Split Checks?

[Gumbo4x4]

I don't think it was mentioned but yeah. Mostly it's workers in the stores, who have no power to do anything about it, they're just following the rules the owner laid out so it's no use arguing.

On occasion I've pushed - a bit ago in a larger deli I ended up with like $8 worth of stuff when I'd only stopped in for like one thing (a cookie bar is not fair) and only had $5 or so left in cash. The guy said minimum was $15 and I said yeah but that violates your merchant agreement and I don't have $8 on me, so cc or nothing. He ran the card reluctantly and told me just that once yada yada.

In a smaller deli I wouldn't have even bothered, they won't. They'll just shrug at you if you point out they're violating.

Surprised it's such a common practice if it's not only a violation of the merchant agreement, but also KNOWN to be a violation among the customers who frequent these establishments.

 

[TinkerBelled]

As weird as it may seem to you to see separate checks, I'm curious how that's really any different than handing the server 1 check with 7 credit cards for her to scan or asking her to make change for several different people all on the same check. If you're each going to pay as a separate transaction wouldn't a separate check make much, much more sense? The point of one check is to make one transaction. If one individual is going to pay for the entire bill, or at least take charge & collect the $$ to give to the server as a single transaction, then a single check makes sense. Otherwise, not so much. And I don't think that has anything to do with being an "adult" or not - not if everyone's splitting the bill anyway.

My friends have started to do this, and it always throws me for a bit a loop. Mostly, they just estimate what they'd pay, take the check, and write the last four digits of their card number and the amount they'll be paying on the back. Like, Annie Smith, 1234, $25; Jack Jones, 4321, $35.

I think it's weird and I always just throw cash in, which is what we always used to do. I usually end up $5 behind, because I don't want to deal with calculating pennies. We have a couple cheaper friends who calculate to the penny and always round down to the nearest dollar rather than up, which is annoying; it's fine to pay what you owe, but when the tip is a couple dollars short, and those people never ever throw in the extra dollar, it's eye-roll-inducing.

None of the independent restaurants near us have ever asked if we want separate checks, and we never really eat out at restaurant chains. I think one friend asked at a local bar, and was told they didn't do separate checks.

Connecticut.

 

[SaraJayne]

Psst - we are also smarter, taller, and better looking!!!!

Well, of COURSE you are! Isn't *everything* better in the northeast?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'm in my 30's and have never been out and gotten separate checks even once or been asked if we would like to. Not even in high school did we get separate bills.

When we go out even with a work group of 15 to 20, we just split the tab. They usually add on a 20% tip for a large group, so no problem with them getting the short end. Everyone knows to bring cash, and there are banks on just about every block so it's easy to get. If someone stops in for just a drink, they throw in their amount and split it among the rest.

No biggie, everyone just does what's normal for where they live.

 

[cornflake]

I'm in my 30's and have never been out and gotten separate checks even once or been asked if we would like to. Not even in high school did we get separate bills.

When we go out even with a work group of 15 to 20, we just split the tab. They usually add on a 20% tip for a large group, so no problem with them getting the short end. Everyone knows to bring cash, and there are banks on just about every block so it's easy to get. If someone stops in for just a drink, they throw in their amount and split it among the rest.

No biggie, everyone just does what's normal for where they live.

Nah, we're clearly all fibbers because this can't possibly just work fine this way for us!

Surprised it's such a common practice if it's not only a violation of the merchant agreement, but also KNOWN to be a violation among the customers who frequent these establishments.

Well what would you have us do? Picket every deli, pizza place, etc., in the town? I mean it's up to the CCs to stop them, and there aren't enough people, I'd wager, to go investigating every burrito place and deli in NY, and you can't force someone to run your cc so... It's just the way it is.

 

[Janepod]

Nah, we're clearly all fibbers because this can't possibly just work fine this way for us!



Well what would you have us do? Picket every deli, pizza place, etc., in the town? I mean it's up to the CCs to stop them, and there aren't enough people, I'd wager, to go investigating every burrito place and deli in NY, and you can't force someone to run your cc so... It's just the way it is.

My favorite pizza place, my favorite taco delivery place, and the closest bodega to my apt all have $15 minimums. I'm not going to argue with them; I want to feel welcome in those places, so it's not a hill I want to die on. Like you said, it's just the way it is.

Besides, there's a Citibank ATM on every block.

 

[cornflake]

My favorite pizza place, my favorite taco delivery place, and the closest bodega to my apt all have $15 minimums. I'm not going to argue with them; I want to feel welcome in those places, so it's not a hill I want to die on. Like you said, it's just the way it is.

Besides, there's a Citibank ATM on every block.

Be grateful they take ccs at all, heh. My fave pizza just has a picture of Johnny Cash propped on the register with "Only" beneath him. Which, considering most of their slices are $3.50+ can be annoying at times (if you don't have much cash left at the end of the day and pass it and have to U-turn to get some).

