Have you ever had anyone "keep YOUR change"

[HM]

Our Papa Johns charges a delivery charge. You would not know it unless you ordered online. That is kind of scary! Once I saw that, I changed what I gave the driver because I always considered that in my tip. I am sure alot of people around do not know that they are charging an extra $1.50 to deliver.

I do not tip unless I am at a table service, ordered delivered food or I am at Sonic. I don't tip alot at Sonic because my order is usually very small and all they did was walk it out to me. It is not like they are coming out several times to give me refills!

Call your local Papa Johns and ask who gets that delivery fee. (Same with Dominos) I bet it's not the driver! I called and asked my pizza places and each time they said it was for the store. I've started picking up my pizzas because the store is pocketing that extra money and I couldn't see paying $2 for delivery and a tip on top of that when they are only 5 minutes from my house.

So if you aren't tipping your usual...the driver is the guy being stiffed.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I had the same experience as RobinB - my elderly father paid for our lunch (just the two of us) with a $50 bill - our lunch came to about $20 - the waiter asked if Dad wanted his change back... Dad (like RobinB's stepfather), hesitated, then I practically yelled "Of course he wants his change back!"

This sort of thing has happened to my family in the past, but never for such a flagrantly huge amount - and I can't imagine the gall of someone doing that to an elderly person.

I have since made it my mission in life NOT to leave a tip - not even a penny - in such instances....and I frankly don't give a darn if the waiter or waitress gets in a flap. I always tip, otherwise.

Also, I am absolutely appalled at the number of people who don't seem to be able to make change!

Huh? I haven't read this whole thing, but usually when a waitperson says this, they REALLY haven't looked at the amount of money you left, especially if it's in a billfold. Having worked at several of these kinds of jobs, even if I did glance at the money, and even if it vaguely registered how much money is there - I can't explain it, but when you do a repetitive job, you just get used to saying the same thing over and over. When I was asking, I was really thinking about whether I could save myself a trip - not how much money was there.
Making trips back and forth between the kitchen and register is very time consuming, but you make it a priority so that customer can leave quickly. That means all of your other customers wait for their food that much longer- if I rush to bring your change back, and you aren't looking for change, it means another person waited that much longer before I was able to deliver their food or take their order. My mind was always focused on how to prioritize - which customer to visit next - always paranoid that I had forgot to bring someone that ketchup bottle or water they had requested, and my times.

In many places, a waitperson's job depends on delivering a person's food within a certain amount of time. At Friendly's - waitstaff was timed by management - I don't recall the exact times now, but it went something like this: You had to take their order within four minutes, get their drinks within two more, serve the food within two minutes of your order being 'up,' and so on. If you didn't meet the times, you could be fired. So usually, that's where my mind was focused. I only glanced at tip amounts even after the customer had left (unless I was totally stiffed), and you never count your tips until you are outside the restaurant and your shift is over. The last thing you want to do is stare at the money on the table in front of the customer (which counting would require), or flash your money around while you are still working. You never know when someone - either a fellow staff member, or a customer is going to try to steal your hard earned tip money. As a waitperson, you have to serve pretty much every customer - and you really have no way of knowing ahead of time if a customer/co-worker is a theif or not. Also, leaving money on the table for any amount of time is taking a risk that someone will tkae it. This happens quite often - and it's impossible to get it back once its gone.

The funny thing is, at one of my jobs, I used to say, 'please' and 'thank you' so often, that I sometimes mixed them up - so that sometimes I'd say something like, "May I take your order, thank you?" Luckily, most of my customers were understanding!
I'm guessing you never waited tables...I really think it's a job every American kid should have as part of their education! Once you wait tables, you never forget how tough a job it really is. It's one of the most demanding jobs I've ever had! - pysically and mentally. Having a post-college degree job is much easier, and it pays a whole lot more!

 

[NotSoMini]

I might agree with you if I was talking American paper money, which is the same color - however, I'm from Canada - and our $50 bills are quite significantly different from $20 or $10's - they're bright red, versus greenish or vaguely purple....

 

[NotSoMini]

I also want to add that many moons ago, I did "wait" tables - in those days, we would not have dared to ask "do you want your change"....yes, it was a minimum wage job but so were (and are) others that do not ever have the chance for a tip. And I am quite sure it was as busy and as rewarding (NOT) as waiting tables is today.

