Tips- cash or credit card?

We at Ray's use a Tip Jar, and also have a line on our CC tickets for tips.

I'd guess we get more than half our tips in cash, but we do get a lot via credit card.

We give our staff the full amount of the tip (even though we pay a 2.5% fee on CC tips). When multiple Baristas are working, they split tips in a manner they deem fair. All crew members walk with their tips at the end of the shift.

So for us, it makes NO DIFFERENCE if you tip cash or CC (I guess, as the owner, I'd save a few cents if you tip cash, but I can live with it).

I have been Club Manager at a large establishment where tips were pooled. We'd have ten bartenders, plus several security and bussers, etc. I would count out the tips, distribute to the bartenders, then they'd tip out the security and bussers. The staff always thought they were getting shorted. I suppose the manager could easily skim in a case like that. So much easier in a small coffeeshop....

In the future, cash will fade away, and be something only old people use, kind of like using checks to pay in a supermarket. Heehee.....

cash is king. servers prefer a cash tip for one simple reason... it is indiputable.

i shudder to think what will become of the havenots of the country if/when a state is reached when 'money' is earned/tracked/recorded/substantiated only by means of computers and cards.
i mean, because credit/banking/financial institutions have proven themselves to be so honest and forthcoming about what rightfully belongs to to their clients.

and as far as the irs/audits are concerned, there is a federal mandate for servers that make less than minimume wage to claim at least x% of their total sales per pay period as tips. as long as that percentage is met/exceeded, there is no problem. period.

As a server, I am fine with whatever is most convienent for my guests -- but since the question was posed.......
For various reasons most servers do prefer cash. Whether it's a chance to claim a tiny bit less than you actually made, concerns about sketchy mgmt., bad charge slip penmanship/math, or just the comfort of cold hard cash
--it's always nice to open the book and find real money!! If you do leave a cash tip (or pay the entire bill in cash)
please make sure you give the check presenter book directly to your server. It's rare, but cash left unattended on a table can "disappear".
Many guests who use a business/expense acct. CC to pay the bill will leave an average tip on the CC slip and augment it with a bit of cash to show their appreciation for excellent service.
Thanks to all of you who care about these issues.

My first thought after reading your post was..."I bet she's a great food server." Mind sharing where you currently work?.

Thanks Carla! I love dining out --and I truly do strive to help people have the quality dining experience that we all deserve when we choose to spend our hard earned money. But to answer your question-- I just started as a server at Volare this very week.
I am an orphan of Browning's/Park Place and Jazz Factory mgmt. teams and I worked for many years as the lead server at Le Relais.
If you come to Volare ask for me and I will be sure to take good care of you!!-- and thanks again.