Waiter-Waitress Meal Bills Tabs Tips and Other Purchase Payments – Consumer Economics 101
© Donald Reinhardt, August 20, 2012We all tend to lose or mismanage money from time to time and, in most cases, we can not afford to lose or mismanage hard-earned money. Everyone should be careful and dedicated with cash and credit card and online payments. This monetary diligence is a step in the right direction for a better personal economy for everyone.
It was for the family and relatives a simple evening out at a modestly-priced chain restaurant. For a Friday night at about 6 PM it was not very busy and soon we were seated in a familiar place and location near the chefs and cooks open-view food preparation area. The young, sprightly waitress arrived and greeted us and because we knew her from serving us twice before in recent times we were aware the service would be good. A brief conversation soon indicated her distress as she explained how an elderly couple with their two grandchildren had handed her the billet and money and told her to keep the change. However, she discovered minutes later another story as she said, “The whole cash payment was ten dollars short of paying the full bill.” I asked, “Does that mean you have to eat the loss.” She smiled briefly and seriously replied, “Yes.” We expressed our dismay too and asked in her two years of serving had this ever happened before and the answer was, “No.”
Simple Thoughts About Tips and Tipping
No one likes the additional costs that tips ad to meals, however tips are one part of the cost of eating out and being served. Some have said that the business should pay a living wage to waiters and waitresses and the problem would be solved. But, if this were so, then the meal would be costlier for sure and accommodating and paying for excellent wait service would be more complicated for many. I will not further argue or debate the issue of tipping here, except to say that overall tipping generally works well for management, servers and consumers.
Waiter-Waitress-Consumer Lessons to Learn and Employ
This true story reminds me of how often we get distracted or run off track and something which seems small develops into a world of much larger import. I thought of the lessons we all need to learn as we deal with the Economics 101 in our modern world. In a sense we are all waiters and waitresses tending to the affairs of our lives. So when we receive a payment or make a payment here are some rules of the road.
Read every bill carefully and make sure everything is in right order. Anything you did not order that is not on the bill is not your responsibility. Make sure to point out such unordered items should they be listed. In the same token, for those who would be honest, if an item was left out that should be paid for, please call attention to that and get it added into the bill. Honesty is a two-way street.
Count out your money carefully and make sure each currency bill is what it is supposed to be. Count out the money at least two or three times to make sure it is correct and in right order. Ask for help, if you are not sure. Also, make sure money does not fall out and onto the floor and get lost in the restaurant or store.
If paying by credit card make sure you add everything correctly.
Remember, in restaurants, for large parties the tip is already often added. Make sure you don’t tip twice under those circumstances.
To summarize, remember this again: we all tend to lose and mismanage money from time to time and, in most cases, we can not afford to lose hard-earned money. Everyone should be careful and dedicated with cash and credit card and online payments. This monetary diligence is a step in the right direction for the better personal economy for all.
Good food service at a restaurant is important. Photo Credit:
BLS.gov
