Tipping Culture Where You Live

Gern Blansten · November 2023

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

I work for a manufacturer and we're asking our customers to switch over to paying by check or ACH so we don't have to start implementing a credit card service fee.

Yeah we are going to try to push more customers to ACH. It costs us $3 per ACH transaction and 2.9% of a credit card transaction. So as long as the customer is paying more than $100 we're good. We have few invoices less than that anyway.

We have one client with multiple entities who pays us about $10K/year....cost me $300 to accept that payment via credit card. Definitely bullshit.

Merkin Baller · November 2023

Gern Blansten said:

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

I work for a manufacturer and we're asking our customers to switch over to paying by check or ACH so we don't have to start implementing a credit card service fee.

Yeah we are going to try to push more customers to ACH. It costs us $3 per ACH transaction and 2.9% of a credit card transaction. So as long as the customer is paying more than $100 we're good. We have few invoices less than that anyway.

We have one client with multiple entities who pays us about $10K/year....cost me $300 to accept that payment via credit card. Definitely bullshit.

Yeah, we have a 6 figure / year customer who insists on paying by CC.. that 's money out of our pocket.

nicknyr15 · November 2023

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

It’s the norm around me for restaurants. We thought about doing it but in my business a lot of sales are hundreds of dollars and people use business card to track expenses so it’s a little different. We’ve been able to negotiate a rate with our processing company a little under 3%. It’s the cost of doing business but who knows.. all it takes is a few other paint stores in and around us to start doing it and then it’ll be a little more realistic to start implementing it.

F Me In The Brain · November 2023

Still have some places that won't take AmEx. I get it, they pay an extra point to AmEx vs Mc/Visa

Gern Blansten · November 2023

F Me In The Brain said:

Still have some places that won't take AmEx. I get it, they pay an extra point to AmEx vs Mc/Visa

Yeah AMEX is bad....higher fee and they take their fee out before the transaction is deposited which makes bookkeeping difficult.

F Me In The Brain · November 2023

Gern Blansten said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Still have some places that won't take AmEx. I get it, they pay an extra point to AmEx vs Mc/Visa

Yeah AMEX is bad....higher fee and they take their fee out before the transaction is deposited which makes bookkeeping difficult.

Use it wherever I can...the perks are unmatched!

mace1229 · November 2023

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

I work for a manufacturer and we're asking our customers to switch over to paying by check or ACH so we don't have to start implementing a credit card service fee.

I always thought that fee was a lazy way to get more money?
I know cards charge 3-4%, but I thought most places would find that worth it.
Checks you have to worry about them bouncing, and you have to take time cashing them.
With cash you have to worry about settling your drawers every night and depositing it all, hoping your employees can do basic math and give correct change, and maintaining enough for change in sales, etc. The 3% seems like a small fee to not have to worry about any of that.

I see a "convenience" fee of a few bucks when I pay bills online (like renewing my registration at the DMV), even when it's an online check which I don't think has any fees. Just another way to nickel and dime you, because I know they'd rather have the instant electronic deposit than worry about me mailing in a check and having an employe take the time to deposit it, its more convenient on them, but I'm charged the fee.

More often than not when I pay in cash and the total is $19.05 and I give the cashier a $20 bill and a nickel, they look so confused, give me the nickel back, then count out 95 cents in change. Then I hand them all the change and as for a $1 bill.

Merkin Baller · November 2023

mace1229 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

I work for a manufacturer and we're asking our customers to switch over to paying by check or ACH so we don't have to start implementing a credit card service fee.

I always thought that fee was a lazy way to get more money?
I know cards charge 3-4%, but I thought most places would find that worth it.
Checks you have to worry about them bouncing, and you have to take time cashing them.
With cash you have to worry about settling your drawers every night and depositing it all, hoping your employees can do basic math and give correct change, and maintaining enough for change in sales, etc. The 3% seems like a small fee to not have to worry about any of that.

