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October 18, 2009 11:01 PM
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That's a tough situation. I think the best solution would be to speak with the waitress. Explain your fuax pas and let him/her know that you're leaving for now, but will return in a little bit with a nice tip for them. Be sure to note his/her name.
Your waiter probably won't believe you, and for a short time you'll look like a jerk.
But then you should go out and either visit an ATM, run home for cash, or visit a friend and ask for enough money to pay the tip. Return to the restaurant, track down the waiter/waitress and give them a larger-than-normal tip.
They'll probably be flabbergasted that you came back! You'll look like the upstanding honest hero for keeping your word and doing your best to right a mistake, especially with the generosity of your belated tip.
Returning with money's about the only option...unless you have a lottery ticket...and then when it wins you become the plot of a major motion picture.
http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/211141.1020.A.jpg
Your waiter probably won't believe you, and for a short time you'll look like a jerk.
But then you should go out and either visit an ATM, run home for cash, or visit a friend and ask for enough money to pay the tip. Return to the restaurant, track down the waiter/waitress and give them a larger-than-normal tip.
They'll probably be flabbergasted that you came back! You'll look like the upstanding honest hero for keeping your word and doing your best to right a mistake, especially with the generosity of your belated tip.
Returning with money's about the only option...unless you have a lottery ticket...and then when it wins you become the plot of a major motion picture.
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October 18, 2009 08:22 AM
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If you're with someone, ask if they can help with tip, if not I honeslty wouldn't sweat it too much...Not everyone leaves a tip, whether they can afford it or not. Showing your appreciation is most important...The waitress will understand if they don't get the tip everytime...Don't let it get to you...
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October 18, 2009 11:03 PM
Now, I'm not one of the people who marked this "unhelpful", but I have to say that NO the waitress will not understand. Would you understand if you didn't get part of your paycheck one week? That's their livelihood.
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October 18, 2009 09:25 AM
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What usually happens to me is I don't carry cash, I pay credit/debt (Darn check cards) and they tell me I can't add a tip in. Similar situation.
What I generally do since I'm weird enough to always carry candy but not cash is I tell the waitress/waiter personally how much I enjoyed the food and their service and then explain why I can't leave a tip and offer candy.
Seems that would work for the question as well.
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What I generally do since I'm weird enough to always carry candy but not cash is I tell the waitress/waiter personally how much I enjoyed the food and their service and then explain why I can't leave a tip and offer candy.
Seems that would work for the question as well.
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October 18, 2009 11:06 PM
Again, I didn't tag this answer "unhelpful", but I'd be pretty darn cheesed if someone decided to pay me for my service in candy. Candy doesn't pay for college or braces. Car insurance companies don't accept candy. And you wouldn't like it if your boss decided to pay you one week in candy. Right?
Just make sure the waitress doesn't know where you'd live. And that you don't have candy bars shoved in your tailpipe. ;)
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Just make sure the waitress doesn't know where you'd live. And that you don't have candy bars shoved in your tailpipe. ;)
October 18, 2009 11:09 PM
I don't use cash either, but I've never once been in a situation where they can't run a tip through a credit card. Does that happen to you often?
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October 19, 2009 12:21 AM
How is less rude to offer nothing then? I don't see offering what you have along with "thank you" and an explanation as rude, nor has any waitress/waiter ever. They actually usually laugh. It's happened a quite a few times yes, usually in smaller establishments. I also always return and bring a tip the next time unless the food was horrible. Perhaps my perspective is different because I live in a small enough town I know pretty much everyone, and they know I wouldn't do such a thing intentionally.
I also did have an employer pay me in candy once :P It was April fools. I told her she was going to need more candy.. and she raised me a milkshake.
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I also did have an employer pay me in candy once :P It was April fools. I told her she was going to need more candy.. and she raised me a milkshake.
October 19, 2009 12:33 AM
What is it with the site and not letting you edit anymore? *"How less is IT* less" and minus a one A in there "It's happened a quite a few times yes".
