dbd33

Surely it can only be good. That way the person waiting can decide whether or not to share the tip with other staff or with the tax man.

Biiiiink

I always write "cash" in the tip space on the credit card bill. I've seen too many people who weren't waiting my table swoop when we leave, and I never know if my server got their tip or not. At least that way the appropriate person will know that one was left, regardless of who got their hands on it.

Daedra

Its prefered to be tipped in cash as I think some service persons dont delcare income from tips on taxes & therefore get a break... not sure if its legal or not (probably not) but I rarely ever tipped via cards (and only credit cards where I wrote in the amount for tip/grauities on the bill I signed)

Souvenir

What a great idea. I'll do that in future.

hot wasabi peas

It's not formalized at all. Restaurants vary a great deal on their tipping policies. One place I worked at had various policies, depending on who was working X shift.

Cash = immediate and no official record =

hot wasabi peas

Most people declare some of their tips (usually just enough not to bumped them into a higher tax bracket) because for future loan, mortgage, etc purposes, tips are not considered income unless they are declared on your income tax.

Daedra

Thats very true, income tax is one of the major criteria for money lenders as its the only official GOVT statement of income for workers... good point!

hot wasabi peas

I learned it the hard way!

dingbat

Same here.

windward

What about drive-throughs etc? I tipped regularly in places without waiting staff all over Quebec but as soon as we pulled into a Swedish Chicken (?) or whatever it's called in Ontario the guy at the till looked at me like I was from another planet when I told him to keep the change; it was only a few dollars...

Daedra

Drive throughs imply no 'to the table' service and hence is not necessary to tip... you can do so if you feel you have been given service above and beyond, but it is NOT implied in Noth America.

EDIT: just wanted to add that at any drive through Burger King, McDonalds, Wendys and the like, we NEVER tipped unless there was a problem that the staff went above & beyond their jobs to help us with... I dont think we were the 'odd' ones out in Canada as none of my friends & family there seemed to do any different.

EDIT on the edit (sorry): just wanted to add, if its a matter of a few cents change it is very often that staff get told to 'keep the change' in North America if the customer doesnt want to add to their copper collection *lol* some stores have a 'penny tray' by the till where you can deposit unwanted coppers or nickles (5cents) or dimes (10 cents) into to help the next customer short a small amount when paying at the till (if its you thats short, just excuse yourself and ask to take the difference out of the penny/copper tray, they are usually fine with it)

montreal mike

I solved that problem a long time ago. I always hand the waiter the tip and say thanks. I don't live off some fancy expense account so what I eat comes out of my pocket. I may pay the bill on interac but the tip itself is strictly cash. I have never had a problem and I am sure the waiter appreciates my directness. I eat often at Montreal's Chinatown and want to be sure I am well received. The way I operate at least I know the waiter/waitress gets the tip and not some undeserving party. Even when I was on expense account (many years ago) I would routinely hand the waiter/waitress the tip in cash rather than adding it to the bill and settling on the way out. I would later add the tip to my expense account. My boss never questioned it.

montreal mike

The taxman is not that generous. I believe that the employer is obligated to add a certain dollar value or percentage to an employee's tax slip. This may not apply to run-of-the mill fast food places and regular restos. But I think it is done for classy bars and more upscale eateries where waiters can make darned good money.

Poppy2

That is going to take some serious organising then - I am used to using no cash in my daily life and having to think ahead, pop to an ATM before going out, just for the tip is going to be a hard habit to get into!

I am so glad I read this thread - no idea at all! I hate the idea of inadvertantly offending waiting staff, or anyone else - so this is a great reminder.

montreal mike

Just a thought. At least here one has the ability to tip, not to tip, tip a little, tip a lot, be generous, be miserly, whatever.

In some European countries the tip (aka as pourboir in France) is added to the bill. I find that presumptious.

The waiter has no incentive to provide good service. Reminds me of Paris 1968, somewhere near the Arc de Triomphe, slow and mediocre service but the food was OK (nothing beats French cuisine), but the bloody pourboir was added to the bill. We paid, had no choice, but on the way out I told the garcon he was lucky to be a frenchman as he really didn't deserve it.

We never went back!