Leaving money at the restaurant table ... fact or fiction ?

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by pmil

Yes, it is common. Why did you think it was a "trope?"

By the way, the name of the country is not "the states." America or more fully, USA, is.

actually, plenty of people call it "the states" even here in america....not sure why you felt the need to even point that out

Originally Posted by pmil

That's not unusual in real life. I've done that plenty of times. When you're ordering you obviously see the prices, so it isn't difficult to figure out roughly what the total will be. I then give more, which would include a tip. It's simply a way to leave quickly. Not so uncommon.

wait, you are saying you just leave the money and tip without getting the bill? thats a little strange, especially at a nicer restaurant

Originally Posted by pmil

Tips and a lower wage in America exists to encourage excellent service. It's a system that obviously works since America is famous for having the best restaurant service. In America the norm is to leave 15% for good service, and obviously more for better service.

id say the norm was 15% 10+ years ago...

[Geoffcoll]

A lot if restaurants in America that get a lot of British custom now slap the tip on the bill automatically. We're known for lousy tippers. You would think that holiday makers would read up on these sorts of things. We're known for taking the whole family abroad. By that I mean uncles aunts brothers sisters grandparents.when they go to restaurants they get a massive bill as you would expect and then they leave a $4 tip. We usually leave 1$ for every 5$ spent and then round it up if it's just under.

[Markgway]

If I was in America I'd most likely leave more than 10% because I know that the tips are supplementary income there. I'd probably work it out based on quality of service + how friendly the employee was.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by Markgway

If I was in America I'd most likely leave more than 10% because I know that the tips are supplementary income there. I'd probably work it out based on quality of service + how friendly the employee was.

just an fyi.... 15-20% is customary for standard/good service. just a heads up in case you are like me, i get nervous of being rude or something when traveling abroad.

there were a few times on my trip to Italy that i tipped just because it didntfeel right NOT tipping lol...

[MazeRunner]

Some restaurants now have "recommended tip %" on the receipts now when you get the bill.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by TakeApartYourHead

Some restaurants now have "recommended tip %" on the receipts now when you get the bill.

Why don't they just hire people to go round the restaurant putting their hands in your pockets?

[The Prowler]

The Brit's failure to understand or flat out resistance to tipping is a constant source of embarrassment when my family come over to visit. Every time we eat out I have to go over this with them. The look on their faces, you'd think they were being held at gunpoint. Is it really that difficult a concept? Anyway to answer the OP, yeah, I always leave the money on the table. Usually in the check book when one is provided. You could sit there and wait to hand it off to your server, but you could be waiting a while.

[Race Bannon]

There is some ambiguity throughout the discussion in this thread.

Usually in the USA, a bill is brought showing how much you owe, and you usually have paid the server before leaving. You receive a receipt and perhaps change if you paid cash. It is indeed a trope how often in movies that a character just guesses and leaves the whole payment on the table and leaves. Happens, but rare.

Tipping is different. The tip is often just left on the table after the whole payment transaction is complete.

[wvuwhat]

Who under 30 still uses cash?

[jarrod_inf]

If I have enough cash on hand I always leave the money on the table and walk away (after receiving the bill).

Whenever I do eat out I always think about the Reservoir Dogs monologue.

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by wvuwhat

Who under 30 still uses cash?

It's very useful to have cash in my case as the closest restaurants to my house don't accept cards. Whenever I buy something under $50 I usually use cash. I don't really keep track of my transaction done with cards (credit or debit) and sometimes I get have a pretty bad surprises when I realized how much I spent. Yesterday I receive my amazon visa statement and I spent $773 last month , I needed this to start to behave myself. Fortunately I always clear all my credit cards every months so I don't pay interest but I have to start keep track.

90% of the times I leave money at the table when I go to a restaurant but unless I just get a coffee or something very cheap I wait for the bill.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by wvuwhat

Who under 30 still uses cash?

I don't know but I would recommend that most people go with cash and use any form of plastic as little as possible. Best way to keep spending habits under control. Take a certain amount of spending money out each week and don't exceed that amount. Plus you wind up with lots of pocket change you can stick in a jar (or a piggy bank) and it feels like you're saving up more money.

[tiger_qc]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I don't know but I would recommend that most people go with cash and use any form of plastic as little as possible. Best way to keep spending habits under control. Take a certain amount of spending money out each week and don't exceed that amount. Plus you wind up with lots of pocket change you can stick in a jar (or a piggy bank) and it feels like you're saving up more money.

Yeah I always put my change in a jar when I come back home and twice a year I change it and there always over $1000 in it.

[Markgway]

I always use cash.

I'll resist plastic until the bitter end.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

actually, plenty of people call it "the states" even here in america....not sure why you felt the need to even point that out



wait, you are saying you just leave the money and tip without getting the bill? thats a little strange, especially at a nicer restaurant



id say the norm was 15% 10+ years ago...

I pointed that out because obviously that is not the name of our country.

Yes, leave money and go. It's not difficult to figure the bill.

The norm IS 15%. For poor service the norm is also zero.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by Markgway

If I was in America I'd most likely leave more than 10% because I know that the tips are supplementary income there. I'd probably work it out based on quality of service + how friendly the employee was.

The standar amount is 15% for good service. There is also Nothing wrong with leaving nothing if you get bad service.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Why don't they just hire people to go round the restaurant putting their hands in your pockets?

The person you responded to was referring to a way to make the starting calculation simpler. You're not obligated to tip anything if you don't want to. Your comment makes no sense.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

There is some ambiguity throughout the discussion in this thread.

Usually in the USA, a bill is brought showing how much you owe, and you usually have paid the server before leaving. You receive a receipt and perhaps change if you paid cash. It is indeed a trope how often in movies that a character just guesses and leaves the whole payment on the table and leaves. Happens, but rare.

Tipping is different. The tip is often just left on the table after the whole payment transaction is complete.

Not rare at all. I even used to do it all the time.

[WhySoBlu?]

Someone still hasn't figured out how to put multiple quotes into a single post...

[dissention]

Originally Posted by TriuneImpurityRites

Why are you confused? It's not difficult to understand. If you tip with your card, it's on the receipt and has to be claimed. If you tip in cash, the server can claim a little less and keep more.