Also I forgot a thought.. I actually did work in food service for over 6 years before I quit to stay home with my toddler, and have not received tips from people who didn't even have the kindness to explain, apologize and thank. Never once did I consider finding them and shoving anything up their tail-pipe. You can't sweat the small stuff in life, especially in any job that requires regularly serving the public. Tips also should never be counted on as "livelihood" as they are never guaranteed. Your income requirements should not exceed your paycheck in that line of work. :)
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Also I forgot a thought.. I actually did work in food service for over 6 years before I quit to stay home with my toddler, and have not received tips from people who didn't even have the kindness to explain, apologize and thank. Never once did I consider finding them and shoving anything up their tail-pipe. You can't sweat the small stuff in life, especially in any job that requires regularly serving the public. Tips also should never be counted on as "livelihood" as they are never guaranteed. Your income requirements should not exceed your paycheck in that line of work. :)
October 18, 2009 02:36 PM
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Okay, the order of this is a bit confusing:
1) pay for your meal with cash
2) get the bill,
3) discover you don't have enough cash for a tip?
How do you pay for your meal without a bill? I have in the past put down my debit card and tipped w/the cash when I realize that I don't have quite enough for the meal and tip. This is if you have some sort of card in your wallet. If they don't take any cards, and you somehow have paid, I would explain the situation and tell them I'll get them next time I visit. This is important with restaurants you plan on visiting again b/c they will remember. I guess what I'm saying is I really try to tip if at all possible, waitstaff really depend on tips.
I have been at airport/train bars and had this happen a few times; you have a $5 bill and order a beer to find it's a $5 beer. At my train station bar I tell them I'll get them next time, I'm in there enough that they know I usually tip so they wave it off. ;)
pk
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1) pay for your meal with cash
2) get the bill,
3) discover you don't have enough cash for a tip?
How do you pay for your meal without a bill? I have in the past put down my debit card and tipped w/the cash when I realize that I don't have quite enough for the meal and tip. This is if you have some sort of card in your wallet. If they don't take any cards, and you somehow have paid, I would explain the situation and tell them I'll get them next time I visit. This is important with restaurants you plan on visiting again b/c they will remember. I guess what I'm saying is I really try to tip if at all possible, waitstaff really depend on tips.
I have been at airport/train bars and had this happen a few times; you have a $5 bill and order a beer to find it's a $5 beer. At my train station bar I tell them I'll get them next time, I'm in there enough that they know I usually tip so they wave it off. ;)
pk
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October 18, 2009 08:59 PM
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At some restaurants they can re-ring your transaction and allow you to pay by another method. All you need to do is tell them you want to leave a tip and explain the situation of not having enough cash to do both.
You can also buy something "To Go" and tip them on that purchase using a credit card. Something small, like a drink or a dessert. Many restaurants have contests for who can sell the most desserts or similar items, so you might ask them what contest they have going on at that time.
In my experience, I usually check the amount of cash I have on hand before using it to pay the bill. Then if the bill is more than I have in cash, I simply pay by card and then have them break down whatever denomination of paper money I have, if needed.
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You can also buy something "To Go" and tip them on that purchase using a credit card. Something small, like a drink or a dessert. Many restaurants have contests for who can sell the most desserts or similar items, so you might ask them what contest they have going on at that time.
In my experience, I usually check the amount of cash I have on hand before using it to pay the bill. Then if the bill is more than I have in cash, I simply pay by card and then have them break down whatever denomination of paper money I have, if needed.
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October 18, 2009 09:10 PM
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I was also confused by this question. I've had the experience of paying for my meal with a card, not putting the tip on the card, intending to tip with cash, only to discover that I didn't have as much cash on me as I thought. In that case, I'd ask a companion to lend me the money until I could get to an ATM.
If I was dining alone, I'd give the waiter what I had, and explain that I made an embarrassing error. If the tip was really badly insufficient and the service quite good, I'd go so far as to see if an ATM is nearby and actually stop back to quickly and quietly approach the waiter with a better tip.
As for leaving candy, wow, I don't mean to be rude, but I think that's insulting, and a bad choice. Does your boss pay you in candy? Waitstaff depend on tips for their living, and deserve dignity. You don't know what a person's financial situation might be and in these tough times, everyone needs to be able to depend on income. Most waiters don't even get the minimum wage as base salary. You can't mail candy to the electric company.
This kind of situation happens once in awhile to all of us, but people who find themselves in this fix regularly aren't being considerate before deciding to eat in a restaurant. Instead of routinely blowing off the tip, don't eat out if you aren't prepared to pay the full ethical price of a meal.
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If I was dining alone, I'd give the waiter what I had, and explain that I made an embarrassing error. If the tip was really badly insufficient and the service quite good, I'd go so far as to see if an ATM is nearby and actually stop back to quickly and quietly approach the waiter with a better tip.
