DEAR MISS MANNERS: I've noticed a trend when paying with cash at restaurants. It used to be that if my meal cost $16.32 and I paid with a $20 bill, I would receive $3.68 back from the server. Last week when I paid a $16.32 bill with a $20 bill, I was given only $3 in change by my server, leaving me 68 cents short.
My friend told me that servers are now doing this to save time in processing cash payments, and so they don't have to carry around a lot of change in their apron pockets.
In a way I can see how this makes sense, but I also feel a bit miffed in getting shortchanged. Each time this has happened, I've found myself wanting to ask the server for my correct change, but then refrained from doing so after thinking it would appear silly or impolite to get into an argument over such a small amount of money.
Is this method of shortchanging customers the new normal that I should graciously accept? If not, what would be the best way for me to address this issue with my server?
I have only ever had that happen once. I told the server that was her tip. I also told the manager on the way out. He tried to give me a gift card, I refused and told him to train his employees better.
When I saw the title of this thread, I thought of the times a cashier has given me too much change (usually $1 too much).
They were always surprised when I told them and gave the extra cash back to them.
I know that if their drawer is short at the end of their shift, the shortage is taken out of their pay.
It's actually not legal to dock someone's pay because of an over/short. The cashier can get written up, but typically only for a larger amount.
Mas strange as it is, if one of my cashiers gives back wrong change I would rather the customer NOT give it back. How else will I know they are screwing up if you keep covering for them? And if I am trying to fire them over it, I need the register to show there is a shortage. If I can't prove it, I can't take action.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
GENTLE READER: That a pickpocket finds his profession more convenient than remembering to bring his own wallet is no defense. Servers who cheat you by 68 cents should feel lucky to find their tips reduced only by that amount.
Miss Manners sees nothing embarrassing about asking for your proper change. But you could also ask the server's boss, who probably does not authorize shortchanging the customers, whether such is the restaurant's policy.
GENTLE READER: That a pickpocket finds his profession more convenient than remembering to bring his own wallet is no defense. Servers who cheat you by 68 cents should feel lucky to find their tips reduced only by that amount.
Miss Manners sees nothing embarrassing about asking for your proper change. But you could also ask the server's boss, who probably does not authorize shortchanging the customers, whether such is the restaurant's policy.
I wouldn't reduce the tip, I wouldn't tip and I would demand the money back.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I probably wouldn't go that far. I would be annoyed but most likely, i would just tip less and not go back there to eat again. i don't really want to be bothered making a scene about it. I probably just want to pay and get out.
Well, yes but nobody ever rounds up in your favor, lol. A server has no right to take any liberties in this regard. Poor practice. And, it is cheating. I suppose if we go to the grocery store and something costs $12.50 and you give them a $20, then they can give you $7 to "save time". Uh huh. What about the time i spent to earn that 50c you are trying to rob me of?
A lot of it is cause they don't know how to count back.
It's easier to round.
I don't like when they ask if you want you want change at all.
Yes. I do want my change back. All of my change.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Well, yes but nobody ever rounds up in your favor, lol. A server has no right to take any liberties in this regard. Poor practice. And, it is cheating. I suppose if we go to the grocery store and something costs $12.50 and you give them a $20, then they can give you $7 to "save time". Uh huh. What about the time i spent to earn that 50c you are trying to rob me of?
Not true. I've had it happen. I have never had them round down like that and not give me enough change. If that were to happen, I would ask for the rest of my change. The server is in the wrong and they know it, they can get huffy all they want, but they're still wrong.
I can't remember if I've ever had this happen to me by a server but, depending on my mood, I'd either ask for the rest of my change or include the amount they shorted me as part of their tip. I try to be understanding of servers and not be one of the many jerks they deal with daily.
I have had many instances in which the cashier has given me non-money (like a washer) as part of my change. I don't usually mind since I just toss it in my tool box. Once, I actually needed a quarter and the cashier got surly when I showed him the washer he gave me and asked him for a quarter. The manager got surly too but gave me my quarter.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
If .68 is going to break you, you probably should be eating out...
Yup. Not saying they should shortchange you--but really.
If the meal was .68 more expensive are you saying you wouldn't order it based on that?
-- Edited by huskerbb on Saturday 30th of January 2016 02:46:26 PM
Unsurprisingly you are missing the point. It isn't about if I will go broke from not getting my change. It's about the server taking something that doesn't belong to them. The change isn't theirs to take. It belongs to me and if I want you to have it I will give it to you. Taking something without asking, regardless of how small that thing is, is theft.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
If .68 is going to break you, you probably should be eating out...
