Yes, I want my change!

I fire people for that crap. Even if it's $.62 on 2 dollars back. I caught a young lady holding it in her hand for change from an espresso going "do you want this back?".....and your out. Capitol T in tacky.

Nah, nah, you keep it. You like my watch too? Here are my cars keys, thanks again.

That was pretty funny ...

Nah, nah, you keep it. You like my watch too? Here are my cars keys, thanks again.

I'd disagree that it's a time saver for the server or that they weren't paying attention to your bill or what you put down...especially if they opened the folder and *looked at it* at the table before asking. The server likely just printed out your ticket a few minutes before, they know what was on it and how much it was otherwise they'd probably have given you the wrong ticket. Most servers have already calculated the tip they want or think they'll get before it even reaches your hands. The question is just tacky! I'd let management know about it, that's something that would make me reconsider going back if I knew that sort of expectation was a standard there.

I recall many servers I worked with predetermining tips because they needed to pay rent or get concert tickets or whatever...doubt that's stopped in the last few years.

Pay at a register instead of having the server fool with it?
What other business does the sales person have to handle the money in this manner?
Still have nightmares about waiting tables.
So many stories. One fellow server, last table,each day wouldn't take the change back! They'd would have to go looking for him, ask for him, or get tired of waiting if it wasn't that much more than they had intended.
Tough business.
Because of service or lack of, we are eating out less.
Tired of the lousy table selection. (In the doorway, by the kitchen). Tired of not getting waited on at bars. I know we are older, but our money spends and both of us worked in restaurants and overtip.
Sorry about the rant. The heat....
Yesterday, went to El Mundo, waited on ourselves downstairs. Very happy
I think I've become 'Tonawanda'. I'm not taking it anymore. I'm just leaving without drink or food.
Volare is a HUGE exception. My goodness that is a lovely place.

Here's the thing.

If you're a server you have to bring your own bank. When I was waiting tables I really didn't want to carry around a huge pocketful of change and I doubt anyone else does either. I'd usually just carry a few quarters and round to the nearest $.25.

Sometime if your bill was say $9.80 and you gave me a $20 I would probably just give back ten and keep the quarter. If your bill was $9.25 I'd give back $11. It all evened out. Makes things a lot easier when you're in the weeds and don't have time to search for a couple dimes from someone.

Did it piss some people off? Probably. But I don't think 90% of people cared. It's actually a fairly small percentage of the time you bring someone small change anyway. Most people pay with credit card or tell you how much change they want back or just say keep the change.

If you think you're getting the server back by keeping that extra dollar that "you were going to give them"...I seriously doubt they care. Better to lose a couple bucks each night than have to stop at the bank every single day before work.

I don't wait tables anymore and I'm not speaking for the majority. Just a little perspective.

I did that. (the not fooling with coins thing) But only when it was in the customer's favor. It did make it quicker, and most of the time, I'd get a great tip anyway, so I wasn't sweating the change. I wouldn't have felt comfortable assuming the customer wouldn't care. (If I did that, I'd inevitably wind up with the one person who did care and wanted to make a federal case out of it! )

I did that. (the not fooling with coins thing) But only when it was in the customer's favor. It did make it quicker, and most of the time, I'd get a great tip anyway, so I wasn't sweating the change. I wouldn't have felt comfortable assuming the customer wouldn't care. (If I did that, I'd inevitably wind up with the one person who did care and wanted to make a federal case out of it! )

Bolded a bit.

This weekend, instead of bringing me something like 2 or 4 cents, I got a dime back. As long as the rounding is always in the customers favor, its a positive, at least in my case, it leads to getting a bigger tip as I reward doing it right.

If you think you're getting the server back by keeping that extra dollar that "you were going to give them"...I seriously doubt they care. Better to lose a couple bucks each night than have to stop at the bank every single day before work.

If they dont care, thats fine. Its the choice the server makes. If not having the hassle of finding 20 cents is worth a dollar to them, then that is fine. Win-win. I get an extra dollar and they get a lack of hassle.

Win-Win situations are what its all about. Everyone is happy.

"Do I want change back or do I need change?" Not only is this a very rude question, it is downright tacky. I am so done with rude servers. Ask me this and your tip gets cut in half. End of rant.

The coolest move for a server who carries a bank is simply to bring 4 quarters- or only to ask for quarters in change (from the bar.)

Round to the guest's favor- they pretty much always give it right back to you and then some.

You spend all of your time (and money in effort) counting pennies, when you should be paying attention to the dollars.

Your tables turn quicker, the guest's are happier and the restaurant sees increased efficiency at the service bar. The 'decision triangle' method is upheld...

IMO the server should always say, "I'll be right back with your change," and it's up to the customer to say "keep it." The server should never ask like that. Very rude. I would be upset too.

...YES

Here's the thing.

If you're a server you have to bring your own bank. When I was waiting tables I really didn't want to carry around a huge pocketful of change and I doubt anyone else does either. I'd usually just carry a few quarters and round to the nearest $.25.

Sometime if your bill was say $9.80 and you gave me a $20 I would probably just give back ten and keep the quarter. If your bill was $9.25 I'd give back $11. It all evened out. Makes things a lot easier when you're in the weeds and don't have time to search for a couple dimes from someone.

Did it piss some people off? Probably. But I don't think 90% of people cared. It's actually a fairly small percentage of the time you bring someone small change anyway. Most people pay with credit card or tell you how much change they want back or just say keep the change.
If you think you're getting the server back by keeping that extra dollar that "you were going to give them"...I seriously doubt they care. Better to lose a couple bucks each night than have to stop at the bank every single day before work.

I don't wait tables anymore and I'm not speaking for the majority. Just a little perspective.

...NO

The coolest move for a server who carries a bank is simply to bring 4 quarters- or only to ask for quarters in change (from the bar.)

Round to the guest's favor- they pretty much always give it right back to you and then some.

You spend all of your time (and money in effort) counting pennies, when you should be paying attention to the dollars.

Your tables turn quicker, the guest's are happier and the restaurant sees increased efficiency at the service bar. The 'decision triangle' method is upheld...

Definitely a "classy" way to do it and I'm sure it pays big dividends in the long run!

I think this is more of a two-parter.
1. It's the demeanor in which my service has been and the question is asked?
2. the amount of change that's going to be returned. I'd say on the lower scale anything over $2 you assume they won't it back and don't ask. In the higher end, I'd say anything over $5 you have to assume they want it back.

After working in few service for some of my life I feel I give restaurant workers waaaaay more leeway than your average customer. I'm willing to even give them a little bit of wiggle with this. But, after a certain limit you just can't play that game anymore.

my $0.02

I put out $20 for a $12 bill at a local cafe. Wait person open up folder looked at the $20, smiled at me and asked, "Do you want your change?"

Well, call me cheap, but I do! I tip 20% not 58%! That question really gets to me. Makes me want to leave no tip at all.

End of rant.

I think the best thing to do in such a case is just to tell them how much you want back after the bill and tip(whatever amount) is taken out.

The proper thing would be for the server to just say they'll be back with your change. But sometimes they may slip and not word things exactly right. To leave them no tip is to not pay them at all for their services. The 2.30 per hour they are paid(tipped worker minimum wage)probably barely covers taxes. What they are paid in tips pretty much amounts to their take-home pay.

I think servers should be taken care of as well as possible if they do any kind of decent job.