Yes, everyone can and does make mistakes from time to time, but what I meant to point out is that more and more often, wait staff ask if I want my change. I may be in the minority here, but I find the practice repugnant.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I have never been short changed (that I know of), but I would have been mad if that happened to me! For someone to think that MY change belongs in THEIR pocket is just ridiculous.

But I hate that people think that a tip is mandatory instead of deserved. Over 50% of my friends are waitresses. They tip really well, when warrented. I have gone to TGIFridays before with a large group of friends so tip was included in the check. I think the tip was like $15 but we left about $30 because the waiter was amazing. I have no problem leaving a large tip for someone if it is deserved. But what is with restaurants lately NOT having it posted ANYWHERE that after 8pm/parties of 6 or whatever will have 15% gratuity included in their bill?

Now onto my story (sorry it is long). I was at a chain restaurant that has half price appetizers at night. (Got it now? ) I had a party of 5. After 40 minutes of waiting they stuck us at a table fit for 3 people. It was against a wall and could only handle 3 if you put a chair in the aisle. So we nicely asked for a larger table. (A party of 2 was at a booth fit for 6?!) They complied pretty quickly and gave us a booth. The new waitress took 10 minutes to get to us. Then she took our drink order and 10 min later finally got our drinks, 2 were wrong. Another waitress fixed that. Then our waitress came back like 15 min after our drinks to get our dinner order. The runner brought it out, another 2 were wrong, on the waitresses account not the kitchen. The runner fixed it for us. We also had to talk to the manager because everything was taking forever and she never got us utensils or napkins and was just plain rude to us. Finally the bill comes, and they included 20% gratutity! The signs clearly state for parties of 8 or more or if its after 10pm. It was not later than 10pm and we were a party of 5. The manager hid from us so we couldn't talk with him. He definitely knew what he was doing was wrong. This waitress was horrible and she only came to our table 2 times for no more than 5 min each time (got everything wrong anyway), meanwhile she went to her other tables many times. We were very polite the whole time. To me the included gratuity was a slap on the face. We left her a quater and told her tip was earned. Never went back to that particular one again. So I have never been shortchanged but I have had waiters try to take what was not rightfully theirs.

 

[Shannon G]

Huh? I haven't read this whole thing, but usually when a waitperson says this, they REALLY haven't looked at the amount of money you left, especially if it's in a billfold. Having worked at several of these kinds of jobs, even if I did glance at the money, and even if it vaguely registered how much money is there - I can't explain it, but when you do a repetitive job, you just get used to saying the same thing over and over. When I was asking, I was really thinking about whether I could save myself a trip - not how much money was there.
Making trips back and forth between the kitchen and register is very time consuming, but you make it a priority so that customer can leave quickly. That means all of your other customers wait for their food that much longer- if I rush to bring your change back, and you aren't looking for change, it means another person waited that much longer before I was able to deliver their food or take their order. My mind was always focused on how to prioritize - which customer to visit next - always paranoid that I had forgot to bring someone that ketchup bottle or water they had requested, and my times.

In many places, a waitperson's job depends on delivering a person's food within a certain amount of time. At Friendly's - waitstaff was timed by management - I don't recall the exact times now, but it went something like this: You had to take their order within four minutes, get their drinks within two more, serve the food within two minutes of your order being 'up,' and so on. If you didn't meet the times, you could be fired. So usually, that's where my mind was focused. I only glanced at tip amounts even after the customer had left (unless I was totally stiffed), and you never count your tips until you are outside the restaurant and your shift is over. The last thing you want to do is stare at the money on the table in front of the customer (which counting would require), or flash your money around while you are still working. You never know when someone - either a fellow staff member, or a customer is going to try to steal your hard earned tip money. As a waitperson, you have to serve pretty much every customer - and you really have no way of knowing ahead of time if a customer/co-worker is a theif or not. Also, leaving money on the table for any amount of time is taking a risk that someone will tkae it. This happens quite often - and it's impossible to get it back once its gone.

