave it as a tip. Allow me the right to do that. No wait staff should ever assume it is their right to my money until I leave it for them.

[mdsolutions]

Originally Posted by produrre

This is one of my pet peeves... the way I look at it, its my money until I specifically leave it as a tip. Allow me the right to do that. No wait staff should ever assume it is their right to my money until I leave it for them.

Most waiters do not give change, too much trouble. If they owe you 6.25 they should give you seven back and let you decide on the tip. If you don't want to mess with change, fine. Just don't short the customer.

Meant coins not change, sorry.