Servers; does it matter whether I tip on the receipt or leave money?

Question

Does it change the breakdown to busboys, cooks, hostesses, et cetera, and do you get your tips at the end of the night.

Answer 1

The non-servers don't get tips. If you slip a host/hostess some money to get you a seat...maybe. But otherwise, they don't get tips and get a standard wage (better than the $2.14 minimum for servers!)

Now, one issue some servers have is that receipts wind up, um, "counted." Many servers believe that they don't have to declare tips they receive in the form of cash, and they declare the ones on credit/debit cards just because they're "in the system" and could be traced.

Then, they try to get a loan down the line or they get audited...and they realize what a stupid idea it was not to declare all their tips for tax/income purposes.

Personally, I declared my tips even when they were lame and I was broke. I don't need "free money" if it's gonna make my karma dirty (or sic the IRS on me.)

Answer 2

Lots of great answers. Start at 20%, and go up or down, depending on the service. If the experience was not worth at least 15%, ask to speak to the manager, but don't leave less than 15%! If you don't speak with a manager, you are not giving the server a fair opportunity for improvement. If you have occupied the table for the entire evening, take into consideration your server is losing money by not being able to "turn" the table. For example, if the average check is $50.00, and you leave $10.00, you've also cost the server possibly up to $40.00 in lost revenue. Also, have not seen mentioned that most restaurants require a percentage of each servers tips be paid out to bartenders, bussers, food runners and sometimes event host staff! By the time taxes, daily meals and sometimes credit card fees are deducted from the low hourly wage, servers get paychecks in the amount of $0.00!

Answer 3

it doesn't matter where you leave the tip, on the bill or in cash on the table the tipout isgenerally a percentage of the servers total bill, and thetipout is expected at the end of the night, but is not distributed until the next payday. servers get to take any tips they make home immediately. Most often live on their tips, from day to day, banking their pay which should be considerably less than tips.

Answer 4

All the places I worked -- I got my credit card tips at the end of the night. And it didnt really make a difference to me. If anything, I would say, I preffered credit card tips, because anyone (another server, or just a pathetic customer) can swipe cash off a table while your in the back. Not that I think that happens to often or anything.)

If you really want to know though -- ask your server if they have a preference. I'm sure they won't mind you asking ;-)

Answer 5

When I was a waitress the manager used to give us our credit card tips at the end of the night, or the next workday if we went home before closing. Sometimes I thought that the customers who left credit card tips hadn´t left me a tip because there would be nothing on the table and they would pay at the register. I would leave cash in order to avoid confusion.

Answer 6

It depends on the establishment. The place I work at, you get your credit card tips that night. Other places don't. Most servers tip out a percentage of their sales, so it won't affect how much the others get.

Answer 7

Cash the server receives that day but they have to wait for receipt tips.

Answer 8

yes a lot of places make you wait till the end of the week for a credit card tip and someplaces make you claim them on taxes but not cash. It certainly depends on the establishment but cash is always better for your server.

Answer 9

Excellent question.
I prefer to leave cash so the server doesn't have to claim it, but its good to hear from some people who work in food service.

Answer 10

I find it disturbing that many feel you should leave cash in order to help the servers cheat on their income taxes.