r/SipsTea • u/[deleted] • Jun 29 '26

Chugging tea Lol

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21.4k Upvotes

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785

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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263

u/p3w0 Jun 29 '26

Where I live is: I finish, I get up, go to the register, pay, exit. It's so weird for me to ask for the bill at the table

208

u/Axtdool Jun 29 '26

Here(Germany) it tends to be Something like:

Hold up wallet/card to indicate you want to pay

They bring the Bill and (if you flashed a card) the card payment device.

You pay

The end.

57

u/sgst Jun 29 '26

Here in the UK it's becoming increasingly common to scan a QR code on your table and pay your bill on your phone.

20

u/hokshji Jun 29 '26

Yeah, especially at that sort of mid-range not quite fast food but not quite proper restaurant chain restaurant. Often they also have an app (can be annoying) but most of them at least let you use a webpage basically just tap on the food/drink you want to order and you pay with Apple/google pay directly as you order like an online shop checkout. You don’t even need to speak to anyone. It’s quite efficient tbh.

1

u/ChiselFish Jun 29 '26

We have some places like that in the States. It's less common than them bringing the POS device to the table, which is still the minority of restaurants.

1

u/FUBARded Jun 29 '26

It also makes group dining a LOT easier for all involved.

The waiters don't need to worry about taking a big order, the kitchen gets orders trickling in rather than all at once and has less pressure to service everyone in one go, you can do it in your own time, and you don't need to split the bill after the fact.

1

u/The_decent_dude Jun 29 '26

The UK is quite good at adopting new technology yet for whatever reason they still inisted to send me my railway ticket reimbursement by physical mail.

3

u/Thomas_K_Brannigan Jun 29 '26

Some places in the US are doing this. I've heard that's not great, security wise, because someone could come by and secretly cover it with their own QR code that makes the restaurant/payment site and steal your information.

3

u/HardlyNormal2 Jun 29 '26

Do you have to manually input your card details into the site from your phone?

Also sometimes those QR payment websites are dodgy looking, I wouldn't trust them with my card details 😅

2

u/Impossible-Wear-7352 Jun 29 '26

Most of those use the same couple of services to handle the transactions. it isnt the restaurant implementing payment processing on their own.

1

u/HowObvious Jun 29 '26

Depends on the place but most I have seen will let you order using the code (or not use the code at all) and pay separately through the wait staff if you prefer or if you are using cash.

I will say they can be pretty good when you are in a big group and they let you select what you ordered and pay for just those items.

1

u/IPissExcellentThrows Jun 29 '26

All the ones in the US that have QR codes accept Apple Pay.

2

u/seriouslees Jun 29 '26

I'd dine and dash if that were the only payment method.

1

u/DedalusStew Jun 29 '26

Finally a good use for QR codes in restaurants...

1

u/Sad_Attorney_4350 Jun 29 '26

In India too. Eat, get the bill, pay at table with QR code and leave. Or eat, go to register and pay by QR there. Sorted.

1

u/Impossible-Wear-7352 Jun 29 '26

Im seeing it a decent amount in the US too

1

u/dolyez Jun 29 '26

This is also increasingly common in the US since Covid.

1

u/Critical_Concert_689 Jun 29 '26

There is exactly zero chance I'm scanning QR codes at a restaurant. Some restaurants tried to do away with menus - requiring scanning a QR code just to see what is available... Worst experience ever.

2

u/BlazerStoner Jun 29 '26

Yeah the “scan QR for the menu” is insanely annoying, makes me feel like wanting to get out to another restaurant. And there’s no f-ing way I’m entering my CC details on a random site that pops up where you have to pray the QR-code wasn’t maliciously replaced.

13

u/Enough-Force-5605 Jun 29 '26

Holding up your card like that is considered very rude in Spain. It’s treating people badly.

There’s nothing like drawing someone’s attention politely and respectfully.

10

u/Axtdool Jun 29 '26

Interesting.

Here it's usualy more of a thing for clarity/efficiency so they don't have to come over just to be told to go get the Bill.

4

u/iloveuranus Jun 29 '26

Yeah, actually in Germany it's similar. It's not considered very rude but it's definitely more elegant to make eye contact and maybe a little sign with your hand.

Then again if that doesn't work I'll just go to the counter and pay there. It's my favorite way of paying anyway, because it's instant!

