# How do wait staff prefer to recieve tips? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812 "2015-01-02T22:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/21 "2015-01-03T16:41:52Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > This tipping automatically, it’s for the birds. No, it’s not. And I’ll bet you are REALLY popular with waitstaff, aren’t you?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/22 "2015-01-03T17:19:13Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > No, it’s not. > > And I’ll bet you are REALLY popular with waitstaff, aren’t you?:dubious: I don’t tip because society says I have to. Alright, I mean I’ll tip if somebody really deserves a tip. If they put forth the effort, I’ll give them something extra. But I mean, this tipping automatically, it’s for the birds. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/23 "2015-01-03T17:23:58Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > I don’t tip because society says I have to. Alright, I mean I’ll tip if somebody really deserves a tip. If they put forth the effort, I’ll give them something extra. But I mean, this tipping automatically, it’s for the birds. We’re gonna being using aliases on this job. You’re Mr Pink. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/24 "2015-01-03T17:33:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > We’re gonna being using aliases on this job. You’re Mr Pink. Hey, why am I Mr. Pink? Why can’t we pick our own colors? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/25 "2015-01-03T17:35:31Z")
There’s two ways you can go on this job, My Way or The Highway, what’s it gonna be Mr Pink? ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/26 "2015-01-03T17:38:49Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > There’s two ways you can go on this job, My Way or The Highway, what’s it gonna be Mr Pink? Jesus Christ, Joey, fucking forget about it. It’s beneath me. I’m Mr. Pink. Let’s move on. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/27 "2015-01-03T18:47:51Z")
I’ll move on when I feel like it. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/28 "2015-01-03T18:50:51Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Do you really think people need you to make it easier to cheat on their taxes? Ever read the 1040 form? It is a voluntary tax. I just didn’t volunteer as much as they would have preferred. Now I get 25% less social security as I would have, but that is a life decision I made a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/29 "2015-01-03T18:52:09Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > it’ll come back to bite them if/when they file for unemployment or worker’s comp. Or Social Security. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/30 "2015-01-03T18:59:34Z")
> [@DingoelGringo](#): > > Ever read the 1040 form? It is a voluntary tax. A what? Can I get a cite that says you get to pick if you feel like reporting whether or not you want to report your tips on your 1040. The Form 1040 instructions are [right here](http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040.pdf), it should say that it’s voluntary to report them…right? What I see is that you’re supposed to use this form to report tips that you didn’t report to your employer…they’re giving you a second chance to report them. Agree with it or not, there’s not very many ways for money to end up in your hands (especially if it’s a liviable amount) without the government wanting to know about it (and wanting some of it). ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/31 "2015-01-04T00:49:54Z")
I tip in cash. I understand in some restaurants, they withhold for taxes, etc, some percentage of the amount customers are charged (sans tip) from the servers. It’s way less than the tips the servers get, though. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/32 "2015-01-04T00:56:37Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > When I give a tip I think of it as a gift, and think it’s damned petty of the government to tax them. Perhaps the same could be said of all taxes. In any case, it’s hardly the pettiest of taxes. Inheritance tax? Shit, that’s just mean. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/33 "2015-01-04T00:57:37Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Cash all the way. > > Credit card tips take a cycle or two to show up in the paycheck, and for someone making minimum wage or so, a steady flow of cash in hand makes it a lot easier to buy life’s little necessities. No amount of tips coming to you in tomorrow’s paycheck is worth anything when the car needs gas TODAY. YMMV. I never served, but I was intimately involved with and/or related to several people who have. Some restaurants cash out charged tips that day. Most checks are weekly- so at worst it comes in the closest Friday. I actually knew some who preferred to have more than a $0 weekly check, which was typical due to taxes and meals taken out of the $2.13/Hr wages. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/34 "2015-01-04T01:00:42Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I do all of my tips by credit card. The way I see it, I’m doing them a favor by making it easier for them to properly complete their tax return. Unless things have really changed, that shouldn’t be more of an issue than anyone who gets a W2. Every server I knew had tips calculated and the taxes with held from weekly checks. $0 checks were common. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/35 "2015-01-04T04:32:58Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Inheritance tax? Shit, that’s just mean. Yeah, only $5,340,000 is exempted. Horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/36 "2015-01-04T09:28:40Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Long ago in a galaxy far, far away when my wife was a server (not waitress!) she preferred cash. She wasn’t worried about the IRS. She didn’t want her bosses skimminh her tips. Same. When I worked as a server there was at least one place that blithely took the credit card processing fee (or what they _said_ was the fee… not like they ever bothered to prove to me how much the fee actually was) out of any of my credit card tips before handing me the cash. As I understand it, this was not in any way legal, but when you make 2 bucks an hour what exactly are you going to do about it? I found another job as soon as I could, but it was still months. I say “at least” because I worked at another place whose required mathematical formula for calculating your credit card tips was so convoluted, for no discernible reason, that I was never sure that I was ending up with the correct amount of tips I should have been owed. (It was definitely not something logical like adding up the tip lines from your collected receipts that you kept in your apron during your shift.) Pretty sure they did that on purpose, for exactly that reason, so no one could tell they were getting skimmed. But everyone had to do the math that way, and show your work, blah blah or risk getting fired. It was, again, too much of a headache to complain about it, because they made sure the servers knew they had no power there. On the plus side, a couple years later I got notice in the mail that a class action suit had been brought against the place for shady compensation practices. So I joined the class and got about 90 bucks out of it some months later. Probably doesn’t even approach how much they actually skimmed, but hey. So in my case, at least, it was never so I could cheat, but so I could be sure I wasn’t _getting_ cheated. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/37 "2015-01-04T11:50:36Z")
I just wish they would drop the whole tipping thing altogether and just pay wages to the servers. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/38 "2015-01-04T12:28:43Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > When I give a tip I think of it as a gift, and think it’s damned petty of the government to tax them. > > So, when I go out to eat I sometimes tip cash, leaving it on the table, and sometimes I add it to the ticket when I pay by credit card. I imagine the latter makes it easier for the Infernal Revenue Service to grab what they regard as their share. Regardless of what you think, your tip is not a gift. It is income to the server you give it to. What the IRS “regards” as their share of a server’s income is no different from my gross earnings or yours. The fact that my income or yours comes in the form of an electronic deposit from our employers makes it no more or less taxable than the income servers earn waiting tables. Swiped cards do cost merchants in the neighborhood of 3% in transaction fees and I see no problem with restaurants passing that along for servers in a time when 20% is considered a standard tip. 3% on a $20 tip is sixty cents. Cry me a river. If your employer is taking 10% of your tip as previously mentioned, you are working for criminals. In conclusion, servers want to be tipped in cash. I tip them however the fuck I feel like tipping them on any given transaction. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/39 "2015-01-04T13:44:02Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Seattle has a multi-year plan to raise its minimum wage to $15.00/hour. A year in ($11.00/hour come April) with the plan and there is [no negative impact to business](http://www.11alive.com/story/money/economy/2014/12/31/15-hour-minimum-wage-seatac/21115687/). It appears to be just as accurate to say (based on your cite) that there is no benefit to anyone. [Most minimum wage earners in Seattle are in their 20s, working a second job and are not poor](http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023116005_wageimpactsxml.html), and it raised the price of eating out and > [@](#): > > Other economists say there are more negative effects, particularly for the youngest and least-skilled workers who might lose hours and see the number of entry-level positions reduced in favor of more skilled workers. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812/40 "2015-01-04T14:01:20Z")
> [@](#): > > and it raised the price of eating out there’s a fairly simple solution to that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-wait-staff-prefer-to-recieve-tips/708812.md?page=3)