Really poor food and sevice....left a negative tip!

[Sac Arrow]

The one thing about writing in the tip on a credit card purchase, is that it gets automatically taxed as income. Granted, servers are not in a high tax bracket, but they generally prefer tips in cash. It also keeps the restaurant out of their tip business. That said, I don't carry much cash, I don't like spending in cash, so I write the tip in.

 

[luvflyin]

The one thing about writing in the tip on a credit card purchase, is that it gets automatically taxed as income. Granted, servers are not in a high tax bracket, but they generally prefer tips in cash. It also keeps the restaurant out of their tip business. That said, I don't carry much cash, I don't like spending in cash, so I write the tip in.

Hmm. Cash. OP edited:

The food and service was so poor at a restaurant in Westport.............that I mugged the waiter for 5 dollars

Minus 5 $$$

And I am a big tipper, usually!!

 

[DaleB]

Crap, am I supposed to tip the fuel guy?

I always tip the fuel guy generously. Of course I fuel my own plane... I don't think a line guy has ever done it, come to think of it.

The one thing about writing in the tip on a credit card purchase, is that it gets automatically taxed as income. Granted, servers are not in a high tax bracket, but they generally prefer tips in cash. It also keeps the restaurant out of their tip business. That said, I don't carry much cash, I don't like spending in cash, so I write the tip in.

I generally like to put 0 on the credit card bill, and tip the the waiter/waitress in cash. Whether and how much they report is between them, the IRS, and God. I personally don't care. If I don't have cash I'll put it on the card, but I like to make sure we've got enough for the tip if I can.

 

[Zeldman]

I generally like to put 0 on the credit card bill, and tip the the waiter/waitress in cash.

A friend here at our church used to do that. Then one time he noticed a $2000 charge on his card. Someone changed the tip from '0' to 2000. He now writes 'nothing' in the tip section.

And he still tips in cash.

 

[eman1200]

I'm trying to figure out how this would even work, assuming he paid $5 less than what he should have..........only ways to pay at a restaurant that I know are by giving the check and money to the waiter/waitress, paying at the register, or just leaving the money on the table (what am I missing?). so you couldn't "pay less" at the register, you could only pay the bill and leave no tip. so maybe he left the check and money for the bill -$5 on the table? or maybe he paid the bill in full and stole $5 worth of silverware? I dunno, but he sure stirred the PoA hornets nest fo sho.

 

[DaleB]

A friend here at our church used to do that. Then one time he noticed a $2000 charge on his card. Someone changed the tip from '0' to 2000. He now writes 'nothing' in the tip section.

And he still tips in cash.

OK, now that I think about it, I don't actually write 0... I put a line through the tip field on the bill. Or write --0--. Either way, it's not easily changed.

I may be an outlier, but in the past 40 odd years of having credit cards, I've only had one instance of CC fraud on any of my accounts that I can remember. We were in Hollywood for a work thing. I used one of my cards exactly one time, at the hotel bar. I hadn't used it for a while, and didn't use it anywhere else. The next week I got a call from my credit card company, wanting to know if I had charged a bunch of high end electronics and a few limo rides in Las Vegas. Nope, not me... They sent me a new card, with a new account number. I told them exactly where the card info had been stolen, but I got the impression nothing would be done about it. I guess credit card fraud is so rampant because the theft is written off with a shrug, and nobody bothers to investigate or prosecute.

 

[luvflyin]

A friend here at our church used to do that. Then one time he noticed a $2000 charge on his card. Someone changed the tip from '0' to 2000. He now writes 'nothing' in the tip section.

And he still tips in cash.

He can write cash there, I do if I left a cash tip for some reason. Keeps the cashier, if it’s a ya pay at the register joint, from thinking I’m a cheapskate. Don’t know why I care, but I do.

 

[Matthew]

OK, now that I think about it, I don't actually write 0... I put a line through the tip field on the bill. Or write --0--. Either way, it's not easily changed.

I may be an outlier, but in the past 40 odd years of having credit cards, I've only had one instance of CC fraud on any of my accounts that I can remember. We were in Hollywood for a work thing. I used one of my cards exactly one time, at the hotel bar. I hadn't used it for a while, and didn't use it anywhere else. The next week I got a call from my credit card company, wanting to know if I had charged a bunch of high end electronics and a few limo rides in Las Vegas. Nope, not me... They sent me a new card, with a new account number. I told them exactly where the card info had been stolen, but I got the impression nothing would be done about it. I guess credit card fraud is so rampant because the theft is written off with a shrug, and nobody bothers to investigate or prosecute.

I don't think the CC company is out very much - the store that charged the electronics and the limo company will be out when the CC company doesn't pay them.

This has happened three times to me, all three times the CC company called when their fraud alerts were triggered by something.

