Maybe someone can explain this to me

[Jack]

Pretty much every time I go out to a restaurant, I can hardly get a chance to pay the damn bill. I order, I eat, the bill arrives, I put credit card into it, server takes it away presently, returns with receipt, I sign, leave cash tip, and it sits. And sits. And fucking sits for ages while the server walks past two dozen times, plainly seeing it, and I don't want to get up and leave because maybe the server didn't see it and she'll think I'm trying to skip out on my bill.

Just what the hell is wrong with these people is all I'm asking.

[lordlundar]

It's considered impolite for a server to pick up the cash while the customer is still there.

Sadly, this "courtesy" makes it easy for tip thieves.

[LadyBarbossa]

Yeah, I'd be afraid of seeming a little greedy if I snatched a tip off the table before my customers have left. But as was mentioned, this leaves the chance for another customer or more likely, another server to walk by and steal it. Most of the time we'll stop the server on his/her way by, thank them a final time, and place the tip in their hand. It's worked pretty well.

[Jack]

Oh, okay. I wonder how I never knew. Thanks.

[Hobbs]

I usually "palm" the tip and go over to thank the server. I offer my hand to shake, and the money is exchanged.

[blas87]

If I or my bf are paying cash for a tip, we try to personally give it to the server. Too many times working as a waitress I saw children and other customers swipe tips off of dirty tables.

[Jack]

I usually "palm" the tip and go over to thank the server. I offer my hand to shake, and the money is exchanged.

I do this except I get weed back.

[guywithashovel]

If the server already processed your credit card, how could she possibly think that you're skipping out on your bill? If I'm reading this correctly, your card has already been charged.

[Lace Neil Singer]

If I or my bf are paying cash for a tip, we try to personally give it to the server. Too many times working as a waitress I saw children and other customers swipe tips off of dirty tables.

Same here; a friend of mine actually saw a child grab a tip off a table once when we were at a restaurant. She went to the kid and said, "Put that back right now, or I'll tell your parents." The kid refused, so she went and told his parents. Luckily, said parents were the good kind, and they gave him such a telling off for taking the tip, and made him put it back. But some parents would have just let their pwecious get away with theft.

I always give a tip directly to the waiter/waitress; that way, I know it's going to go to the person who earned it.

[Greenday]

I do this except I get weed back.

I hate it when that happens.

I've never actually seen someone swipe tip money from a table, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened. It's why I usually leave it in less obvious spots where you'd have to start really going through the table to find it.

[draggar]

Too many times working as a waitress I saw children and other customers swipe tips off of dirty tables.

The lowest of the low.

I do this except I get weed back.

What's wrong with that?

I prefer resturants where they give you a little book with the bill (and your card) in it. Leave the cash in there and hand it to the server.

My wife and I rarely go out where you tip ("going out" for us has become an evening trip to Pollo Tropical) - maybe I should start handing the tip to the servers to avoid the money ending up in someone else's hands.

[Racket_Man]

since I have been around the restaurant business most of working life and have seen a lot of tip stealing (childern, co-workers, customers) either I will put the tip on the CC slip OR hand the tip money DIRECTLY to my/our server.

we actually got a busser disciplined (possibly fired) one time. we were sitting at our table almost ready to go and noticed the busser cleaning a table nearby. we distictly observed the busser picking up the tip (several one dollar bills) from the empty table (it was under a soda glass) and putting it in her pants pocket. when I paid the bill at the counter, I asked to speak with the manager and informed them of the situation. now I know at this particular place the servers pick up their tip NOT the busser (GF daughter works there part time). we aske GF's duaghter what happened and she said that this was the last straw for the busser as they had a REAL problem with tips disapearing in the past.

NO STEALING TIPS you greedy morons. this burns me up esp when childern do it and the parents think it is cute or funny or show indifference to the theft (and yes it is theft). I love the kids at the door for delivery and I can see pocketing MY tip. THAT is MY income you are theving.