Excelsior! Academy Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Do you ever leave cash at the table? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbeym Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 We try to always tip cash, but DH lets the wait staff know it's there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Why wouldn't you leave the tip on the table? :confused: I wouldn't think the Cracker Barrel would be rife with career criminals, stealthily roving through the dining room, swiping tips off of the tables when no one is looking. Or is it??? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 We usually pay with our check card and add the tip to the card. However, occasionally we either pay cash or leave a cash tip. I can't think of a reason why we wouldn't leave cash at the table, other than if we're paying with a card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Yes, why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I've never had any problem leaving the tip (as well as the whole check amount) at the table. We often pay in cash, and my family always did so when I was younger. I've never thought anything about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I'm dying to know. Why just Cracker Barrel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 No............. I include it on the credit card. I carry very little cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I haven't been there for several years, but yes. Why do you ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 :bigear: Also wondering. We usually pay with a credit card and add the tip on the card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 We often leave cash tips on restaurant tables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathmarm Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 What else could you tip in? Why just The Cracker Barrel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 As long as I'm not eating with my multi-millionaire bil! Fortunately, haven't had to do that in years. We used to catch him sneaking back to the table to steal the tips... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Oh my God, my grandma used to love the Cracker Barrel! We always went there when we were younger, before she passed away! I know that we tipped because we were always a large band and every one would chip in a couple of dollars, so I know that we tipped cash. Wow, I just realized that I have been only once since Grandma B. :crying: . I miss her--I should go to the Cracker Barrel again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I have eaten at Cracker Barrel but I am confused as to what is special about tipping there? I really hope someone explains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hikin' Mama Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I, too, want to know why this question is specific to Cracker Barrel. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Also confused as to why this question is specifically about Cracker Barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Not the OP, but I am going to guess this question is specific to CB because it is one of the few restaurants these days that provides full table service but has you pay at a register on your way out. Most table service restaurants have the server take your payment. As for the question, yes, I try to leave cash at CB even if I am paying with a CC. I am a good tipper and figure the wait staff does not know who left what if you add it to the credit card. This used to be more important (not that it is really important at all; perhaps it was closer to being important) when we ate at the same CB regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaCEmom Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 We very rarely pay with cash anymore, so we always just add the tip to our card when we pay. My mother, who worked a second job as a waitress at another breakfast place for many years, never leaves a cash tip on the table. She always hands it directly to the waitress or waiter even if she has to wait around to get their attention again. And if it's a joint tip she'll collect the money and do the same thing with handing it over personally. She wants to make sure the money gets into the right pocket and after years of being on the other side of things, she just doesn't trust people. I'm sure it depends on the area, but things could be pretty sketchy where she worked. I know she also had her arthritis meds stolen out of her locker. How low do you have to be to steal arthritis meds from a middle age lady serving pancakes at 1am?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I agree CB is unique because of the way one checks out due to having the gift store. I've personally seen customers take the tips off tables and pocket it as they walk by, and I've seen bussing staff also take the tip...whether or not they give it to the waiter/ress who served that table, I do not know. CB's in our area are notoriously busy, just huge amounts of people, and I do believe there could be a significant delay getting back to the table to check for one's tip. It's the only place we have in terms of chain restaurant in which checking out at a register is done instead of waitstaff taking your card or money and running the till, then bringing back your receipt. In many cases when paying with credit or debit, they stick around while you sign so they know how much tip you've added to the receipt. Not always, but a good percentage of the time. They don't want to lose track of those receipts. We have not eaten at CB in years since the location in regards to our usually shopping area is so inconvenient. However, the last time I was in it, the place was crazy busy in there. I could see maybe wondering if your tip actually made it to the right person if you left it on the table. It was far busier than any other full service restaurant I have ever been in around this area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 I am the OP. It is just for the Cracker Barrel. The reason I am asking is because of the unique way they are set up. Other restaurants sometimes have you pay at the register, but Cracker Barrel has you leave the eating area, enter the gift shop, then pay. Two different times I have left cash tips on the table. The first time I went back to get something off of the table we left and I *think* I saw the bus boy get the $. I wasn't not sure due to specific circumstances, so I did not confront him. (I would have no qualms if I did see someone swipe it though!) This time I intended to pay with cash and had forgotten their payment policy. I put the tip on the table. When the waitress came by she reminded me I had to pay at the register. We went to pay, but had to pay with a credit card. I marked out the tip area and commented on leaving cash at the table. The register people looked at me strangely, as if that was uncommon or as if I was not leaving a tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 When I was a waitress in college the bus boys often grabbed the tips for us. They gave us the money in the back. To my knowledge, they never stole my money mostly because as a server I knew how much the table's ticket was and about how much to expect in a tip. They knew better than to try to cross the servers when it came to the tips. We could get a little unhinged if we thought someone was taking our tip money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 All the restaurants I've seen with busboys have them pick up the tip and then distribute it to the server. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 We almost always add the tip to the bill and pay with a debit card. We rarely carry cash even when traveling. And I'm cynical; I don't trust people to not swipe cash tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 They were probably looking at you as though you weren't going to leave a tip bc most folks who pay with CC also tip with it. *shrug* They can think anything they want. I'd just do what I'd planned to do and let it go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I wouldn't worry about the busboy. Even way back in the day when I worked tables, tips were frequently split amongst all waitstaff which includes the host, waiters and busboys. There is usually a percentage to each with the largest share going to the waiter on your table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahliarw Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 If I do leave cash (at any restaurant) but pay with a card, I do write "cash" in the tip area. I dunno why, I just feel better doing that. But I rarely leave cash tips - I just don't carry cash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 If I do leave cash (at any restaurant) but pay with a card, I do write "cash" in the tip area. I dunno why, I just feel better doing that. But I rarely leave cash tips - I just don't carry cash! What a good idea! Thanks for mentioning it. Dh and I will occasionally have breakfast at IHOP and our bill comes to about $11. I just leave a cash tip because it's just a couple dollars. I pay with my debit card at the register and I always feel it looks like I'm stiffing the waitstaff on the tip when I just draw a line through the tip area. I draw the line because that prevents someone from adding in a tip after I'm gone- it happened once (not at IHOP). I'll start writing 'cash' instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I worked as a server at Cracker Barrel. The staff does not split the tips; everything you leave is supposed to go to your main server. If you leave it on your credit card, it is added to all the other credit card tips for that server and given to him/her at the end of his/her shift. I never had a busperson bring me a tip; if he or she bused the table before I got back to it, the money was always left neatly on the cleaned table. Of course, things may have changed in the years since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 If I do leave cash (at any restaurant) but pay with a card, I do write "cash" in the tip area. I dunno why, I just feel better doing that. But I rarely leave cash tips - I just don't carry cash! I really like this idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I would not assume that a bus boy was dishonest by picking up the tip. That's just the way it's done in some restaurants. I worked as a waitress from high school through grad school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Just an FYI, it is good to pay for restaurant meals with cash to save the restaurant the credit card processing fee. DH used to work in the payment industry and it is a NASTY industry. You really do not want to support it, lol. As a matter of fact, the CEO of Heartland Payment systems is deliberately not reimbursing us for DH's last business trip to NY, just to be a jerk on a power trip. He knows DH took the trip on his boss's request, but they are deliberately stealing from my family just because they can. That is the tiny tip of the iceberg with these people. There is my liberal rant for the day, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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