The funny thing is, at one of my jobs, I used to say, 'please' and 'thank you' so often, that I sometimes mixed them up - so that sometimes I'd say something like, "May I take your order, thank you?" Luckily, most of my customers were understanding!
I'm guessing you never waited tables...I really think it's a job every American kid should have as part of their education! Once you wait tables, you never forget how tough a job it really is. It's one of the most demanding jobs I've ever had! - pysically and mentally. Having a post-college degree job is much easier, and it pays a whole lot more!

I, for one, have waited tables (hated it - I will say it is a horrible job, and waitstaff have to put up with a lot), but I still think it is rude to ask a customer if they want their change. I understand how busy they get, but I have been asked this by waitresses in a restaurant at a not-so-busy time, who had plenty of time to stand around and chat with their co-workers. Instead of asking "Do you need/want change?" how about just saying "I'll be right back with your change" - if a waiter or waitress says this to me and I don't need change, I just tell them, no it's all set, and I know many others who do the same. This way they have not come across as too presumptuous, and yet they can still save themselves a trip back to my table if it's not necessary.

 

[robinb]

When I was asking, I was really thinking about whether I could save myself a trip - not how much money was there.
Making trips back and forth between the kitchen and register is very time consuming, but you make it a priority so that customer can leave quickly. That means all of your other customers wait for their food that much longer- if I rush to bring your change back, and you aren't looking for change, it means another person waited that much longer before I was able to deliver their food or take their order. My mind was always focused on how to prioritize - which customer to visit next - always paranoid that I had forgot to bring someone that ketchup bottle or water they had requested, and my times.

IMO, part of the job of a server is to complete the transaction by returning my change or my credit card slip. I'm sorry that a server has other priorities, but that is no excuse to cut corners. Not only it is presumptuous on the servers part that the whole left over amount belongs to him or her, but it is also rude to dismiss the customer prematurely. My relationship with a server is not really over until I get up and vacate the table. NOT when the server keeps the change and mentally moves on. Obviously this is one of my pet peeves .

ETA: I understand that waiting tables is a very hard job and I usually tip very well for good service. Asking to "keep the change" is NOT good service and a waiters tip goes down.

 

[Princesa]

Just to throw in another side....

Once, when hosting a large Christmas party in our restaraunt where of course, every single person needed separate checks, I went around the room collecting checks and credit cards/ checks and cash/ etc. Many people would kindly say "I'm all set" or some similar phrase where at that point I would slide that in my pocket to be cashed out later since I didn't have to deal with the change right away. If they didn't specify, I did indeed ask at each step if they needed change--I had forty separate checks to cash out, I certainly didn't want to deal with any unneeded checks only to be told "oh that was for you" later. One lady was handing me her bill (folded up by the way ) and I did ask if she needed change (but had for about twenty people before her) and she laughed in my face and said "You know you were really good, but not $40 good!" OK so she was handing me a $50 and I didn't bother to unfold her check and look at it. Sue me, it was an honest mistake....if I had provided a great evening so far why ridicule me?

Also, servers debate all the time whether to return the .28 cents that is owed back....simply for the fact that people regularly make fun of you if you do. (Insert snotty sarcastic voice here) "Gee lady....I guess you really thought that 28 cents would make me happy....Thaaanks!" grrr....
Not excusing a server for not returning change (especially not a large one!!!) but that's why I always taught my servers to say "I'll be right back with your change" as they picked it up to begin with so most people will reply if they don't need it.


That being said, I would never short change a person at my cash register assuming that they didn't want any or all of there change back. And yes, we teach our employees to place the bill on top until change is given. And I always repeat back what they have given me first. "$19.07 out of $20.07" And even that will get you laughed at. Just this month I had a lady handed me a wad of cash/coins which I straightened while asking things like "How was everything today, etc." Then said "ok now We have $6.32 out of $6.40" and was getting her change when she shocked me with "oh, look ...she can count!" Now I am not a teenager, being rude to you or whatever. Sheesh lady...why??


Now as a customer, I expect excellent service, and tip very well if given. Not well, if not given, and have been know to explain why, much to the amusement of my family who knew me before my restaraunt management days. I would never stand to be shortchanged, and would have contacted the owners/corporate/whatever in the above post of the "unavailable" waiter with the AWOL $20 tip. I can't believe the manager handled things that way. I certainly hope you informed him you would not be returning.

