Left cash tip at restaurant shop

Hi everyone, I’m pretty new at this. Tonight I did a restaurant shop and left a cash tip. Now I’m worried after filling out the report that they are going to not reimburse me because I have no proof that I left a 20% tip. It was for sentry insights. Anyone have any experience in this area?

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Yeah, I just wrote the tip down on the receipt. They always accepted it from me.

Oh good, was this for sentry when you did it?

They have also accepted it for me when I have done shops.

It has not been for Sentry.

another MSC tells you to take a picture of the cash tip next to the receipt. I don't do cash unless mandated, so I don't have this worry.

Documentation, documentation, documentation!

I never leave a cash tip when on a shop. (I always leave cash when it is a non-shop.)

Welcome to the biz. I cannot tell you what they will decide to do. If they give it to you, great. If they don't, consider it a lesson learned. Whatever the outcome, never do a cash tip for any shop. Then, you never have to worry about it ever being questioned and you can ensure a proper reimbursement. Other shoppers may tell you otherwise, but they are not going to be the ones holding the bag when you eventually get a report denied for not following directions.

There is the truth.
Then there is the right thing to say.

It depends on the shop. Some only want cash payment, as the shop can primarily focus around cash payment and handling. Some don't want you to write on the receipt. Some may want you to take a picture of the cash tip next to the receipt.

Your best chance at this point is to write it on the receipt, and then submit the receipt with the tip shown on it. My advice is that unless you are told to leave a cash tip, put it on a card. If faced with a restaurant or store that offers a discount for cash, decline and use a card.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

I echo what Okie says in that some MSC's require payment of your meal and tip in cash only. A popular wing shop is exactly that way.

There can even be a combination. Two different dining shop I do reguarly come to mind; a Japanese steak house and Mexican cantina requires having a drink in the bar first. That portion of the shop is done in cash (payment + tip).. The meal portion of the shop is to be done by card.

Some dining shops pay a set fee regardless of how much you spend (less or more) so if the meal + tip are under, at, or over the fee, the amount of the tip is a moot point (except maybe as a cost of doing business if you followed the ordering guidelines to the tee).

Never had a cash tip rejected (knock on wood) by any MSC. I add to the receipt and report the combined total. On those shops I have always been within the max reimbursement threshold.

Good luck!

@Okie wrote:

It depends on the shop. Some only want cash payment, as the shop can primarily focus around cash payment and handling. Some don't want you to write on the receipt. Some may want you to take a picture of the cash tip next to the receipt.

For those that leave cash tips when it's not instructed to do so, what is your reasoning behind this? There are some CC that offer up to 5% for restaurants. Why ever give up the "free money" for using the CC? I get if you don't have a good CC rewards program, but still, it seems like more of a headache to deal with cash tip and have that worry about reimbursement. There is nothing to dispute when there is a trail (credit card) tip.

I have a BofA rewards card that gets 5.25% on the category of my choice. To not use this card and pay cash (when NOT required) would be financially stupid for me to leave the free money behind. And yes, of course I pay in full each month. Any one using a CC should pay in full or not use one.

@Jnbent35 wrote:

Oh good, was this for sentry when you did it?

Yes. Sorry, I thought that would have been clear by implication. My bad.

@myst4au wrote:

My advice is that unless you are told to leave a cash tip, put it on a card.

Amen and Hallelujah!

Absolutely no reason whatsoever to tip with cash, unless the shop requires it.

You are out your own money for however long it takes the MSC to pay you, and you miss out on credit card perks, however small they may be.

Given shrinking fees, one should strive to use every opportunity to increase their bottom line.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

I know most of theses restaurants have the tablets that you can pay at the table but if you use a credit/debit card at the restaurant, there is a small chance the server can an extra tip to your bill.

For example, if you leave $ 5.00 tip. The server can go back and change it to $ 10 or something like that

I will never use a debit/ credit card at restaurant and I will always tip in cash unless the MSC/client requires me to do so..

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

I will never use a debit/ credit card at restaurant and I will always tip in cash unless the MSC/client requires me to do so..

Have synthesizers, will travel...

Never?

Sorry, but your position strikes me as paranoid.

On the off chance a server does try to pull a shady one, you can resolve the issue with your credit card company, provided you document things.

Meanwhile, such behavior represents negative cash flow FWIS, which is how I view everything in my world.

Stashing available cash in an online savings account and paying by credit card while gleaning rewards is the way I prefer to roll.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

@hbbigdaddy I rarely give cash tips. When I do, it's for the benefit of the server and I know I am losing out on reward points.

Most of the time, it is because the server gives much better service than the other workers at that restaurant and I know the server has to split tips with them. I sometimes leave an 18% tip with a credit card and give extra cash to the server. That way, the other workers get a reasonable tip and the server gets extra for extra effort.

Also, some restaurants routinely steal servers' tips. By paying cash, I hope I can help the server keep at least some of it.

I know some people routinely pay cash tips because they leave it up to the servers to decide how much to declare on their taxes. That is not why I do it.

ETA: I am talking about non-shops. I don't pay cash on shops unless required.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2024 07:11PM by BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz

I understand what you are saying. However, i try not to eat anywhere where I have to tip when it's not a shop. i save all the tipping stuff for shops. My kid's bday and she wants TXRH. I'm not happy cuz I would rather do it as a shop, than to pay for it, but I'll go and suck it up. This is one exception to going somewhere I need to leave a tip when it's my own money. But I purchased the gift cards from Sams Club that are at a slight discount. So I will pay with GC.

That’s illegal. You would dispute the charge and the person would be fired, i agree with others, max out the rewards. I rotate the card that I use based upon rewards. Never leave money on the table and also it’s just easier to pay it off when the payment/reimbursement comes.

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

I know most of theses restaurants have the tablets that you can pay at the table but if you use a credit/debit card at the restaurant, there is a small chance the server can an extra tip to your bill.

For example, if you leave $ 5.00 tip. The server can go back and change it to $ 10 or something like that

I will never use a debit/ credit card at restaurant and I will always tip in cash unless the MSC/client requires me to do so..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2024 11:44PM by gigishopper.

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Left cash tip at restaurant shop

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