Do servers not want a tip?

[okeydokey]

You asked for change and you received change. If you wanted someone to break the ten, you ask for them to break the ten.

If the same thing happened the last four times, maybe it's you and not them.

 

[mom2rtk]

Servers know a cash paying customer is going to leave cash to pay a tip. I think the server was hoping to put you in a position where you would be "forced" to leave the ten as their tip.

If my bill is $29 and I pay with 2 twenties, I am due $11 back. I'm not going to leave $11 on a $29 bill. So my choice at that point is to 1) leave one dollar 2) leave $10 or 3) leave nothing. A smart server anticipates this and returns a 5 and 6 ones, or at least 2 fives and a one. I never even have to ask for this, they just know to do it.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Easy way to get what you want: "Could you also break this ten into a five and five ones, please?"

 

[Shanti]

Most recently the bill was $37.20. I put two twenties and a ten in with the bill and specifically asked for change. I got back two ones, eighty cents, and the same ten I had put in the folder.

Be more specific at the outset next time. She probably thought you overpaid the $10 by accident- people do it all the time.

The poster specifically asked for change.

She probably also thought by "change", you wanted change for the initial $40 back. I've actually paid cash before & had a server pocket the entire amount, without offering to make change for me. She probably thought you were making sure that wouldn't happen.

Just add a bit of detail to your request next time: "I'd like 2 fives back from the ten", etc.

 

[gwynne]

For the fourth time in less than two weeks I have had a restaurant server not understand how to make change when paying cash.

Most recently the bill was $37.20. I put two twenties and a ten in with the bill and specifically asked for change. I got back two ones, eighty cents, and the same ten I had put in the folder.

I had to ask again for change for the ten, strangely the server didn't seem to grasp why.

Did they expect me to tip them 27% with the ten? Or has the education system and credit cards helped raise a generation or two that can't do basic math?

As has been pointed out, I think you need to be politely specific. Easier on you, easier on the server.
Me? We generally pay cash. Some years ago I started keeping 1's and 5's in a zip coin purse that's big enough to fit the bills, folded in half. I nearly always have tip money on hand.

 

[VillainFavs]

I think maybe people are skimming over the fact that this has happened to the original poster FOUR times in less than TWO weeks. If that many people are misinterpreting what she wants, chances are pretty good they're not all clueless but that she's not being very clear.

And I guess my question would be how many times are you going to do this and get the same result before you realize it's not working and maybe try doing something different?

 

[RedAngie]

Gotta agree that servers aren't mind readers. Customers have so many idiosyncrasies it's difficult to know what they want unless they're explicit in their requests.

 

[L&Lfan]

I don't think you were clear at all. I also don't think you have put yourself in the server's position. They deal with a ton of very strange requests all the time. It's best to take everything literally and not assume what a customer wants because, these days, people are nuts.

I think you should have been clear that you wanted your change back (the $2.70) and you needed the $10 broken.

This a million times. And no truer words were ever spoken......THESE DAYS PEOPLE ARE NUTS!!!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Gotta agree that servers aren't mind readers. Customers have so many idiosyncrasies it's difficult to know what they want unless they're explicit in their requests.

Servers all want tips, right? If I was a server, I'd be leaving ones and fives every single time, without asking.

That said, apparently today servers apparently don't think that far ahead, for whatever reason. So the OP needs to change what she's doing and be more specific.

 

[kdonnel]

And I guess my question would be how many times are you going to do this and get the same result before you realize it's not working and maybe try doing something different?

This is a problem that has recently become much worse. I have been paying cash for meals for years and this did not used to be a problem.

I think the server should be able to use situational awareness to infer the meaning of "I need change" when the pay envelope contains more money than necessary and a large bill as well.

It seems like a basic skill necessary to be a server.

 

[CPanther95]

Server was correct in both her mathematics and method.

Somebody pays you $50 for a $37.20 tab, they are owed $12.80. The proper way to give someone $12.80 is a Ten, 2 Ones, 3 Quarters and a nickel. I want the minimum number of bills and coins possible because that is the most convenient to carry. You are doing me no favors arbitrarily increasing the number of bills or coins I have to carry - and I don't want you assuming what I may, or may not, have in my wallet to take care of your tip.

If you unnecessarily leave an extra bill, it's fair to assume the server just figured "people are horrible at math" just like the OP assumed.

If you just want change, ask for change. If you want them to break a bill into smaller denominations, ask for that. Simple communication is key to avoiding any hassles. Assuming that every person you encounter views everything with the same logic you apply will continually lead to confusion.