1) CC company calls, asks if I charged for pet food and perfume in Paris, France. Nope, not me. On the other end of the line I hear a mouse click followed by, "I just cancelled your card, a new one is on the way."

2) CC company calls, asks if I charged for several computers at an Apple store in LA. Nope, not me, then the familiar mouse click on the other end.

3) CC company calls, asks if I charged $3 worth of snacks at a gas station in Miami. Apparently the trick is to charge for a small item to see if the stolen CC info actually works, and then go on a buying spree before the card number is canceled. Nope, not me, click.

Haven't had a problem in quite a few years now. But about a year ago the CC company canceled our card and sent another one after either a bank or some business reported a data breach. CC company preemptively changed out our card.

 

[jsstevens]

Didn't realize this was a thing.

If anyone comes across a plane that fits my mission, I am willing to pay negative $250k for one in the right condition.

I'll bid negative $300k. So there.

 

[Everskyward]

I don't think the CC company is out very much - the store that charged the electronics and the limo company will be out when the CC company doesn't pay them.

This has happened three times to me, all three times the CC company called when their fraud alerts were triggered by something.

1) CC company calls, asks if I charged for pet food and perfume in Paris, France. Nope, not me. On the other end of the line I hear a mouse click followed by, "I just cancelled your card, a new one is on the way."

2) CC company calls, asks if I charged for several computers at an Apple store in LA. Nope, not me, then the familiar mouse click on the other end.

3) CC company calls, asks if I charged $3 worth of snacks at a gas station in Miami. Apparently the trick is to charge for a small item to see if the stolen CC info actually works, and then go on a buying spree before the card number is canceled. Nope, not me, click.

Haven't had a problem in quite a few years now. But about a year ago the CC company canceled our card and sent another one after either a bank or some business reported a data breach. CC company preemptively changed out our card.

About a week ago I got a text from the CC company asking if I had made a $650 purchase at a restaurant in Portland, OR. I texted back "no" and they canceled the credit card. This has happened a few times to me over the years. I use credit cards for almost everything, so it isn't unexpected. I know it happens once in a while.

 

[Timbeck2]

McGruber - I left a negative tip!
Forum - That isn't cool.
McGruber -

 

[Sluggo63]

Didn't realize this was a thing.

If anyone comes across a plane that fits my mission, I am willing to pay negative $250k for one in the right condition.

I’ll be your aircraft broker for that. I charge negative 10%. You’re not going to find a better deal than that!

 

[NoHeat]

I’ll be your aircraft broker for that. I charge negative 10%. You’re not going to find a better deal than that!

So you want to pay for the privilege of performing a service?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

So you want to pay for the privilege of performing a service?

I suppose it depends on how one interprets that statement. I read it as a negative number multiplied by a negative number, resulting in a positive number.
-250000 * -0.1 = 25000 (a positive number)

 

[Sluggo63]

I suppose it depends on how one interprets that statement. I read it as a negative number multiplied by a negative number, resulting in a positive number.
-250000 * -0.1 = 25000 (a positive number)

Correct. That was the joke...

 

[SoCal RV Flyer]

The one thing about writing in the tip on a credit card purchase, is that it gets automatically taxed as income. Granted, servers are not in a high tax bracket, but they generally prefer tips in cash. It also keeps the restaurant out of their tip business. That said, I don't carry much cash, I don't like spending in cash, so I write the tip in.

I really like paying with cash. I'll get the check amount plus tip, fan the bills out nicely (presentation counts!) and put the salt shaker on top so they don't blow away. Then I'm off without the back-and-forth credit card stuff.

Old school Luddite, I know.

 

[86Aviator]

I don't know what a negative tip is, but what I struggle with is what to tip for take out.

I call up a restaurant to place an order that is prepared, bagged and, depending on the place, handed to me inside or brought to my car. The kitchen prepares the food the same as if I'm eating there or taking it with me. Sure, someone packaged it, maybe or maybe not made sure I had the extra ramakin of salad dressing or whatever other "special" thing I ordered, but I don't think that took the same amount of time and dedication as waiting a table I occupied, what with refilling my beverage, etc. What's the appropriate tip? I never know. I struggle every time, but default to what I would leave if I was seated. And I always feel that was probably overly generous. But, maybe its not.

And what's appropriate for the Uber Eats guy? 18% on top of delivery fees, service charges and "Covid fees" always seems aggressive, but what do I know.

I'm not that old. I remember when I was a kid, my parents would go out for the evening and leave me and my kid sister with a $20 and tell us to order a pizza for dinner. We'd call up Pizza Hut, get a pizza and breadsticks, give the delivery guy the full $20 and all was well in the world. I feel like I paid $20 in junk fees the last time I ordered delivery.

 

[Lindberg]

McGruber - I left a negative tip!
Forum - That isn't cool.
McGruber -

He didn't run away though. @kgruber is lurking, just not answering.