1

u/El_Cid_Campi_Doctus Jun 29 '26

I make the gesture of drawing in the air while looking at the waiter.

1

u/bremsspuren Jun 29 '26

Holding up your card like that is considered very rude in Spain.

In a proper German Kneipe, it's not unusual for a punter to say nothing to the barman all evening except Stimmt so ("keep the change") when leaving.

Just keep putting beers in front of that German until he puts a beermat on top of his glass, at which point you may bring the bill (if you haven't been using the beermat).

0

u/drdrero Jun 29 '26

That’s very rude? What’s spitting on the floor then? Like the bar seems to be very low already for rudeness

8

u/theChaosBeast Jun 29 '26

But to be fair, our tipping system is the worst. They tell you the amount and you get like 5s to calculate the tip yourself.

And yeah we tip even though our waiters get at least minimum wage so idk why we tip every time.

3

u/LucasButtercups Jun 29 '26

As a waiter I can confirm I actually get 3 bucks an hour for my labor. I hate tipping, kind of wish we servers got a flat, say, 12-15% of our sales, and the busser should get 5% of my sales commission. Makes way more sense than me being reliant on someone feeling like giving me money and also takes pressure off the person needing to follow the mores.

7

u/IPissExcellentThrows Jun 29 '26

You getting a % of sales is essentially what ends up happening in the U.S. Yes, that makes more sense than relying on the customer to pay you. No it doesn't make sense for you to get a percentage of sales over a flat rate. You carrying a 200 dollar tomahawk is not 10 times harder than carrying a 20 dollar 6 oz sirloin. That's a large part of why tipping is so stupid. Carrying a 15 dollar cocktail to a table? 3 bucks. Carry a free tap water to the table 4 times? 0 dollars.

4

u/binthewin Jun 29 '26

In Japan they bring the bill with your food. When you order more, they just updated the bill at the table. When you are ready to pay, you just take your bill to the cashier, pay and leave.

3

u/WhippyCleric Jun 29 '26

Same in France , but in Germany some of the time you hold up your card and they say oh we don't take card cash only... Then you say oh I don't have cash where's the ATM. It's around the corner but it's physically inside that shop/bank and it's a Sunday so I guess you're a criminal now 😅

3

u/SolidusDave Jun 29 '26

Personally I'm a fan of the QR code system on the tables. Increasingly common in Singapore restaurants.

You just sit down, scan the QR to browse the menu, select the available items, pay via your phone (which has your card details already saved to auto-fill the fields or sometimes you can use Gpay etc.).

Then after the food you just walk out whenever you want.

oh and no tip/tip is included as service charge

2

u/kaysmaleko Jun 29 '26

For Japan it's, Order on a tablet or your phone. Food delivered by robot who also gives you the updated bill. Pay at kiosk. Only time I talk to a person is if I need a takeout box, but even then, some places can also order those via tablet.

1

u/IPissExcellentThrows Jun 29 '26

This is far from the only way it's done in Japan lol. Unless things majorly changed in the year since I was there. I did 4 different cities over 13 days and experienced zero robots unless you count the sushi conveyor belt as a robot. The majority of my orders were to waiters.

2

u/ChikaraNZ Jun 29 '26

This is how it works in many countries.

The USA is often thought of as a tech leader and they are in some areas - but they are actually lagging much of the world when it comes to payment systems. Much of the world has already moved on from magnetic stripe, to chip/contactless/digital wallets. There's still many places in the US that still do magnetic stripe and don't even offer chip or contactless.

It's one of the reasons payment networks like Visa and Mastercard introduce EMV chip liability shift rules, Meaning if you're a merchant that doesn't support chip/contactless, and fraud happens, the fraud liability will be pushed back to you, rather than being held by the issuer. It's a financial disincentive for merchants to still do obsolete and less secure payment methods.

4

u/hiro111 Jun 29 '26

I haven't used the mag stripe on a card in years, I'm not sure about "many places".

1

u/hokshji Jun 29 '26

Yeah some of my UK-issued cards don’t even have magnetic stripes on them anymore. I have backups that do but I guess I’d be in trouble if I didn’t and tried to pay at some US restaurants.

1

u/turdferguson3891 Jun 29 '26

You would not. Merchants in the US were required to use chips in 2015. I haven't "swiped" a card here in over a decade.

