Server Scams

So I was just watching an unspeakable show, and one of the characters was a waiter that shorted guests change on a cash paid tab. His reasoning was that you can short the customer up to 1% and they won't notice. This makes me wonder what other scams stories people on here might have to share.

3% if they're hammered. I too was watching that unspeakable show

I am desperate every Sunday night!

That server sounds Desperate to me!

I remember at one restaurant I worked being told the story of a server who had just been fired before I got there. Apparently, he chose to "adjust" some customers credit card tips a bit more in his favor. Oh, did I mention, it was on a party of off duty police officers....

I am desperate every Sunday night!

Me too! It's my one TV vice.

Deb

What is this- the show that dare not speak it's name???
Please give it up so I can watch unspeakable things too.

Gary,

Surely, you've heard- all the Housewives are talking about it...

DEb

Oh, he says, barely concealing the disdain in his voice, THAT show.

That is nothing. I've seen so much worse.

Probably the worst one I ever saw was a server that worked in a restaurant that had a popular soup and salad lunch special. Well, the server got their own soups and salads at this place so this person would make a ticket for soup and salad ONCE and then just give the same ticket to everyone that ordered it. It took us about three months to figure out what they were doing before we could fire them.

I feel so busted right now. I swear I didn't mean to watch the show, my channel changer just stopped on it!

That is nothing. I've seen so much worse.

Probably the worst one I ever saw was a server that worked in a restaurant that had a popular soup and salad lunch special. Well, the server got their own soups and salads at this place so this person would make a ticket for soup and salad ONCE and then just give the same ticket to everyone that ordered it. It took us about three months to figure out what they were doing before we could fire them.

Yeah, that one used to be very common as well as carrying over beverages from table to table. I remember having knowledge of a Tumbleweed scam - apparently half the staff was ripping the places off on the queso price tag for years. Most systems don't allow that to occur any longer. I recently heard of one where the server applies a tax exemption after the guest has already paid cash. Of course none of these scams are possible unless cash is paid, and there aren't a lot of cash payments these days.

Floating beverages and anything else that the server prepares themselves is the most common one that I know of. Like Jackie said, cash is an enabler for these scams. POS systems that do not have integrated CC systems also make it easier. If the CC system and the POS system aren't connected, you can still do some adjusting with tips to make your totals match at the end of the night.

I don't get made fun of by the hubby for that show. Rock Of Love on the other hand....

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