Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
Just wondering if this is a new thing or if it is just bad etiquette with regard to wait staff.
Yesterday I went to a local American taco type restaurant where they name their tacos after regional references with a group of friends. There was 14 of us in all. The service sucked to say the least. We had to ask for obvious things several times like napkins and utensils. The waiter could not get everyone's order right or remember who ordered which food or what was in each taco on the plates he was bringing out. I ordered a Diet Coke but got Doctor Pepper. Refills took forever for drinks and chips and you had to search for the waiter because he rarely ever came by the table. Some people got their meals more than 25 minutes after the first person got theirs.
There was one thing I found unusual though. We all received seperate checks. Half paid with their credit cards the other half with cash. When people paid with cash he never asked if anyone wanted change. My bill came to $9.15. I paid with a $20. when the waiter returned with everyone's change, I received a five dollar bill and five ones. No coins what so ever. The same thing happened to everone else that paid in cash. I normally tip 20%+, but becuase the service was so aweful I was only going to tip 15%. Since he stole some of my money, he got nothing else instead. Most of the others felt the same way. I don't what he did to those that paid with a credit card, but If I paid by credit card, I would be checking my credit card bill to make sure they didn't change the amount of the tip they wrote on the receipt.
We've been to this restaurant before and they've never kept the coinage without asking. It's not the amount of the money, but it's the priciple of the thing. I usually pay with credit card, so I've never noticed if this happens often. just wondering from those that have worked in this industry or often pay with cash if this is a normal proceedure now to not bother returning the change when it is under a dollar.
Yesterday I went to a local American taco type restaurant where they name their tacos after regional references with a group of friends. There was 14 of us in all. The service sucked to say the least. We had to ask for obvious things several times like napkins and utensils. The waiter could not get everyone's order right or remember who ordered which food or what was in each taco on the plates he was bringing out. I ordered a Diet Coke but got Doctor Pepper. Refills took forever for drinks and chips and you had to search for the waiter because he rarely ever came by the table. Some people got their meals more than 25 minutes after the first person got theirs.
There was one thing I found unusual though. We all received seperate checks. Half paid with their credit cards the other half with cash. When people paid with cash he never asked if anyone wanted change. My bill came to $9.15. I paid with a $20. when the waiter returned with everyone's change, I received a five dollar bill and five ones. No coins what so ever. The same thing happened to everone else that paid in cash. I normally tip 20%+, but becuase the service was so aweful I was only going to tip 15%. Since he stole some of my money, he got nothing else instead. Most of the others felt the same way. I don't what he did to those that paid with a credit card, but If I paid by credit card, I would be checking my credit card bill to make sure they didn't change the amount of the tip they wrote on the receipt.
We've been to this restaurant before and they've never kept the coinage without asking. It's not the amount of the money, but it's the priciple of the thing. I usually pay with credit card, so I've never noticed if this happens often. just wondering from those that have worked in this industry or often pay with cash if this is a normal proceedure now to not bother returning the change when it is under a dollar.
#3
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
I'd imagine it may have to do with the amount of people at one table paying separately with cash? I wouldn't want to do all that math either.
#4
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#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
Never seen that happen before. Based on your overall experience, it sounds like you had a waiter that was either too dumb or just enough of an asshole to not give proper change.
Having said that, I never waited tables but it has to be insanely annoying to have to do separate checks for 14 people by yourself. You should have had at least 2 waiters.
Having said that, I never waited tables but it has to be insanely annoying to have to do separate checks for 14 people by yourself. You should have had at least 2 waiters.
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette

I just assume it's borne out of the culture of knowing that some kind of tip is expected, so why bring back the filthy coins at all? I don't know. That's just my thought process.
And to be frank... if I'm eating out

#8
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
I'm curious how this worked out with separate bills. Usually when you have a table of 8+ a tip is automatically added to the bill. With everyone cashing out separately, I don't think they're able to do that.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
I abhor carrying change of any kind, and anytime I pay in cash at a restaurant, any change returned gets left on the table with the tip, so this would not bother me.
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
That has never happened to me before as a regular occurrence. If the wrong change is received, I let them know immediately and correct the situation.
Did you bring it up with the waiter or anyone at the restaurant?
Did you bring it up with the waiter or anyone at the restaurant?
#11
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
#12
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
Ive had it happen a few times at differnet places. Does not bother me but it did strike me as odd. I can see it with all the separate checks, there was almost no way this waiter had a chance at getting 8+ of the folio things back to the table with loose change in them anyway.
At least you were not spending $80 for two people....
At least you were not spending $80 for two people....