 

[denverpilot]

And what's appropriate for the Uber Eats guy? 18% on top of delivery fees, service charges and "Covid fees" always seems aggressive, but what do I know.

Gub’mint says the Uber guy spends $0.54 / mile just to get it to you. That’s as good as any number to use, in a business that’s depreciating his vehicle to have a fleet and isn’t even close to being profitable as a personal business model.

The plus side is Uber lets drivers use beater vehicles for food deliveries. It’s just barely possible to turn a profit if they have a paid off beater.

Uber carrying humans around is a complete money loser as a business.

The driver makes cash today by depreciating the vehicle with miles.

All of the food delivery debt laden companies running on investor money are going to have a major oversupply of drivers here shortly as vaccinations get finished up.

They’ll squeeze the drivers harder then.

Uber at least used Covid to lay off an incredible percentage of their massive company overhead staff early on.

The kinds of mostly useless hangers on you see at any startup that hadn’t had the loans called in yet and is still doing the free food and drinks at Corporate junk, that companies hire to simulate “growth” instead of profitability.

Of course we have thirty seven Vice Presidents. Doesn’t everybody?

 

[DaleB]

If you

Of course we have thirty seven Vice Presidents. Doesn’t everybody?

37? That’s nothing. I’m a VP of a bank. So are most of the people I work with. I don’t know how many of us there are, but I’m sure it’s in the high tens of thousands at the very least. I think that’s a banking industry thing.

 

[Jim K]

If you

37? That’s nothing. I’m a VP of a bank. So are most of the people I work with. I don’t know how many of us there are, but I’m sure it’s in the high tens of thousands at the very least. I think that’s a banking industry thing.

Haha... that's for dummies like me.

I was always impressed that my loan officer at farm credit was "the vice president".
Then he left and they hired a kid fresh out of college. He was also "a vice president".
That's when I figured it out lol.

 

[NealRomeoGolf]

Haha... that's for dummies like me.

I was always impressed that my loan officer at farm credit was "the vice president".
Then he left and they hired a kid fresh out of college. He was also "a vice president".
That's when I figured it out lol.

Whereas at my company being a VP is a huge deal. You’re bringing in near 7 figures (total comp) if you’re a VP here.

 

[flyingron]

Actually, the usual place to prod the cards for validity these days is at a self-serve gas pump or online. I had a nice discussion with the security guys at one of my cards when they saw several gas pump authorizations. One time when my card did get compromised, there were a few online purchases (cookbook of the month club) apparently a test before they started buying big stuff.

 

[Deelee]

what I struggle with is what to tip for take out

What's the appropriate tip?

It rhymes with zero. Or nothing. Or nil.

Since the beginning of time, the process was as you described - call restaurant, person on phone takes order, cooks prepare food to order and put it in containers instead of on plate, food sits getting cold while I drive to restaurant and get stuck in traffic, pay cashier at restaurant for amount of food plus taxes, enjoy food. (Note here - Sometimes.... depending on the place... there would be a tip jar where you could stuff a buck in... )

Recently, some genius injected the electronic touch screen tip-o-matic into the process. Whereby when you pay, you cannot get to the confirmation screen without being prompted for how much to tip. 5%? 10%? 15%? 20%? Oh the shame of hitting the No Tip button!

I hit the No Tip button, smile and walk away with my food. Who am I tipping, here? The cashier taking my money? What service did they provide in the process? They didn't bring plates of food, get my drink(ok, drinks), clean up my kid's crumbs all over the floor and possibly spilled juice on the table, take my dirty plates away, bring me dessert, bring me a check, put up with my dumb dad jokes...

No. They didn't even take my card for payment - I inserted it into a slot! I drove to the restaurant! Now that I think about it, I should get a tip from them for takeout.

 

[wsuffa]

And what's appropriate for the Uber Eats guy? 18% on top of delivery fees, service charges and "Covid fees" always seems aggressive, but what do I know.

The question is "do you want your food, and how fast?"

Some Uber Eats drivers are refusing deliveries or making them really slow for known "bad tippers" or where they can see bad tips. A real concern in some places.

 

[Bill]

The question is "do you want your food, and how fast?"

Some Uber Eats drivers are refusing deliveries or making them really slow for known "bad tippers" or where they can see bad tips. A real concern in some places.

I've never used food delivery services and don't really see the need. The day I'm too lazy to go get food is the day I just don't need to eat.

 

[GaryM]

I don't know what a negative tip is, but what I struggle with is what to tip for take out.

In the past, if I was calling in an order, then walking in to pick it up, I didn't tip for take-out. When Covid hit and our local restaurants were forced to stop all indoor dining, I started tipping 10%-15% for take-out. I didn't really care where that money went, I just wanted to help the restaurant stay in business, because they were keeping at least some of the employees on the payroll, and because I wanted them around when I could once again dine indoors.

