4 ms·
The issue is the possible in-person judgement associated with the tip. Traditionally a waiter will not look at your signed bill at your table. They didn't stand
by dexwiz 3y ago
The issue is the possible in-person judgement associated with the tip. Traditionally a waiter will not look at your signed bill at your table. They didn't stand over you with a mobile POS system waiting for the tip. Generally those who receive cash tips do not count it in front of the customer. They will find out the tip amount, but not in front of your face.
But with the POS systems, its easy to tell how much someone tipped. Did they go left or right? Even if they turn around the system and don't stare at the screen, they can figure it out. They especially know when you put in a custom tip amount, which is assumed to be lower. Some even show the tip amount to the service person as they turn it back around. There is an pressure to push the center or rightmost amount out of nicety.
- intrasight 3y agoTip your table server in cash. Karma achieved.
- rcktmrtn 3y agoExactly. People can argue all day about how silly normalized middle-class tipping is (very silly, IMO), but the thing is that clicking a "20%" button isn't even tipping. The implementation of the buttons on the bottom of the screen is offensively out-of-touch with the actual tradition of tipping, making it even more transparent a cash-grab. In addition to the fact that the POS button is often clicked before the service takes place and in the presence of the server, another key distinction of tipping is that it's off the books. It's a gift from me and a specific person providing service. If I pay through some POS machine it's a gift mediated through Visa and the IRS and the company payroll.
- intrasight 3y agoThis is what finally pushed me to that policy. I was getting bad service AFTER a generous tip. It makes no sense to support that paradigm. And I've heard of restaurants keeping the tips for themselves.
- mikecoles 3y agoTip only on credit cards. Otherwise you foot the bill twice.
- JohnFen 3y agoI don't understand how you'd be footing the bill twice.
- ac29 3y agoThe only explanation I can think is that cash tips are often unreported or underreported on taxes. This underpayment of taxes moves the tax burden very slightly towards people who's incomes are taxed correctly. Its bit of a stretch, though.
- intrasight 3y agoDo explain