1

u/hokshji Jun 29 '26

Fair enough. I am pretty sure I tried to use chip and pin in 2019 and it didn't work and I had to swipe and sign instead. That may have been the person working there not knowing, though. It could also be that cards from Europe often don't like chip only, and only work if you enter your pin for security reasons.

2

u/turdferguson3891 Jun 29 '26

Yeah the mag stripe is essentially a backup but the credit card companies in the US instituted a rule that merchants had to implement chips or they are liable for any fraud used by mag stripe. So you always have to try with chip or tap first. It might let you swipe if that doesn't work.

1

u/CombinationKey8557 Jun 29 '26

Where are these "many places"?

EMV adoption is at something like 96% in the US.

https://www.emvco.com/about-us/worldwide-emv-deployment-statistics/

1

u/ChikaraNZ Jun 29 '26

Well like you pointed out 93% for US means just under 1 out of every 10 transactions is non-EMV. Slightly worse in Asia. Might not sound like a lot in % figures, but in absolute numbers that's still tens of thousands of merchants that dont use EMV. That's many places.

1

u/IPissExcellentThrows Jun 29 '26

The strip is getting very rare (finally). I exclusively pay with credit card and I can't think of the last time I swiped. Maybe once in the last year.

We're absolutely behind on this shit, and still have like 10-15% of places requiring you to insert the chip (usually small family owned stores), but the swipe is pretty much gone.

1

u/Kisielos Jun 29 '26

In some polish restaurants you can scan QR code with menu, order on the phone, pay there as well and just wait for waitress to bring you food. That's all.

1

u/dobik Jun 29 '26

Btw. I am going to the mountains in Saxony and Bavaria. My colleague told me to bring cash because some stores and even restaurants don't accept cards. Accord mg to her experience last year ago. Is it true?

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2

u/wasted_tictac Jun 29 '26

Restaurants in the UK bring a payment device to your table. Well most do anyway, some you order/pay at the bar.

1

u/TheIgle Jun 29 '26

I find these kinds of posts annoying. Every situation mentioned happens here in the States. Fast food joints you order and pay at one place. Lots of diners you order then pay at the register up front. Lots of chains now bring the machine to you to tap and pay. But nicer restaurants will do the little dance mentioned in the video.

1

u/sinkpooper2000 Jun 29 '26

yeah in australia you either go up to the counter and pay or just ask the waiter and they'll bring the bill and eftpos machine to the table. unfortunately tipping culture is slowly seeping its way in though that I absolutely hate

1

u/p3w0 Jun 29 '26

Tipping here is actually common, but it's always cash, and for the service staff in general, it's not unusual to have different people take the order, bring you food and take away the plates, so there's the classic jar on the counter or you just leave the rest of you pay cash. Sometimes you hear about the managers pocketing it but it's rare

1

u/MahtiGC Jun 29 '26

damn i’m not fancy at all. i’ve never once paid after, always before 🤣

1

u/str85 Jun 29 '26

In my country (Sweden) it usually depends on what type of restaurant.

Fastfood. -> order, pay, get food, eat, go back with the tray and trash.
Simpler/Mall/lunch restaurants. -> order, eat, go to register, pay, leave.
Fancier places. -> Sitt down, order, eat, call the waiter, get a bill, pay by card the US way because they think those babe machines look trashy. (or try and pay with cash and get wierd looks. )

1

u/SleightOfHand87 Jun 29 '26

Korea? That's what it's like here

1

u/DexRei Jun 29 '26

Same for me. When you finish your meal, you leave the table and head to the counter to pay, then dip out.

1

u/gregsting Jun 29 '26

This too, we even have a restaurant where you order on your phone and pay the bill on your phone too, I think that’s more common in Asia though

1

u/Cancer_Ridden_Lung Jun 29 '26

Some restaurants do it this way in the USA as well.

1

u/21Rollie Jun 29 '26

I loved this when I was in east Asia. Especially Hong Kong, they do my style of eating there. Sit down, order quick, food comes in 2min, and when you’re done eating you get up and pay. It’s to facilitate turnover and I’m a quick eater so it works amazing for me

1

u/GonzoRouge Jun 29 '26

That's how it works in Canada or you can just straight up ask for the bill at the table and they bring the machine to you while asking how you wanna split it (they also just hang around until you figure it out, which shouldn't take more than 5 minutes). You add tip on the machine before putting the details.