More often than not when I pay in cash and the total is $19.05 and I give the cashier a $20 bill and a nickel, they look so confused, give me the nickel back, then count out 95 cents in change. Then I hand them all the change and as for a $1 bill.

We don't do cash, so that's not a factor.

We accept credit cards from smaller customers, and those who don't have good enough credit to get terms, but when we're giving a max discount on our product to a customer who also gets PPD freight almost 3K miles away, that 3% fee hurts us, especially when we're talking about a 6 figure / year customer.... our margin really is that thin, & in the end It's money out of our pocket.

We really want to get people doing ACH over anything else, but yeah... we would still rather get checks over credit cards. Someone makes a daily run to the post office & bank, & likes getting out of the office so that's not really a problem either.

JeBurkhardt · November 2023

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

There are quite a few businesses where I live that have signs letting customers know that the cash price will be 3.5% lower than if you use a card and then ask you which you would prefer.

Merkin Baller · November 2023

JeBurkhardt said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

There are quite a few businesses where I live that have signs letting customers know that the cash price will be 3.5% lower than if you use a card and then ask you which you would prefer.

Gas stations around me have cash prices and credit card prices... you pay about $0.10 more per gallon for the latter.

mcgruff10 · November 2023

Merkin Baller said:

JeBurkhardt said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

There are quite a few businesses where I live that have signs letting customers know that the cash price will be 3.5% lower than if you use a card and then ask you which you would prefer.

Gas stations around me have cash prices and credit card prices... you pay about $0.10 more per gallon for the latter.

Same here in New jersey.

JeBurkhardt · November 2023

Merkin Baller said:

JeBurkhardt said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

There are quite a few businesses where I live that have signs letting customers know that the cash price will be 3.5% lower than if you use a card and then ask you which you would prefer.

Gas stations around me have cash prices and credit card prices... you pay about $0.10 more per gallon for the latter.

It varies in Southern Illinois, I have seen some stations with a difference and some that are the same price.

nicknyr15 · November 2023

Merkin Baller said:

JeBurkhardt said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

There are quite a few businesses where I live that have signs letting customers know that the cash price will be 3.5% lower than if you use a card and then ask you which you would prefer.

Gas stations around me have cash prices and credit card prices... you pay about $0.10 more per gallon for the latter.

Yea that’s been a thing by me for a long time

mace1229 · November 2023

JeBurkhardt said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

There are quite a few businesses where I live that have signs letting customers know that the cash price will be 3.5% lower than if you use a card and then ask you which you would prefer.

I used to see that more in California, don't see that much here. But I would deposit a $20, enough to get me through the next 2-3 days, then fill up somewhere that didn't charge me more. The other gas station made more by not charging me the 10 cents a gallon.

HughFreakingDillon · November 2023

mace1229 said:

lastexitlondon said:

What would happen if you didn't tip? Would you be frowned upon?
Seems like a lot of extra expenses on top of already expensive things.

more than frowned upon, a restaurant will almost see it as skipping out on part of the bill unless you justify it.
If I've had horrible service, I'll tip maybe $1 just to show I didn't forget to add it. That is rare, can only think of twice where that has happened.
One time I did actually just forget, and the manager followed me out into the parking lot to ask me why I didn't tip. I felt so bad, and stupid. But his demeanor was more irritated with me like I was skipping out, more than asking what was wrong with the service. He was sort of right, but it was an accident.

that is unbelievable to me. he followed you out of the restaurant to ask why you didn't tip? beyond fucking rude. a tip is optional, not an obligation.

why on earth would you have to justify it? that's absurd. the culture in the US is even more entitled than it is here. wow.

mace1229 · November 2023

Merkin Baller said:

mace1229 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

I work for a manufacturer and we're asking our customers to switch over to paying by check or ACH so we don't have to start implementing a credit card service fee.