 

[kdonnel]

If you just want change, ask for change. If you want them to break a bill into smaller denominations, ask for that. Simple communication is key to avoiding any hassles. Assuming that every person you encounter views everything with the same logic you apply will continually lead to confusion.

If I hand the cashier at Walmart an extra $10 I expect confusion.

If I hand an extra $10 to someone paid by tips and ask for change I don't expect confusion. People appear to have lost the ability to infer intent from context and to do basic math.

 

[mom2rtk]

Server was correct in both her mathematics and method.

Somebody pays you $50 for a $37.20 tab, they are owed $12.80. The proper way to give someone $12.80 is a Ten, 2 Ones, 3 Quarters and a nickel. I want the minimum number of bills and coins possible because that is the most convenient to carry. You are doing me no favors arbitrarily increasing the number of bills or coins I have to carry - and I don't want you assuming what I may, or may not, have in my wallet to take care of your tip.

I think that's a great approach if that server wants or expects a two dollar tip.

 

[Hikergirl]

Servers know a cash paying customer is going to leave cash to pay a tip. I think the server was hoping to put you in a position where you would be "forced" to leave the ten as their tip.

If my bill is $29 and I pay with 2 twenties, I am due $11 back. I'm not going to leave $11 on a $29 bill. So my choice at that point is to 1) leave one dollar 2) leave $10 or 3) leave nothing. A smart server anticipates this and returns a 5 and 6 ones, or at least 2 fives and a one. I never even have to ask for this, they just know to do it.

But that is different than what the OP did. She gave enough cash to cover her bill plus an extra $10. The OP got her change from the amount covering her bill, that is what she asked for. If she wanted the $10 split she should have been more specific since that isn't the same as getting change from her bill.

 

[mom2rtk]

But that is different than what the OP did. She gave enough cash to cover her bill plus an extra $10. The OP got her change from the amount covering her bill, that is what she asked for.

My only point is that it benefits the server to put the change in the hands of the customer to leave the appropriate tip. That didn't happen here.

The extra ten with "I need change" is clear as a bell to me.

That said, I still believe if the OP is having such poor luck with her approach, it's up to her to change it.

 

[gwynne]

Servers all want tips, right? If I was a server, I'd be leaving ones and fives every single time, without asking.

That said, apparently today servers apparently don't think that far ahead, for whatever reason. So the OP needs to change what she's doing and be more specific.

Gosh, that's harsh. One of mine was a server during college. It was kind of shocking to her the games a few customers played about tips. Once it was some convoluted deal that resulted in her "passing" their test. Sheesh. She learned to be extra careful, and never assume anything. Darned if you do, darned if you don't.

I think if you try something 4x and it's been a fail every time, it's time to change your method.

 

[CPanther95]

I think that's a great approach if that server wants or expects a two dollar tip.

Some are going to leave a $2 tip, some will leave none.

Some will do it simply because they are cheap, some will do it because the service is poor - and apparently some will do it because they want to punish a server for not doing what they wanted instead of what they were asked. Can't help coming across people like that.

I usually take very good care of any half-decent or better servers because I know they have to deal with those types of people all day.

 

[RedAngie]

Servers all want tips, right? If I was a server, I'd be leaving ones and fives every single time, without asking.

That said, apparently today servers apparently don't think that far ahead, for whatever reason. So the OP needs to change what she's doing and be more specific.

This is a problem that has recently become much worse. I have been paying cash for meals for years and this did not used to be a problem.

I think the server should be able to use situational awareness to infer the meaning of "I need change" when the pay envelope contains more money than necessary and a large bill as well.

It seems like a basic skill necessary to be a server.

That is the difference between a great server and an ordinary one. Unfortunately, many servers aren't great ones.

 

[Canooknic]

You are doing me no favors arbitrarily increasing the number of bills or coins I have to carry - and I don't want you assuming what I may, or may not, have in my wallet to take care of your tip.
.

Absolutely this!!! If a server came back with 12 x $1 my husband would be far from impressed (unless it was a genuine "sorry, I don't have any larger bills" which I doubt would ever happen at DW). He doesn't want that extra load in his wallet.

 

[gwynne]

That is the difference between a great server and an ordinary one. Unfortunately, many servers aren't great ones.

And you have to trust that the customer isn't going to say that they "accidentally" left a $20 (instead of a $10) in with the rest of the cash....There are good reasons for even a great server to proceed with some caution in this scenario.