My only thought is that sometimes things come across differently to those of us that save those pennies as to those who have plenty of them to waster. And you'll never know just who has been made fun of earlier that day for bringing back a few coins to your table as change. sorry...I've had to calm down more than one crying server who wasn't treated well at all.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Itnetersting posts....in truth, it wasn't my habit to ask a customer if the bill was all set. I usually just took the bill, because most people do want the change and because if they do want the change, asking them slowed me down (often at this point in the meal, they would try to stike up a conversation with me, or overtly flirt with me (usually VERY uncomfortable)....And becuse I learned that the less you ask your customers to think, the happier they are. But I guess I just don't see how it's an offensive gesture. I don't see it as cutting corners on my service, but rather see a server who is trying to give all his customers the quickest service. I see that as more important. In any event, the practice is pretty common in this part of the country. I suppose it's just like any other custom. In Europe, it's considered rude to bring a check until the party asks for it. In most American diners, I think most American customers would feel the opposite.

OT - but another interesting insight into human nature - involved predicting customers' orders. For years, I always allowed each customer to order. While I knew certain customers drank their coffee a certain way (milk, cream, sugar), I would always ask them about the rest of their order. I presumed that they appreciated the extra service of being asked about their order. I'd trade off between asking them in a general sense, or asking them if they wanted their regular order. To which many would reply by dictating out the specifics of their regular order - every day to me (as if I didn't know it, when I'd already asked about it). Then one day, I worked with a waitress who did the opposite - she just brought the regulars their normal order without even asking them! I alway sthought this would make people mad, but her tips were nearly DOUBLE what I had been getting (from largely the same customers)! wow!

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

Raevyn_Wolfe, how do you get paid? I am just wondering so I will know what to do. Do you get mileage? Do pizza delivery people get paid minimum wage or more or do they work at a lower wage plus tips? I really would like to know because I want to be fair. Is the $1.50 the company's charge to make up for the mileage that they pay the delivery person? I tip on the amount usually 15% or I just go pick it up myself. It does get to the point that I just quit ordering out at all.

At my store we make 5.25 an hour, even though Florida minumum is 6.25 (drivers are considered tipped employees so technically they could pay us as little as 3 something and hour, but I guess they're "nice").

We do get mileage that is supposed to cover our gas, so that it does not cost us anything to work, we make $1.00 a delivery (or at least I do, some drivers make .65 a delivery).
With the cost of gas that sometimes covers what I use, sometimes not depending on how far or close the delivery is.

My store charges $1.75. You could say that covers the mileage they pay us, but where does the other .75 a delivery go??? (or more than .75 depending on the driver)

BUT We got mileage before they started charging the delivery fee, I always thought that was why we are paid less per hour than the people that only work in the store, but I guess not. We still get paid less per hour even though they are now charging the customer more than enough to cover what they pay us in mileage.

The whole delivery charge thing just makes no sense whats so ever, not for the customer, not for me, but I guess it helps line the company's pockets.
If they're charging the customer to cover our mileage and then some, and then not raise our hourly wage to compensate for the fact that we now get tipped less or now not at all because of the assumption that the delivery charge is our tip when it's not. . . . . .
To say that the delivery charge covers my mileage is like saying you're charging the customer so that I can keep fuel in my car so I can keep working, which is unfair to the customer, that's the store's job.

So why do I say the delivery charge does not go to the driver?
Mileage is something we got long before the delivery charges started popping up everywhere, since they started charging the fee I have not seen an increase in how much I get in mileage.
And well, I never really "get" the mileage anyways, my car tends to guzzle it up when I drive to and from places all day.

So, what do you tip a driver that's fair??????

Whatever YOU feel fit. Seriously, a tip IS a way to show you appreciate good service, or show displeasure in bad service. It used to be considered something "extra" to get a tip, but I think companies have abused that by starting to give tipped employees lower wages.

What I do (when I get pizza delivered, yup it happens):
If the driver was rude, or horrible in some other way tip them NOTHING, I'm sorry maybe that's hipocrytical of me, but if the person sucked I don't think they deserve my tip.
If they are indifferent, maybe a buck or two.
If the driver was super friendly or fast, or just plain had a nice smile and demeanor, anywhere from $2 - $10
I don't worry so much about percentages as I do the driver's attitude.