 

[Imzadi]

Very rare for people to have cash up here. I usually have less than $10 on me. Often just couple loonies or twoonies and that's it.

We don't have newstands (online access or home delivery), only food carts are in downtown during the summer and I don't work there, and perhaps the ice cream truck. But I make the kids break open the piggy bank when he goes by.

Everywhere else I can think of takes debit or credit. I put everything on credit to earn points. Including my newspaper subscription. Hmmm now I think about it I can think of one ice cream stand that takes cash only.

Often if I'm out with a friend I will take some cash out ahead of time but usually pay with credit.

Again I think it's very regional. I live in a smaller prairie city in Canada and we rarely eat out with a large group. I tend to go out with a girlfriend and the server always offers separate checks. Most restaurants can even separate the bills right at the till for you. We don't really go to fine dining establishments much especially with kids. Tends to be chain restaurants or local eateries.

It's not just a regional thing. I live right near Times Square and and I rarely have more than $20-$40 on me. I whip out my credit card for EVERYTHING except the $1 pizza slices and an occasional bagel. (That's what the $20 cash is for.) But, when I go to the grocery store and they ask if I want cash back on my debit card purchase, I'd say I get another $20 maybe once a week or so. That's how rarely I use cash here.

I was even at the dollar store and used my debit card. There is rarely any place that doesn't take a credit card nowadays. And I generally know which places take them. So that is where I shop.

I had to recently get a new checking account as my previous bank sold off some locations and my account was one of the ones that got switched over. There are no local locations anymore. I have been waiting for a new debit card for about 3 1/2 weeks now and its really cramping my ability to whip out a debit card, and especially to pay all my bills online. I even went in yesterday to ask when was my debit card mailed out, and they looked at me like I was looney tunes. They didn't think it was a very long time to wait. They said to please hang on a few more days.

The only time I carry large amounts of cash are when I am going out with friends and we know we will be paying our own amounts on the check, if not able to get separate checks. It's easier to pile all the money on the tray than to ask the waitress to break three $20 bills into smaller bills for each of us.

The only other time is when I'm traveling. If my car breaks down or something, or I need cash, I will have it on hand then.

 

[Imzadi]

This I think is regional. It may be generational too, I dunno but the cash thing has come up before in different threads.

Apparently lots of people other places like, never use cash so don't carry cash.

Here, we use cash. All the time. I don't know anyone who never carries any. I mean if I'm just going to the market I might just take my card but even then usually cash too. People leave teens cash, hand them cash if they're going out for the evening, etc.

Newsstands only take cash. Yellow cabs now take cards, buy gypsys don't, just cash. Street vendors (generally) only take cash. Farmer's market (generally) only takes cash. Lots of pizza places only take cash, as do other such things, like the good little bakery down the street, the bagel shop, etc. Most delis only take cash unless you're spending like $20+ (some only take cash period), etc., etc.

Some pizza places take cards, some don't, I don't know any that'd let you for a slice. Most delis the same, some do and some don't but most all that do have a big minimum (big for what you'd buy in a deli) to use a card.

Newsstands are all over the place here, both freestanding and stores. They sell papers, magazines, candy and such (packets of nuts, etc.), drinks, sometimes lottery tickets, cigarettes, sometimes stamps (sometimes you have to go to the deli), and usually the little things like packs of two Advil, Chapstick, etc.

Typical newsstand, the light by the guy's arm is the beverage cooler -

Bolding mine. Almost everything you mentioned we would purchase at a grocery store or gas station. There are very few gas stations that have a minimum purchase and if they do it is about $3. Not hard to do. So we use our credit or debit card for those things. Even the flowers you can get at the grocery store or a florist.

I was racking my brain trying to think of one place that does not take CC here. Even most of the venders at our farmers market take CC. DH has a small side business & we even looked into getting one of these so we could accept CC

Skip2MyLou, I agree with you. I actually live right in the heart of the city. As I recall from another post Cornflake actually lives north of the city, so she doesn't speak for me, or that everyone here does what she does. As previously mentioned, almost everyone I know gets separate checks or we divide it up according to what we owe. Not down to the penny. No one is that anal. We leave the waitress a nice healthy tip, by approximating what we owe + tip, & toss in a couple dollars more.

But, as you said all those smaller purchases, I get from the supermarket or drugstore in one transaction. I don't do 20 small cash purchases while I'm out. It may sound quaint to people passing through, "Ooo! The newstand. Ooo! The bagel guy. But when you actually live here and have to wait behind someone else for every small purchase, it gets tired FAST. I combine as many items at one store as possible, so I'm not continually waiting in smaller lines or dealing with single transactions all day.

I pretty much know all the places around me that take credit cards. Plus, they all usually have the card logos by the register if they do take cards. So I save what little cash I do carry for the few places I shop that don't take cards.