I'm still doing it, even though NJ restaurants can now open at 25% or 33% or 37% or 5/16's capacity, or whatever the limit is this week (our governor changes his mind a lot).

 

[Ted]

37? That’s nothing. I’m a VP of a bank. So are most of the people I work with. I don’t know how many of us there are, but I’m sure it’s in the high tens of thousands at the very least. I think that’s a banking industry thing.

Yeah, it definitely is a banking/financial industry thing.

Like @NealRomeoGolf if you're a VP at my company, it's a big deal. Not too many of them.

It seems that at banks, investment firms, etc., they use the VP title to impress clients and make them feel important by dealing with "a VP".

I know enough to know that I'm not that important in the grand scheme to these companies. So if I'm dealing directly with a VP, it means one of a few things:

1) The company is trying to pull one over on me
2) The company is small, and so dealing with a VP is because that VP also handles a lot of the customer relations, etc.
3) The company has ****ed me off enough that I've elevated my complaint to a real VP (but those companies usually have those VPs insulated well enough that I can't get to them)

 

[Bill]

In the past, if I was calling in an order, then walking in to pick it up, I didn't tip for take-out. When Covid hit and our local restaurants were forced to stop all indoor dining, I started tipping 10%-15% for take-out.

During Covid we did the same, got takeout from the neighborhood restaurants, and even though I normally don't tip on takeout, during that time everything got a 20% tip.

 

[asicer]

I've never used food delivery services and don't really see the need. The day I'm too lazy to go get food is the day I just don't need to eat.

I'll take just about any excuse to get out of the house. Doubly so for getting out of the office.

 

[Sac Arrow]

I really like paying with cash. I'll get the check amount plus tip, fan the bills out nicely (presentation counts!) and put the salt shaker on top so they don't blow away. Then I'm off without the back-and-forth credit card stuff.

Old school Luddite, I know.

To me, the back and forth with the change, and making runs to the ATM for cash, etc... is a lot more hassle than using the card, particularly at the store and fast food, where it's a swipe and done. Plus, I get 4% back on food and drink specifically, so that is a big motivation to use a card.

Now the seedy massage place on the other hand...

 

[PaulS]

To me, the back and forth with the change, and making runs to the ATM for cash, etc... is a lot more hassle than using the card, particularly at the store and fast food, where it's a swipe and done. Plus, I get 4% back on food and drink specifically, so that is a big motivation to use a card
Now the seedy massage place on the other hand...

Mr Kraft, is that you????

 

[luvflyin]

To me, the back and forth with the change, and making runs to the ATM for cash, etc... is a lot more hassle than using the card, particularly at the store and fast food, where it's a swipe and done. Plus, I get 4% back on food and drink specifically, so that is a big motivation to use a card.

Now the seedy massage place on the other hand...

If your masseuse is wearing one of these

 

[Lindberg]

The question is "do you want your food, and how fast?"

Some Uber Eats drivers are refusing deliveries or making them really slow for known "bad tippers" or where they can see bad tips. A real concern in some places.

The most valuable commodity an Uber driver has is his time. So they want to spend more of it on bad tippers?

 

[Sac Arrow]

When Uber started out, there wasn't even the option to tip, and there was no expectation.

 

[flyingron]

When Uber started out, there wasn't even the option to tip, and there was no expectation.

That was before the EATS feature was introduced.

 

[jssaylor2007]

@kgruber what's the deal?

I’m just going to have to assume he was booked for petty theft.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I guess credit card fraud is so rampant because the theft is written off with a shrug, and nobody bothers to investigate or prosecute.

Law enforcement, when it comes to theft at least, is an illusion these days. I had an iPad stolen by an amateur, they left it powered on and I was pi$$ed that they stole it. Via tracking and my own work with the right people, I got their home address, license plate number, and video of their face in the hands of the local detectives. They did NOTHING. And when I complained on Facebook, a friend of mine who is in law enforcement said that's pretty normal. Until you start stealing cars, they just don't care. No wonder we have such a problem with people in prison, we don't do anything about their habits until they do something bad enough to warrant several years.

I don't know what a negative tip is, but what I struggle with is what to tip for take out.

I used to tip nothing for that sort of thing, but in the age of Covid, the lower end of the income scale is hurting a lot worse than me. I've been doing 20% for takeout, and in the sit-down situations I've been in, I'm doing way more than 20%. I figure that I'm putting my stimulus check where it'll do the most good: In the pocket of someone who will spend it. That's what makes our economy run.

 

[exncsurfer]

@kgruber what's the deal?

He set this bag of poo of a thread on fire, rang the doorbell, and ran away!!

 

[Lindberg]

He set this bag of poo of a thread on fire, rang the doorbell, and ran away!!

He's back!