Oh, and please don't always blame us for a slow delivery, most of the time the pizza was slow because of something going on in the store, not the driver. I always feel so bad when someone gets a late pizza, even though it's hardly ever my fault.

 

[Jsme]

Has this ever happened to you?

When waiting for change from cashiers or wait people, they assume you don't want your change if it is a "small amount" especially a penny or two?

My mom was at the Dollar store, her change due was $6 and change. The cashier gave her $5 and change. My mom told her she was a dollar short, the cashier agreed and continued to ring up new customer. My mom thought she was going to get it when the drawer was opened. But NO, cashier finished with new customer and closed the drawer. My mom said "what about my dollar" and cashier said "oh, you really want it?" UMMM YEAH

Oh goodness. I think I would have reported her. Was she saving money for her lunch or dinner??? That is tacky of anyone to do.

I did not realize this happens so often. It sounds like a lot of fast food places do this. I do not tip people at a Fast food joint. I think I will start making sure I use my debit card more often now.

You guys do know that when you pay with a credit or debit card and you are not leaving a tip on the card you need to put a 0 or a line through the box don't you? If you do not do this the server can fill in the amount of tip. I have not had it done to me but I know a few people who have had it done. Nothing you can really do about that because you have already signed the check.

 

[bigolive9]

I think some people are confused about Sonic. I used to eat there a lot, and I had a friend work there. Sonic is NOT like Mcdonalds, Arby's, Burger King etc.. where there really is no service on the part of the worker. Sonic is a 1950's type of drive up. You pull your car in next to a speaker and menu board and then order. The food is made fresh for you, and a waitress brings out a tray with your food on it to your car. After you are done eating, you put your trash back on the tray hanging from your window, and the waitress takes it away. Sometimes they check on you a few times while you eat, other times they do not. The drive through part is the same way, only you take your food with you. There are usually only about 5-6 tables inside a Sonic restaurant, and the service is exactly the same, except you are eating at a table instead of in your car.
My friend that worked for Sonic said that the girls there were considered waitresses, so they did get paid less than minimum wage. If they didn't make enough in tips to bring them equivilant to minimum wage, then Sonic would pay them the difference.
That said, no one should ever assume that you don't want your change when you pay. I rarely use cash, but I try to always have close to exact change when I do.

 

[vhoffman]

Don't put a zero on the tip line for a cc--its too easy to put a number in front of it--10, 20, etc. Best to put a big line or X through the entire line.

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

From my understanding with credit cards it technically should not matter what you put in the tip line, it is what you put on the total line that your signature is agreeing to. you could put $1,000 on the tip line, but if you put the correct amount on the total then that is what you "should" be charged.
NOW, that being said. . . unless you want to keep your reciept and notice the bogus charge and dispute it and go through hassle after hassle then it is probably just best to put a big ol' X or slash through the tip space, like others said.

 

[Kahana-ri]

Yes, this happen to me at an eatery. I just bought a juice box for my DS. I was suppose to get back .15. the cashier told me that she didn't have any dimes and just gave me the nickel. Now, I didn't really think she was serious until I walked away. I thought, wait-you don't have a dime and I get the short end of the stick! She didn't have three nickels or 10 pennies. Its not the amount of money I was shocked by, it was her passive attitude of giving me the correct amount of change.

 

[katerkat]

Yeah, you've probably all been short-changed at a retail store. When I worked as a cashier I had the store's best till (better than every manager ) and I still only had a perfect till about once a week. Granted, my biggest discrepancy was 32-cents, but still - that was someone's (or several someones') 32-cents.

 

[Piecey]

Our school fixed this...every school in the district, there are 3 lol, are on a lunch card system. You put money on the card like a gift card etc. There are no longer any stereotypes in regards to free or reduced lunches and no change is thrown away!!!

When I was in school (just Graduated in May) we all had cards that sorta worked like credit cards. We would go through the line with them and pick out our food and "charge" it. Our parents got the bill at the end of the month.

About halfway through my senior year, though, they started a new system.
They took every single student's fingerprint... and instead of having to pay a cook to swipe our cards, there was a little scanner that we rolled our finger across and it would BEEP at us when it identified our finger scan.
Sorry, a little OT!