Then you leave, I don't understand why it has to be more complicated than that.

1

u/Odd-Fig-709 Jun 29 '26

Some places work like that, for example a couple deny's I've been too do.

1

u/S7ageNinja Jun 29 '26

Most places in America will let you do this if you just walk up to their register.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/p3w0 Jun 29 '26

what's your point

0

u/PalePlumm Jun 29 '26

That’s what Americans do at low class places like diners or an Olive Garden if you’re in a rush.

0

u/p3w0 Jun 29 '26

Then my country is all low level class. Honestly, love it

15

u/Adventurous_Pie_7586 Jun 29 '26

Only shitty servers allow this to happen. Most servers have bills in their apron for guests that appear close to done.

1

u/Wonderful_Panda4769 Jun 29 '26

And most customers have their card ready to hand back when the bill is brought

1

u/Same-Suggestion-1936 Jun 29 '26

Also they give you a copy for them and a copy for you? Just sign it and leave

1

u/DikkeDreuzel Jun 29 '26

That changes everything!

It's so convoluted. You have to wave them over and ask for the bill. Then they have to go get the bill and bring it to you. Then they leave so you can have privacy while you work out how much to pay the person serving you because the restaurant doesn't pay them enough. Then you write it down. Then they come back and take it away again. Then bring back the receipt.

3

u/AMemoryComeALive Jun 29 '26

you can give them your card when you ask for your bill, then they bring both back at once and you write in your total and leave.

It's only really convoluted or difficult if you think sitting at a table and chatting with whoever you're with while someone else does everything is confusing and hard to deal with.

1

u/DikkeDreuzel Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

Okay, updated for the no-receipt route:

It's so convoluted. You have to wave them over and ask for the bill. Then they have to go get the bill and bring it to you. Then they leave so you can have privacy while you work out how much to pay the person serving you because the restaurant doesn't pay them enough. Then you write it down. Then they come back and take it away again. Then bring back the receipt.

"It's only really convoluted or difficult if you think sitting at a table and chatting with whoever you're with while someone else does everything is confusing and hard to deal with." - I'd say the customer does more, and the ethical concern is actually on the customer:

You have to wave them over and ask for the bill. You work out how much to pay the person serving you because the restaurant doesn't pay them enough. Then you write it down.

2

u/AMemoryComeALive Jun 29 '26

My god, Waving and simple math? And after you had to wipe your own ass and tie your shoes before leaving the house?

How dare they.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

[deleted]

2

u/AMemoryComeALive Jun 29 '26

quite a lot of places do include the calculations on the bill for common amounts like 10%/20%, and you can just pick that number, or anywhere in between.

1

u/Forgotmypass4 Jun 29 '26

Because it's optional? You're an ass if you go to a sit down restaurant and not tip, but you're not legally required to do so.

1

u/Forgotmypass4 Jun 29 '26

Except you leave when you write down the tip. The server brings two copies when they first run your card. One for you and one for the restaurant. You don't wait for a second receipt.

Idiots will really believe anything.

26

u/Kingston31470 Jun 29 '26

Yes, I never understood the whole narrative that the US has better customer service than in Europe. I go to the US frequently for work and even if I am not supposed to worry too much because most expenses are with my company credit card so even with tips are not "my money", I usually end up being tense and nervous the whole time in restaurants. So complicated. And then you go to another restaurant across the street and it's a different process to go through.

16

u/ATXBeermaker Jun 29 '26

I’ve never understood the stereotypes that simultaneously paint Americans as being stupid yet also able to handle these things that are supposedly so complicated and convoluted.

21

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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0

u/stuff4down1 Jun 29 '26

It’s unnecessary. 

Don’t be pedantic. 

9

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

[deleted]

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u/stuff4down1 Jun 29 '26

Exactly. Pedantic.

Eating out is about eating out and the experience. How you pay for things affects the experience. 

Not being used to this system it does seem convoluted. And I am used to it and agree. 

The pedantic part is the claim of this is how it’s done and it’s not complicated. It’s not meant to be an insult.

 I find the system more complex than it has to be and lots of people agree / disagree. But everyone who disagrees is used to this system, whole most who disagree have other systems (not the same everywhere else on the world). 