#13
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
Aren't you doing the math either way? If your total is $9.15 and someone gives you a $20, you take the 20.00 and subtract 9.15. If you decide to steal the change you have to add 9+1 and then subtract that from 20 or take 9.15 and figure out how much you have to add to it so that it equals the next whole numer, then you have to still subtract that number from 20. So you're really doing one extra math problem when you are not trying to give exact change. Besides just about every restaurant nowadays has a register and you just enter the amount and it does the math for you.
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
Never seen that happen before. Based on your overall experience, it sounds like you had a waiter that was either too dumb or just enough of an asshole to not give proper change.
Having said that, I never waited tables but it has to be insanely annoying to have to do separate checks for 14 people by yourself. You should have had at least 2 waiters.
Having said that, I never waited tables but it has to be insanely annoying to have to do separate checks for 14 people by yourself. You should have had at least 2 waiters.
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
I had lunch out today. My bill came to $11.76. I gave the server $15.01 and he gave me back $4.35 instead of the $3.35 I was owed. I pointed it out and returned a dollar to him immediately, then tipped him 20 percent.
I've waited tables in my day. You had a table with separate checks. It's a pain in the ass to handle. Why be a dick and not tip the guy over 85 fucking cents? Figure the 85 cents is part of the tip and be done with it. That guy makes about two bucks an hour.
I've waited tables in my day. You had a table with separate checks. It's a pain in the ass to handle. Why be a dick and not tip the guy over 85 fucking cents? Figure the 85 cents is part of the tip and be done with it. That guy makes about two bucks an hour.
#17
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
I had lunch out today. My bill came to $11.76. I gave the server $15.01 and he gave me back $4.35 instead of the $3.35 I was owed. I pointed it out and returned a dollar to him immediately, then tipped him 20 percent.
I've waited tables in my day. You had a table with separate checks. It's a pain in the ass to handle. Why be a dick and not tip the guy over 85 fucking cents? Figure the 85 cents is part of the tip and be done with it. That guy makes about two bucks an hour.
I've waited tables in my day. You had a table with separate checks. It's a pain in the ass to handle. Why be a dick and not tip the guy over 85 fucking cents? Figure the 85 cents is part of the tip and be done with it. That guy makes about two bucks an hour.
I can't remember the last time I paid in cash that wasn't a situation where I got something with a group of friends and my bill was going to be like 14-15 bucks and I just leave a 20 because I don't want to deal with it. I never have any change with me but I'd be annoyed if the wait staff automatically assumed they got my change.
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
#19
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
Were you or your group being loud and obnoxious?
#20
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
I had lunch out today. My bill came to $11.76. I gave the server $15.01 and he gave me back $4.35 instead of the $3.35 I was owed. I pointed it out and returned a dollar to him immediately, then tipped him 20 percent.
I've waited tables in my day. You had a table with separate checks. It's a pain in the ass to handle. Why be a dick and not tip the guy over 85 fucking cents? Figure the 85 cents is part of the tip and be done with it. That guy makes about two bucks an hour.
I've waited tables in my day. You had a table with separate checks. It's a pain in the ass to handle. Why be a dick and not tip the guy over 85 fucking cents? Figure the 85 cents is part of the tip and be done with it. That guy makes about two bucks an hour.
The point is though, it is the principle of thing. When I worked for this one retail company as an assistant manager, I was in charge of doing the payroll at the end of the week. He would tell me before I complete the payroll to make sure no one is over 40 hours before I post it. He did not want anyone to be paid for over 40 even if it was for just 5 minutes. I told him if he wants to steal then he will have to do it himself; and if he does he better hope I don't go and check any alterations later and let the employees know. Theft is theft. If I go through the express lane at the grocery store and my total was $9.15 and I hand the cashier $20, I expect to get back $10.85 and not $10 even. I don't care weather the cashier makes minimum wage or $15 an hour.
#21
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
#22
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
I agree that it’s the principle. If this had happened to me, I’d have done the same thing. Although I could never find 14 people willing to go out in public with me.
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
No one else does the trick (assuming you have change) where you give the guy $20.15 so he can give you back $11?
But in this case, it sounds like the guy didn't want to bother with "advanced" addition/subtraction.
But in this case, it sounds like the guy didn't want to bother with "advanced" addition/subtraction.

#25
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Restaurant Wait Staff That Don't Give Coin Change Back Etiquette
i used to do that when I carried change but more often than not it just confused the person taking the money. I don’t know how many times they looked at the change, then just handed it back to me.