Yup. Not saying they should shortchange you--but really.
If the meal was .68 more expensive are you saying you wouldn't order it based on that?
-- Edited by huskerbb on Saturday 30th of January 2016 02:46:26 PM
Unsurprisingly you are missing the point. It isn't about if I will go broke from not getting my change. It's about the server taking something that doesn't belong to them. The change isn't theirs to take. It belongs to me and if I want you to have it I will give it to you. Taking something without asking, regardless of how small that thing is, is theft.
BS. I didn't miss the point at all--flan directly stated that she wasn't "rich" and needed her change. Therefore, it is apparently about going broke from not getting her change. Try to follow the thread.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
This happened to me once. I didn't tip and I told the manager. You do not get the right to decide what you are going to do with my money. And sorry, I've been in the situation where I was out to eat and every penny counted. When my kids were young my parents would always do family dinners out to eat. Sometimes I would go and sometimes not. I was a single mom on a budget. Damn right pennies counted.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Lets say you eat out 10 times a week. That would be about $7 in lost change. If $7 a week makes that much of a difference, you really should just stay home and eat ramen noodles. You definitely shouldnt be going out.
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
Lets say you eat out 10 times a week. That would be about $7 in lost change. If $7 a week makes that much of a difference, you really should just stay home and eat ramen noodles. You definitely shouldnt be going out.
Really? I don't know anyone who eats out that often that is broke. The only people that I know that eat out that much have the money for it. But yes, I've been "forced", not really forced but you get tired of people bugging the crap out of you, to go out to dinner when you can't really afford it. Eventually you give in. So while you have plenty of money to give away others might not.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Cause I know that .68 isn't being turned in as tips at the end of the night. It's pocketed.
If every customer gets shorted .50, by the end of an 8hr shift, that could be a good $10 +/-.
$50 a week is an awesome amount of extra income.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Well, yes but nobody ever rounds up in your favor, lol. A server has no right to take any liberties in this regard. Poor practice. And, it is cheating. I suppose if we go to the grocery store and something costs $12.50 and you give them a $20, then they can give you $7 to "save time". Uh huh. What about the time i spent to earn that 50c you are trying to rob me of?
Not true. I've had it happen. I have never had them round down like that and not give me enough change. If that were to happen, I would ask for the rest of my change. The server is in the wrong and they know it, they can get huffy all they want, but they're still wrong.
I agree. I get back the wrong change all the time (well all the time when I pay with cash), but it's always rounded up. Usually at fast food type places or gas stations, they'll give me a dime instead of 8 cents or 2 quarters instead of 46 cents.
-- Edited by NAOW on Saturday 30th of January 2016 03:24:01 PM
Lets say you eat out 10 times a week. That would be about $7 in lost change. If $7 a week makes that much of a difference, you really should just stay home and eat ramen noodles. You definitely shouldnt be going out.
Really? I don't know anyone who eats out that often that is broke. The only people that I know that eat out that much have the money for it. But yes, I've been "forced", not really forced but you get tired of people bugging the crap out of you, to go out to dinner when you can't really afford it. Eventually you give in. So while you have plenty of money to give away others might not.
Obviously, Flan does and is...
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Lets say you eat out 10 times a week. That would be about $7 in lost change. If $7 a week makes that much of a difference, you really should just stay home and eat ramen noodles. You definitely shouldnt be going out.
Really? I don't know anyone who eats out that often that is broke. The only people that I know that eat out that much have the money for it. But yes, I've been "forced", not really forced but you get tired of people bugging the crap out of you, to go out to dinner when you can't really afford it. Eventually you give in. So while you have plenty of money to give away others might not.
Obviously, Flan does and is...
That's kind of taking a little shot at flan but oh well. Lily says she's stingy and wants her change back. Why don't you chastise her? I have money when I go out to eat but it's MY DAMN MONEY. You don't get to make the decision to keep it or not keep it. And I don't really care if flan goes out to eat. This is something that bugs me. People will judge someone and say they spend too much money on xyz. We all have things we spend too much money on. Some people buy hundreds of pairs of shoes. I go to Starbucks. I don't have to go to Starbucks and it would save money if I didn't but I go. We all use our discretionary income in our own way.