I work at Burger King and I would NEVER keep a customers change. I'm at a low-low-level management position and am already annoyed with some of the teenagers who treat customers so poorly. I've had to count down several drawers before, too. Not so much that my register people made mistakes as much as people lying to them... I've never, EVER ran into a case that my register person was wrong- several times when the customer saw that I was actually going to count the drawer down, they just left. People amaze me
This has definitely made me wonder if I should start watching them more closely, though..

 

[JoiseyMom]

Ok, so are you saying that you now take 1.50 out of your total and then tip 15% off the new total?
Or are you saying that if you were going to tip $2.00 you now only tip .50?

Just curious, cause like I said in an earlier post . . .I hate that my pizza store charges a delivery fee because we (the drivers) DON'T get it.
But most people that order from our store know it's there (our CSR's are told to mention it) and so people assume we get it and thus either don't tip at all because of it, or tip much less than they would have.
Which is sad, I don't completely blame the customer, I mean, how are they to know?
It's mainly the company's I am mad at, why charge it if you're NOT going to give it to the driver? The food you are sending the customer is not any different than if they pick it up. . . . so why the "convenience fee"?
I mean, drivers get paid a smaller hourly wage in than anyone in the store . . . since it is assumed they are going to get tips. So the "delivery fee" just makes no sense.

I may not be popular with what I am going to say, but I don't tip delivery people 15%. I tip table service 15- 25% depending on service, and their main salary is their tips. Why am I going to tip a delivery person 15% for 1 pizza?? If I order 1 Pizza or 3 pizzas, they aren't doing anything more, except carry 2 extra pizzas. The delivery guy gets more than minimum wage in my area. Am I supposed to tip the chinese food guy the same amount as the waiter in the restaurant?? The waiter did lots of work, the delivery guy just handed me a bag of food. There is a difference, and I tip the difference.

 

[JoiseyMom]

From my understanding with credit cards it technically should not matter what you put in the tip line, it is what you put on the total line that your signature is agreeing to. you could put $1,000 on the tip line, but if you put the correct amount on the total then that is what you "should" be charged.
NOW, that being said. . . unless you want to keep your reciept and notice the bogus charge and dispute it and go through hassle after hassle then it is probably just best to put a big ol' X or slash through the tip space, like others said.

I don't know if this is true. I put down my tip, and added wrong...way wrong. My credit card was charged the amount it should have been. The staff added it correctly. I was a very happy camper, and the restaurant and staff are awesome.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I work at Burger King and I would NEVER keep a customers change. I'm at a low-low-level management position and am already annoyed with some of the teenagers who treat customers so poorly. I've had to count down several drawers before, too. Not so much that my register people made mistakes as much as people lying to them... I've never, EVER ran into a case that my register person was wrong- several times when the customer saw that I was actually going to count the drawer down, they just left. People amaze me
This has definitely made me wonder if I should start watching them more closely, though..

I actually had that happen to me once! At my old job I was a cashier. One customer's total came to under $10 and she gave me a $10 bill. I gave her the change for a $10 bill. She started yelling at me that I owed her change for a $50 bill. My manager came over and had to count out the drawer. There was no $50 in the $10 spot, actually there was no $50 bill at all. Now this woman did not mistakenly think she gave me a $50 and really gave me a $10. She was trying to scam the store! I could not believe the audacity!

Yes, this happen to me at an eatery. I just bought a juice box for my DS. I was suppose to get back .15. the cashier told me that she didn't have any dimes and just gave me the nickel. Now, I didn't really think she was serious until I walked away. I thought, wait-you don't have a dime and I get the short end of the stick! She didn't have three nickels or 10 pennies. Its not the amount of money I was shocked by, it was her passive attitude of giving me the correct amount of change.

Wow I don't understand this. Also when I was a cashier, we would run out of pennies and quaters often. Especially around the holidays. If a customers change was between 1-4cents I was instructed to give the customer a nickle. We had to round up their change to the nearest nickle and eat the difference since it was our fault. Sometimes all the employees would scrounge up all their change from wallets and cars just so that we had some pennies and quaters to give out. I am going to start checking my change a lot more closely after this.