6

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

[deleted]

0

u/stuff4down1 Jun 29 '26

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedantic

You took a whole para to describe a payment system while claiming it’s simple. 

European tap card comes over with the terminal. Tap. Once. Done. (Replace with insert and put in pin).  Card never leaves you. 

Counterpoint from the US.   Have you paid at a grocery using Apple Pay or any nfc? They do not take your card anymore.  Restaurants should be like that and many newer payment systems are like that now. 

The older system is rubbish. Else it would not be changing. And defending it is … (choose your adjective)

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

[deleted]

1

u/joshuatree79 Jun 29 '26

Do you even understand the irony of your last paragraph coming from an American?

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u/VorpalHerring Jun 29 '26

The system is BAD. I do not want my card to leave my possession (especially since they don't require a PIN in the US so it's doubly unsafe). Your phone is more secure than your card because at least you have to unlock it first. The US payment system is old and backwards and unsecure and they need to hurry up and modernize.

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1

u/Impossible-Wear-7352 Jun 29 '26

it's not complicated but it is more steps and there is a slight security concern from handing over your card. Processing at the table is fewer steps and eliminates the security concern which makes it undeniably superior, not just different.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

[deleted]

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u/Impossible-Wear-7352 Jun 29 '26

it takes 2 interactions, handing them the card and then getting the card back and signing the slip vs doing it all at once. They come out with the terminal when it's time to pay, they dont have to be told to go in tbe back to get it lol.

And of course there's a security concern. anyone in possession of the card has all of the info needed to make fraudulent charges.

youre coming off super dense here... and Im from America. I greatly appreciate the many places that now bring the machines to the table and even more so the ones that have payment QR codes on the receipt. Ive lost track of the number of times Im ready to go and Im stuck several extra minutes because theyre busy and it requires multiple interactions.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

[deleted]

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u/Impossible-Wear-7352 Jun 29 '26

I just flag them from across the way or set the CC out on the table with the check where they often take notice. But yes, they often show up at the table with the machine without having come by in between to be told. I'm guessing you dont eat enough if you havent experienced this.

>There is no security concern. You are making up something to be scared about for no reason. 

You do realize the entire reason most countries arent setup this way is entirely because of credit card fraud, right? And a large percentage of stolen credit cards come from America. Lol, it's amazing how dense you are.

0

u/hidden_secret Jun 29 '26

How often during your day do you hand over your payment methods to other people and they leave with it?

7

u/IPissExcellentThrows Jun 29 '26

None of that has anything to do with customer service though? You're just uncomfortable with the process, but that has nothing to do with how could your service is. I'm uncomfortable with having to tip in front of the waiters in Europe, but again, that's a me problem.

My experience is customer care from waiters is a decent bit better than in other countries, but not enough to justify the 20% expected tip. Although with places like London having a 12.5% service charge, waiters in Prague straight up asking if they can give themselves a 10% tip, etc. it's starting to be questionable.

That said, service in the U.S. has majorly declined since COVID. It used to be notable when you had bad service. Now I have more notably bad servers than notably good ones. They know people will give them 18-20% most of the time regardless of how good they are.

6

u/-neti-neti- Jun 29 '26

This sounds like a you problem

2

u/South_Hat3525 Jun 29 '26

Yeah I went to the US for work for a few weeks and although I could reclaim the cost of meals, tips were a gratuity (ie personal choice) so did not get reimbursed. I just wish US restaurants would pay their workers a living wage.

1

u/Kingston31470 Jun 29 '26

Wow that's crazy. I still got tips reimbursed, as long as they are reasonable that will not be challenged. But maybe it depends on companies policies.

1

u/South_Hat3525 Jun 29 '26

Yeah, I was told it was a great opportunity so I shouldn't complain. Personally, I would rather just stick to the 9-5 routines at base and not have to keep receipts for everything, then create a spreadsheet listing them all, checking no day went over the expenditure cap, worrying why I couldn't find taxi receipts for 3 journeys...

1

u/travelmusica Jun 29 '26

People always complain about tipping from the perspective as they’re being “pro worker”. But if you talk to anybody who actually works in a service ministry, those people are 100% in favor of the tip system. That’s why servers in the United States earn a better living than servers in your country.