 

[smitch425]

I voted "other". If we are out with friends we always ask for the check to be separated prior to ordering. We have kids, and we don't drink, so we would NEVER split anything equally. We will often pay for other people's meals, but we let the server know ahead of time. DH does a lot of "chipping in" for work events since he is a supervisor and has to cover his people from time to time. He hates the fact that some of his money goes toward alcohol, but it is what it is.

 

[cornflake]

I do not live north of the City. I was born and raised on this island, and currently sit (and live) within walking distance of you.

I don't buy everything at a supermarket or drugstore. I almost never go in a supermarket if you mean like a Gristedes and rarely buy anything from a duane Reade.

The other day I stopped in three markets, one newsstand, a bakery, two drugstores (one to look at a movie box, one a Ricky's for an actual item), and a deli, iirc. Not at all unusual - that was all while walking home.

Also, this is not just me - Jane, also on this island, Chloe, I believe also here, and others, all saying the same thing.

 

[gina2000]

Interesting. In all the years I worked in the city, I always hit the newsstand, the bagel joint (for bagels and coffee), the soup joint, etc. Very few supermarkets available and certainly not for food items eaten on the go. When we ordered in, it was cash paid to the delivery guy. Or one credit card and we divided it up evenly.

I was just in Chinatown yesterday... bargaining and cash only transactions.

I guess it just depends on personal habits.

 

[Imzadi]

I do not live north of the City. I was born and raised on this island, and currently sit (and live) within walking distance of you.

I don't buy everything at a supermarket or drugstore. I almost never go in a supermarket if you mean like a Gristedes and rarely buy anything from a duane Reade.

The other day I stopped in three markets, one newsstand, a bakery, two drugstores (one to look at a movie box, one a Ricky's for an actual item), and a deli, iirc. Not at all unusual - that was all while walking home.

Also, this is not just me - Jane, also on this island, Chloe, I believe also here, and others, all saying the same thing.

Really? You mentioned kayaking in this post below and living near the OP. Where do you kayak in the midtown?

I'd definitely try out some kayaking before even thinking about a purchase.

A friend of mine has done a bunch of kayaking, and doesn't have a kayak. There are plenty of daily excursions and guided day and morning or afternoon trips that are not at all expensive that'll allow you to try out different types of areas and kayaks - we're in the same area unless you're way, way upstate (and the same things are probably there).

That'd also let you talk to the guides and stuff to see what they'd recommend - after you see what type of kayaking you're interested in, how you handle the boat on your own, think about where you'll be putting in and carrying it, etc.

 

[Imzadi]

Interesting. In all the years I worked in the city, I always hit the newsstand, the bagel joint (for bagels and coffee), the soup joint, etc. Very few supermarkets available and certainly not for food items eaten on the go. When we ordered in, it was cash paid to the delivery guy. Or one credit card and we divided it up evenly.

I was just in Chinatown yesterday... bargaining and cash only transactions.

I guess it just depends on personal habits.

Restaurants will now take credit card for deliveries. It's great for them as they know the food is paid for before the order even goes out the door. I'll tip the delivery guy in cash, but that's about it.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Who the heck goes to the grocery store, everyone I know gets Freshdirect. How did we get by in life without them?

There are some specialty food shops that I go to in the neighborhood and I will get my cheese in one, bread in another, dessert in another, etc.. I have to get all my favorites.

I usually pay cash in each one. My friend laughs at me, it seems that makes me a dinosaur and I'm not even 40.

 

[gina2000]

I can't answer for the poster but I was curious and googled kayaking in NYC and came up with:


Downtown Boathouse

Manhattan Kayak

New York Kayak Company

Never would have thunk it.....

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Really? You mentioned kayaking in this post and living near the OP. Where do you kayak in the midtown?

There's kayaking in at least 3 spots around the city.

 

[Janepod]

Really? You mentioned kayaking in this post and living near the OP. Where do you kayak in the city?

I live full time in Fairfield Co. but still own an apt in the city. We use it once or twice a week and most weekends. My husband commutes to the city every day & I go in a few times a month for consulting jobs or whatever.

I was born in the city and lived there til I was 7, moved back when I was 25 til I was 36. We lived in NJ and CT those years while my dad worked in the city but my parents continued to own their NYC apt (still do) and we spent most weekends there. My mom taught for many years at P.S. 43. All my grandparents lived in the city. In fact, my family has lived in Manhattan since the 1880s - my parents were the first to move "away." One of my great uncles was a priest at St. Pat's - you can find his name several places there.

I have kayaked twice in the Hudson. Jet skied too.

 

[ohiomom28]

I live in Ohio. Its definitely not unheard of here to ask for a split check. Usually, everyone pays for their own food they ordered...

Posted from DISboards app from Android

 

[gina2000]

Restaurants will now take credit card for deliveries. It's great for them as they know the food is paid for before the order even goes out the door. I'll tip the delivery guy in cash, but that's about it.

In the dinosaur age, we would call in an order, pay for it by cc, and tip the delivery guy in cash. Or pay cash for the entire delivery. So nothing has really changed as far as I can see.