The new restaurant fraud

[DonTom]

There have been a couple of times when I have ordered something expensive in a restaurant and was told they had a problem with their credit card system and needed cash. I felt I had been fed BS, but I assumed it was because the restaurant wanted to save their 3% CC fee.

One time was when I ordered the red curry duck at Yuma Thai. The most expensive item on their menu at the time. Last time I was there, they removed it from their menu (I have no idea why).

But perhaps this was the real reason why they wanted cash.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Domo]

If they have a credit card emblem/sticker on their door, you can pay with a card. Otherwise I think you are contributing to tax evasion.

 

[DonTom]

Otherwise I think you are contributing to tax evasion.

Yeah, perhaps it is for multiple reasons. But that "tax evasion" will apply to anybody who uses cash where they accept CCs.

-Don- Reno, NV

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[John From Detroit]

Sometimes issues with credit card systems do in fact happen.
But you might watch other customers.. If some pay with a tap, insert, or slide ,but you can not.. CLUE. IF everybody is forking over cash Or a sign on the entrance says' Credit card machine down cash only.. Also a CLUE.

 

[jlhog]

I love the ignore option here.

 

[DonTom]

Sometimes issues with credit card systems do in fact happen.
But you might watch other customers.

Yeah, I tried doing that, but I didn't see anybody pay in the short time I was there. It could have been true, but I kinda doubt it.

Whatever the reason, it is not a big deal to me. I always have more than enough cash on me for things like that.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Alaskansnowbirds]

Restaurants around here have a sign at the counter that 3% (or what ever it's costing them for CC transactions) will be added to the bill if you pay with a CC. Some CC companies are charging more than 3%.

 

[DonTom]

Restaurants around here have a sign at the counter that 3% (or what ever it's costing them for CC transactions) will be added to the bill if you pay with a CC. Some CC companies are charging more than 3%.

Yes, they made that legal just a couple of years ago. But I only find a few places that charge more for the use of a CC. And those few places were all in CA. I do not recall seeing such anywhere here in Reno or elsewhere in Nevada.

Often, these few places say they give a discount for cash, which is really saying the same thing.

But my experience with Yuma Thai was well before it was legal for them to charge more for using a CC.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Chef Duane]

I have never worked in anyplace that has "had a problem with their credit card system and needed cash." Yeah, that sounds kind of fishy to me. No pun intended. But a surcharge on CC transactions has been around for some time and most establishments cover the charge when they cost out the dish. On our menu the cost of the dish was calculated with the CC transaction fee included and if they paid cash our margin on that particular table was a bit better. Minimally, albeit better. But paying a $300+ tab for 2 (drinks, dinner, wine, dessert, at a nice place) with cash pretty rare. And 3% on a $300 is only $9.

 

[Heli_av8tor]

Is the "No Politics" rule suspended when the comments are anti-Trump?

 

[jlhog]

Is the "No Politics" rule suspended when the comments are anti-Trump?

Ignore button works great, I wont see anymore of that trash talk about Trump from him.

 

[PancakeBill]

When I was working in Yellowstone, we had some software issues and connectivity issues that affected our ability to take CC's, we would have a sign up that cash was preferred. If someone wanted to use a CC we could use the knuckle buster and had to process later when we could get the CC process working. It was horrible,

 

[DonTom]

It is in effect now.

It always was, just pay cash.

TBH, I never realized the tip was taxed when using a CC, but it is a negligible amount. How could anybody notice?

A $20.00 meal at a high tax rate of 10%. 20% tip=4.00 bucks. 10% of that is 40 cents. What can 40 cents get us these days?

Compare to the CC fee of 3%=60 cents on the same meal. The restaurant can keep my 40 cents, AFAIC, since their cost is sixty cents for my CC use.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Yes, they made that legal just a couple of years ago. But I only find a few places that charge more for the use of a CC. And those few places were all in CA. I do not recall seeing such anywhere here in Reno or elsewhere in Nevada.

Often, these few places say they give a discount for cash, which is really saying the same thing.

But my experience with Yuma Thai was well before it was legal for them to charge more for using a CC.

-Don- Reno, NV

I've encountered a few such restaurants here in South Florida. And government agencies that have a "convenience fee" if you choose to pay with a credit card, e.g. for a vehicle license fee. I'm sympathetic - the extra cost has to be recovered somehow.

 

[bigbAZ]

When we pay with a credit card we don't include the tip, we pay that in cash directly to our server. Also, I don't know how widespread this is but at some restaurants here all the tips are pooled and divided among the employees by management/owner.

 

[Mr Lars]

Years ago, some States cracked down on merchants charging more for paying by CC. It was determined that charging more for using CC was discriminatory. For awhile merchants offered ‘cash discount’, then for a number of years there was no ‘up charge ’ for CC usage, now the ‘up charge’ is back in vogue, again.

 

[Larry N.]

at some restaurants here all the tips are pooled and divided among the employees by management/owner.

Yes- at many restaurants, the server takes the order but often the meal is delivered by another employee (perhaps a bus-boy, etc.), and you may not see the server again until you have eaten part of the meal when they check if "everything is all right," and my understanding is that this is at least part of the reason that what used to be a common 10% tip went to 15% and then to 20%. Now some are even asking for 23%.

I think the pay for many employees is based on getting a portion of the tips.

 

[DonTom]

Also, I don't know how widespread this is but at some restaurants here all the tips are pooled and divided among the employees by management/owner.

Most countries do not have tips. IMO, tips are a stupid idea and are unfair to all. Tips are usually NOT based on how good or lousy the service is, but on how cheap or generous the customer is. Just add on the service fee to the price as they do in most other countries.

IMAO, we should be like in Japan, where they will not accept a tip. I mention that because one time when Tom & I came back from China, we had a longer stopover in Japan and went to a restaurant there inside the airport. I assumed Japan, at least at the airport, would want tips. I was wrong (as rare as that is! ). They came running after us when we left, telling us, "You accidentally left some money on the table!".

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[gwinger]

If they have a credit card emblem/sticker on their door, you can pay with a card. Otherwise I think you are contributing to tax evasion.

They do have to accept the card, but can also add the 3% usage fee.

 

[Tom]

... we should be like in Japan, where they will not accept a tip.

Tips are considered offensive in Japan.