As for leaving candy, wow, I don't mean to be rude, but I think that's insulting, and a bad choice. Does your boss pay you in candy? Waitstaff depend on tips for their living, and deserve dignity. You don't know what a person's financial situation might be and in these tough times, everyone needs to be able to depend on income. Most waiters don't even get the minimum wage as base salary. You can't mail candy to the electric company.
This kind of situation happens once in awhile to all of us, but people who find themselves in this fix regularly aren't being considerate before deciding to eat in a restaurant. Instead of routinely blowing off the tip, don't eat out if you aren't prepared to pay the full ethical price of a meal.
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October 18, 2009 11:03 PM
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I think they'd much rather you asked to have the tip put through a credit card then not receive a proper tip. I suppose you could also take your cash back and then run the whole thing through on a card. I would probably not ask other people at the table to loan me cash unless I knew them really well.
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October 19, 2009 05:07 AM
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Honestly, coming from a guy who makes little money, but loves eating out for dinner, just confront the waite/tress and explain your situation. Tell them that the next time you come in, you will be sure to live a better tip. More than likeley they will understand seeing as they make a small wage as well and can relate to the shortage in cash. I always find it better to explain to them instead of just leaving because they might be under the impression that they did a bad job, and be discouraged.
Best of luck!
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Best of luck!
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October 19, 2009 09:41 PM
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If you are with others then ask the people you are with to throw down a tip. I mean if you paid for everyone else's meal I would be happy to chip in on the tip.
I think the people that are dining with you would be happy to help out as well.
The waitress or waiter shouldn't be the one to suffer. They earn less than minimum wage and are taxed on at least minimum wage.
Unless the service was horrible then they should be tipped.
As said above order a slice of cheesecake to go and add the tip on the Debit or credit card.
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I think the people that are dining with you would be happy to help out as well.
The waitress or waiter shouldn't be the one to suffer. They earn less than minimum wage and are taxed on at least minimum wage.
Unless the service was horrible then they should be tipped.
As said above order a slice of cheesecake to go and add the tip on the Debit or credit card.
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October 21, 2009 06:39 PM
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I deal mostly in cash, don't even carry cards with me unless I know I'm going to use them, and I had this situation come up once. I asked the waiter if he had a paypal account I could send the tip to. He did, and he got his tip as soon as I got home.
If that isn't possible, write their name down on the cards that are usually available at the front cashier, and find out when they will be working again. Be careful, because if you simply leave the tip with another employee, the person may never get it. I've had bosses steal tips right off my tables when I was a waitress during summers in HS. By asking when they work again, and saying that you want to make sure they get the tip, and don't want to just drop it off, they are more likely to believe you.
If you can't get back when they are working, always ask for a manager, and give the tip to them in an envelope with the wait person's name on it. Enclose a little note for them saying something like "Here's that tip I promised you. Thanks for understanding." By giving it to a manager, you'll have cause to complain to the owner if the wait person doesn't get the tip. Trust me, next time you're in, you'll get premier service from them!
I ran up on one situation with my dishonest manager/owner where someone left a tip with him and he didn't give it to me. When they asked if I had gotten it, and I said no, the customer called the owner over to the table and told him that if he did not give me the tip right then, he would make sure everyone on the internet knew that he stole from his employees. It was hilarious!
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If that isn't possible, write their name down on the cards that are usually available at the front cashier, and find out when they will be working again. Be careful, because if you simply leave the tip with another employee, the person may never get it. I've had bosses steal tips right off my tables when I was a waitress during summers in HS. By asking when they work again, and saying that you want to make sure they get the tip, and don't want to just drop it off, they are more likely to believe you.
If you can't get back when they are working, always ask for a manager, and give the tip to them in an envelope with the wait person's name on it. Enclose a little note for them saying something like "Here's that tip I promised you. Thanks for understanding." By giving it to a manager, you'll have cause to complain to the owner if the wait person doesn't get the tip. Trust me, next time you're in, you'll get premier service from them!
I ran up on one situation with my dishonest manager/owner where someone left a tip with him and he didn't give it to me. When they asked if I had gotten it, and I said no, the customer called the owner over to the table and told him that if he did not give me the tip right then, he would make sure everyone on the internet knew that he stole from his employees. It was hilarious!
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