I always thought that fee was a lazy way to get more money?
I know cards charge 3-4%, but I thought most places would find that worth it.
Checks you have to worry about them bouncing, and you have to take time cashing them.
With cash you have to worry about settling your drawers every night and depositing it all, hoping your employees can do basic math and give correct change, and maintaining enough for change in sales, etc. The 3% seems like a small fee to not have to worry about any of that.

More often than not when I pay in cash and the total is $19.05 and I give the cashier a $20 bill and a nickel, they look so confused, give me the nickel back, then count out 95 cents in change. Then I hand them all the change and as for a $1 bill.

We don't do cash, so that's not a factor.

We accept credit cards from smaller customers, and those who don't have good enough credit to get terms, but when we're giving a max discount on our product to a customer who also gets PPD freight almost 3K miles away, that 3% fee hurts us, especially when we're talking about a 6 figure / year customer.... our margin really is that thin, & in the end It's money out of our pocket.

We really want to get people doing ACH over anything else, but yeah... we would still rather get checks over credit cards. Someone makes a daily run to the post office & bank, & likes getting out of the office so that's not really a problem either.

I don't know what kind of manufacturing you do, but if your orders are in the thousands of $$, makes sense to not do cash. No one wants to carry about 10k of cash to make an order.
But if an average store where I shopped didn't take cash, but then charged me 4% for a card, I'd be pissed. Either accept cash or eat the card fee. Don't not do either.

HughFreakingDillon · November 2023

I've only ever seen a fee for $0.25 or maybe now a buck for interac fees at a very small business. if a business doesn't like the cc fees, they just don't accept them.

Merkin Baller · November 2023

mace1229 said:

Merkin Baller said:

mace1229 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

I work for a manufacturer and we're asking our customers to switch over to paying by check or ACH so we don't have to start implementing a credit card service fee.

I always thought that fee was a lazy way to get more money?
I know cards charge 3-4%, but I thought most places would find that worth it.
Checks you have to worry about them bouncing, and you have to take time cashing them.
With cash you have to worry about settling your drawers every night and depositing it all, hoping your employees can do basic math and give correct change, and maintaining enough for change in sales, etc. The 3% seems like a small fee to not have to worry about any of that.

More often than not when I pay in cash and the total is $19.05 and I give the cashier a $20 bill and a nickel, they look so confused, give me the nickel back, then count out 95 cents in change. Then I hand them all the change and as for a $1 bill.

We don't do cash, so that's not a factor.

We accept credit cards from smaller customers, and those who don't have good enough credit to get terms, but when we're giving a max discount on our product to a customer who also gets PPD freight almost 3K miles away, that 3% fee hurts us, especially when we're talking about a 6 figure / year customer.... our margin really is that thin, & in the end It's money out of our pocket.

We really want to get people doing ACH over anything else, but yeah... we would still rather get checks over credit cards. Someone makes a daily run to the post office & bank, & likes getting out of the office so that's not really a problem either.

I don't know what kind of manufacturing you do, but if your orders are in the thousands of $$, makes sense to not do cash. No one wants to carry about 10k of cash to make an order.
But if an average store where I shopped didn't take cash, but then charged me 4% for a card, I'd be pissed. Either accept cash or eat the card fee. Don't not do either.

We don't sell to end users, we sell to distributors / stores.

HughFreakingDillon said:

mace1229 said:

lastexitlondon said:

What would happen if you didn't tip? Would you be frowned upon?
Seems like a lot of extra expenses on top of already expensive things.

more than frowned upon, a restaurant will almost see it as skipping out on part of the bill unless you justify it.
If I've had horrible service, I'll tip maybe $1 just to show I didn't forget to add it. That is rare, can only think of twice where that has happened.
One time I did actually just forget, and the manager followed me out into the parking lot to ask me why I didn't tip. I felt so bad, and stupid. But his demeanor was more irritated with me like I was skipping out, more than asking what was wrong with the service. He was sort of right, but it was an accident.

that is unbelievable to me. he followed you out of the restaurant to ask why you didn't tip? beyond fucking rude. a tip is optional, not an obligation.

why on earth would you have to justify it? that's absurd. the culture in the US is even more entitled than it is here. wow.

Hugh, it's not a culture of entitlement... servers make jack shit (WELL below minimum wage)... their livelihood depends on tipping.

They should be paid a livable wage from the get go, it's a very dumb system.

F Me In The Brain · November 2023

That isn't how it works, here.
You don't accept cc, you don't have a viable business.
Goods cost more, they just need to raise prices jn accordance and let the shoppers know why they need to do so.
The idea that small business owners should eat the increases and not try to find ways to remain profitable makes no sense to me. (Frequently, it appears they are trying not to raise the prices of goods and eat some of those...and find a way to offset the pay card industry fees they are accustomed to paying. )

F Me In The Brain · November 2023

Merkin Baller said:

mace1229 said:

Merkin Baller said:

mace1229 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

mcgruff10 said:

I hate when restaurants add 4% to your bill when you use your check or credit card to cover their fees.

That is becoming much more common. Probably going to be the norm soon.

I work for a manufacturer and we're asking our customers to switch over to paying by check or ACH so we don't have to start implementing a credit card service fee.

I always thought that fee was a lazy way to get more money?
I know cards charge 3-4%, but I thought most places would find that worth it.
Checks you have to worry about them bouncing, and you have to take time cashing them.
With cash you have to worry about settling your drawers every night and depositing it all, hoping your employees can do basic math and give correct change, and maintaining enough for change in sales, etc. The 3% seems like a small fee to not have to worry about any of that.

More often than not when I pay in cash and the total is $19.05 and I give the cashier a $20 bill and a nickel, they look so confused, give me the nickel back, then count out 95 cents in change. Then I hand them all the change and as for a $1 bill.

We don't do cash, so that's not a factor.

We accept credit cards from smaller customers, and those who don't have good enough credit to get terms, but when we're giving a max discount on our product to a customer who also gets PPD freight almost 3K miles away, that 3% fee hurts us, especially when we're talking about a 6 figure / year customer.... our margin really is that thin, & in the end It's money out of our pocket.

We really want to get people doing ACH over anything else, but yeah... we would still rather get checks over credit cards. Someone makes a daily run to the post office & bank, & likes getting out of the office so that's not really a problem either.

I don't know what kind of manufacturing you do, but if your orders are in the thousands of $$, makes sense to not do cash. No one wants to carry about 10k of cash to make an order.
But if an average store where I shopped didn't take cash, but then charged me 4% for a card, I'd be pissed. Either accept cash or eat the card fee. Don't not do either.

We don't sell to end users, we sell to distributors / stores.

HughFreakingDillon said:

mace1229 said:

lastexitlondon said:

What would happen if you didn't tip? Would you be frowned upon?
Seems like a lot of extra expenses on top of already expensive things.

more than frowned upon, a restaurant will almost see it as skipping out on part of the bill unless you justify it.
If I've had horrible service, I'll tip maybe $1 just to show I didn't forget to add it. That is rare, can only think of twice where that has happened.
One time I did actually just forget, and the manager followed me out into the parking lot to ask me why I didn't tip. I felt so bad, and stupid. But his demeanor was more irritated with me like I was skipping out, more than asking what was wrong with the service. He was sort of right, but it was an accident.

that is unbelievable to me. he followed you out of the restaurant to ask why you didn't tip? beyond fucking rude. a tip is optional, not an obligation.

why on earth would you have to justify it? that's absurd. the culture in the US is even more entitled than it is here. wow.

Hugh, it's not a culture of entitlement... servers make jack shit (WELL below minimum wage)... their livelihood depends on tipping.

They should be paid a livable wage from the get go, it's a very dumb system.

Agree. They need tips, in states where they don't pay the servers a living wage. Argue against that policy....sure....but the workers are in need of that.

Tipping Culture Where You Live

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