And using your own theory if you are willing to give away $7 a week on eating out where else are you willing to give away money on? I've found that people who willingly leave money behind leave hundreds of dollars behind at the end of the year. It's not JUST eating out. It's leaving your change when you get coffee or leaving your change when you go to the dry cleaners. It adds up. It's a mentality that people have. Most people want to account for their money. Some don't care.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Lets say you eat out 10 times a week. That would be about $7 in lost change. If $7 a week makes that much of a difference, you really should just stay home and eat ramen noodles. You definitely shouldnt be going out.
Really? I don't know anyone who eats out that often that is broke. The only people that I know that eat out that much have the money for it. But yes, I've been "forced", not really forced but you get tired of people bugging the crap out of you, to go out to dinner when you can't really afford it. Eventually you give in. So while you have plenty of money to give away others might not.
Obviously, Flan does and is...
That's kind of taking a little shot at flan but oh well. Lily says she's stingy and wants her change back. Why don't you chastise her? I have money when I go out to eat but it's MY DAMN MONEY. You don't get to make the decision to keep it or not keep it. And I don't really care if flan goes out to eat. This is something that bugs me. People will judge someone and say they spend too much money on xyz. We all have things we spend too much money on. Some people buy hundreds of pairs of shoes. I go to Starbucks. I don't have to go to Starbucks and it would save money if I didn't but I go. We all use our discretionary income in our own way.
And using your own theory if you are willing to give away $7 a week on eating out where else are you willing to give away money on? I've found that people who willingly leave money behind leave hundreds of dollars behind at the end of the year. It's not JUST eating out. It's leaving your change when you get coffee or leaving your change when you go to the dry cleaners. It adds up. It's a mentality that people have. Most people want to account for their money. Some don't care.
Why you gotta bring me into it?
But since you did, remember your own words next time you want to take a dig at me going on a trip or buying my kids a gift.
You know, since it's not your business how another spends their money.
-- Edited by lilyofcourse on Saturday 30th of January 2016 03:39:10 PM
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
All I said is exactly what you said Lily. You said you're stingy and like to keep your own change. Did you not? I don't know why it's so wrong to want to keep the change that is rightfully yours.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
OMG Lily, I DIDN'T take a dig at you! I simply repeated what you said! You said, and I quote, "I'm stingy and like to keep my change." I SAID I AGREE WITH THAT! You have every right to want to keep your change! OMFG. I can't say anything without you jumping on me. I can't even agree with you and you get pissed off.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
And you know damn well why I've made comments in the past about your situation. So don't play stupid. It's when you say you eat healthy all the time and blah blah blah and then eat out six days a week. I don't give a damn what you do with your money. But don't play both sides of the fence. Which is totally different than saying you can spend your money however you want. Spend it however you want. I do think it's funny that you complain how little you get from the government for disability but you don't try to budge but again, your right to blow your money however you want. Which is just what I said above.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
I don't need the change, but it's the principle of it, for me. But I use credit cards so it never has been a problem.
Yes, no one should keep your money. If you want to tip then you should decide how much. It IS the principle of it.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
You're so funny when your own words get turned back on you.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Actually not Lily. I've stayed quite consistent. I've said it's your money to do with whatever you please. I've always maintained that you claim to eat so healthy and then eat out all the time. That opinion has always been consistent and you can even ask LL. It's your money and you can spend it how you want. But ohfour is judging flan and how she spends her money. I would think if I were on a budget I would be a lot more careful with my money. And that goes for anyone. So you can call me whatever you want but I've been consistent and "laughing" at me is just weird and dumb.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Lets say you eat out 10 times a week. That would be about $7 in lost change. If $7 a week makes that much of a difference, you really should just stay home and eat ramen noodles. You definitely shouldnt be going out.
Ummm, no. What you're saying is that it's OK to be robbed if you can afford it.
Regardless if I can afford to eat out or not, you have no right to decide to keep my money. I decide how much of a tip to leave. Not the waiter.
Lets say you eat out 10 times a week. That would be about $7 in lost change. If $7 a week makes that much of a difference, you really should just stay home and eat ramen noodles. You definitely shouldnt be going out.
Ummm, no. What you're saying is that it's OK to be robbed if you can afford it.
Regardless if I can afford to eat out or not, you have no right to decide to keep my money. I decide how much of a tip to leave. Not the waiter.
Yes, whether you don't care about letting people take your money or not is not the point. It's wrong. It's your money.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou