I dont understand a tip for handing you a bag of food and using the cash register. If I get a pizza delivered I trip the driver. And servers get 20 to 30 percent tips, which I feel is very good. You leave a tip at a self service gas station?? Ah, NO.
Non-Cash Adjustment fee 3.5%
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Are Credit Card Surcharges Legal?
If you’re wondering if it is legal to charge credit card fees, the short answer is yes.The practice of surcharging was outlawed for several decades until 2013 when a class action lawsuit permitted merchants in several U.S. states to implement surcharges in their businesses.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
Ordered a Chili at Wendy's last evening. The counter attendant offered up 2 pkgs of crackers and 2 hot sauce packets. So I bartered the hot sauce for more crackers. All I got was the "Why are You Making me Think" look. So glad that sometimes we go to places where you don't have to tip, for the calamity show that is going out to eat these days.
In the last few months there is now 4 more places we won't go back too. My used to be favorite comfort food place is now a no go. The last 4 visits have resulted in cold food, a "woke" disinterested server, a server who was obviously somewhat drunk. Every plate at ours and other tables nearby was let go of about 2 inches off the tables. It was hilarious. Our last visit greeted us with another 15% + price increases and even more cold food. No mas CC.
In the last few months there is now 4 more places we won't go back too. My used to be favorite comfort food place is now a no go. The last 4 visits have resulted in cold food, a "woke" disinterested server, a server who was obviously somewhat drunk. Every plate at ours and other tables nearby was let go of about 2 inches off the tables. It was hilarious. Our last visit greeted us with another 15% + price increases and even more cold food. No mas CC.
What’s even worse is if you hit the tip on screen the person you think gets the tip may actually get nothing or next to nothing.
Better to hit $0 and give them a buck for pick up rather than giving the owner your tip.
Lots of Asian places and gas stations charge for a cup of chlorinated tap water or ice water.
Another situation where you ask.
Just in the past few months I’ve had Xfinity and T-Mobile cancel autopay on my Apple Card. I suspect it is due to the fees.
I can still pay Xfinity with the Apple Card but only manually. T-Mobile wants a debit card or bank account access only for autopay. If I don’t change it they will take away a $10 a month discount I had in place for using auto pay.
I’m not comfortable doing that so they will get their $10 for a few months as I’m cancelling anyway because we are moving.
I can still pay Xfinity with the Apple Card but only manually. T-Mobile wants a debit card or bank account access only for autopay. If I don’t change it they will take away a $10 a month discount I had in place for using auto pay.
I’m not comfortable doing that so they will get their $10 for a few months as I’m cancelling anyway because we are moving.
Unless you like fast food, generic chain pizza and Olive Garden there isn’t a single restaurant that doesn’t charge the fee here.
Many bars do as well.
So It might be a situation that you are paying the fee but it’s structured as a discount so you don’t know that you are. Most places make zero effort to advertise it.
Only exception is if you only eat at nationwide chains, then you might not.
9/10 restaurants/bars here aren’t chains.
It’s getting to where I have to carry cash because even though only a few places are check/cash only, the rest don’t really want plastic charging the fee(s) one way or another making plastic and app payments pointless. Even have a couple regular merchandise stores that have a “service fee” if you try to give them plastic. Same at some of the motels we stay at, gotta bring a bunch of cash or a checkbook to avoid getting hit with extra fees.
Blasted service fees are the worst though because you cant avoid them so I take them off the tip.
Another thing is the places that don’t want plastic also don’t want $100’s or sometimes even $50’s.
Considering the extreme cost for 2 people I only carry $50’s, usually just say it’s all I got feel free to test it and they take it anyway. No desire to carry small bills or to go to the bank every time I eat out on the weekends.
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JHZR2
Staff member
This is true. I went to a nice Italian place about a block from the White House the other night. Enjoyed the dinner, got the check. It said in a few places that a 20% charge was added to the bill for servers and staff. When I paid, the server indicated that they only got a tiny bit. Essentially asking for more tip…. I think they said 4%? I was annoyed that they woukd be telling me this, and didn’t have cash to leave, so I added a bit. I was tempted not to based upon the audacity of the server, but then realized that she must be getting hurt by the fee (That is probably paying for the owner’s beach house).
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
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I agree, just bake it into the price. It will be harder to notice a 3.5% increase on an order of French fries than an annoying line item on your receipt.
Never tip for services you don't receive. Lowers the floor of good service.
Watch this 30 second short about cash vs credit:
I have stopped tipping cashiers. The other day I purchased 2 bottled waters at a concert Kiosk, she spun the iPad around and I was confronted with the 18%, 22% and 25% tip options. NO!
They don't take cash, so a card was the only option.
They don't take cash, so a card was the only option.
Yup!! Man did this make me mad!!!
All this BS about T-Mobile is the “Un-Carrier”
Got some nerve, I can see the point of the no discount if disclosed and done upfront but they did this to existing customers. I’m sure it’s in their disclosures that they can do anything they want when I signed up for a plan that gives me 24 months of credits paying for my wife’s and I -iPhones
Meaning even though it’s no contract if I leave now I’ll lose the remaining 9 months of credits which in essence gave us the 2 phones free.
I did give in and entered my debit card. Now it cost me 2% more being I no longer get 2% cash back on my charge card, not only that my charge card gave free cell phone protection.
This is the first time in over a decade we are back to using using a major carrier for cell service and TMobile was the no BS brand to go with, well so much for that.
I’ll decide next March 2024 if I go back to Red Pocket which always gave outstanding service and no BS. T-Mobile really annoyed me by doing this to existing customers.
The “un carrier” is gone, no different than ATT and Verizon except their prices/features/services still beats the other two but they are closing the gap because they now also charge an activation fee.
I’m sure the new upcoming 4th carrier (Dish Network Boast) will be just like the other 3 based on their reputation.
And the IRS wants to tax cash back, don’t know the latest on that
I reported many a gas station for the "Min amount for credit" back in my youth(2000's). It was against MC & Visa's terms of service. Shortly thereafter those signs disappeared.
I'd be tempted to do it again If I caught this kind of charge on my bill. I do know VA charges a separate meal tax which I wasn't aware of but can't get out of that.
I only tip counter service at the places in my hometown where I know the owners give those tips to the college kids working the counter, other than that no.
I'd be tempted to do it again If I caught this kind of charge on my bill. I do know VA charges a separate meal tax which I wasn't aware of but can't get out of that.
I only tip counter service at the places in my hometown where I know the owners give those tips to the college kids working the counter, other than that no.
I was going to bring this up. Used to be against the rules!
Gun sellers do it claiming it’s the only margin they make.
And this tipping for counter sales is garbage. Yeah I’ll put a buck in the bucket but 22% on the pad? No.
And sales tax…..don’t get me started on where the windfall from out of state sales…..7-11% goes to coffers and ??
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Remember when Costco told amex they would like an interchange fee of 0%, and amex said that's not commensurate with our risk, we can't do that? Citi said, we can!
I noticed that Chinese restaurants in Chinatown Phila. has done that. So I avoid. While I was there, somehow, I lost $60 taking my son into the cramped non-existant bathroom that is accessed through their kitchen. I told the proprietor and she coulda cared less. Boy was I mad the last time I lost anything near $20 was more than 25 years ago. Cash is a royal PITA.
When I got home, it fell out from my pants
Moral of the story, they do that, I simply go elsewhere. But even the Walmarts of the world have considered adding a charge.
I noticed that Chinese restaurants in Chinatown Phila. has done that. So I avoid. While I was there, somehow, I lost $60 taking my son into the cramped non-existant bathroom that is accessed through their kitchen. I told the proprietor and she coulda cared less. Boy was I mad the last time I lost anything near $20 was more than 25 years ago. Cash is a royal PITA.
When I got home, it fell out from my pants
Moral of the story, they do that, I simply go elsewhere. But even the Walmarts of the world have considered adding a charge.