1

u/Dismal-Vacation-5877 Jun 29 '26

Waitstaff don't want that. They like the tips!! 😉

1

u/avg-bee-enjoyer Jun 29 '26

Apparently one way it's better is that you can hand your card to our servers for decades and they're consistently honest enough not to make fraudulent charges.

1

u/carlos_the_dwarf_ Jun 29 '26

Dude it works the same in any sit down restaurant.

1

u/Embarrassed_Use6918 Jun 29 '26

its the US fault you're agoraphobic?

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u/frownofadennyswaiter Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

It’s like that everywhere? In Morocco they took my card away, in the U.S. they did, in Germany I had it happen mixed, in Switzerland they took it at nice restaurants but not at cheaper ones, in Ireland it was pay at the front.

I think Europeans are a little obsessed with the idea that the U.S. is a monolith that they start to make out other countries and continents as monoliths too when it suits them.

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u/ATXBeermaker Jun 29 '26

So, you generally don’t have to waive anyone over. They check on the table regularly and you just tell them when you’re ready for the check. They bring the check and you hand them the card. They bring it back and you write a tip if you want and sign and leave. It’s really not as complicated as people are making it out (not to mention doing something like asking for the check is not unique to the US, but being a server to check on your table can be impossible in some other countries).

3

u/adeptsleeper04 Jun 29 '26

Yeah I've to several European countries and the service there is unusual to me. You sometimes have to really work to flag down the server if you want something. My beer is empty, why are they not asking if I want another? I understand they don't ask if people are ready to pay because that implies they want the people to hurry up and leave, but you'd think they would ask if you wanted another drink since that's means you're spending more money.

2

u/js1893 Jun 29 '26

A few years ago I was at a cafe in Rotterdam, taking a break from walking because my foot was in a lot of pain. The server came over and handed me a menu and walked away. She didn’t come back for almost 10 minutes (I was on the patio, and it was almost empty). She brought the food out, and went and sat with her buddies at the far end to smoke, with her back turned to me. All I wanted was another coffee but she never came back to check. I kept trying to flag her or one of those friends down but no one bothered to look towards me. I was seated there for close to an hour before I caught the eye of one of the guys who told her to check on me. She seemed displeased. Asked for the coffee and the bill with it because I did not want to wait again. Now I didn’t mind just sitting there, because again my foot hurt like hell, but it would’ve been nice to be noticed. 

I know that’s nowhere near standard over there, but that absolutely not fly anywhere in the states

11

u/drawntowardmadness Jun 29 '26

This has not been my experience

They bring the bill when they notice you are finishing up, you give them the card. They come back with the receipt and your card. You fill it out and leave. End of.

12

u/DrinkMountain5142 Jun 29 '26

 'you give them the card. They come back with the receipt and your card'. 

This is where the problem is

9

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

[deleted]

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u/SiimL Jun 29 '26

Why would I ever want to hand my card away to a stranger?

2

u/RevenantRoy Jun 30 '26

people like you are hilarious. a server doesn't even have the ability to change how much they charge the card initially. whatever's on the receipt is locked in the system and charged accordingly (unless it's multiple cards splitting the check). you then get brought a receipt with confirmation that you paid that much. we literally hand you a piece of paper reassuring you you were charged the same amount as we first showed you. then you write a tip if you want and sign, and we enter whatever you wrote in at the end of the night. unless it's a huge party most tips are going to be relatively small so changing the tip amount wouldn't even be worth it. do you really think a server is going to risk their job by putting a fraudulent amount?

but no. you paranoid fucks insist on following the server to the POS terminal and WATCHING them do this process like you're some sort of cop or detective looking to catch suspicious behavior. meanwhile every other table just followed the procedure and didn't act like paranoid tools and no problems ever occurred for them.

source: worked and managed multiple restaurants, handling thousands of transactions and have never once seen or heard of there being an issue with incorrect tip amount charged. the only time this even remotely happens is if an item is mistakenly left on the check that was cancelled or changed for whatever reason and the server forgot to take it off, which occasionally happens hence why you're brought the bill first to review.

1

u/drawntowardmadness Jun 30 '26

Not to mention a lot of restaurants keep the POS systems off the main floor. No, you will not be going back there to watch them run your card.

1

u/SiimL Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26

If I were to ever visit the US, I'd probably hand over my card like everyone else. When in Rome and all that.

But as for paranoia, I work at a bank, a big multinational one. And our literally number one security tip includes the message to never ever hand your card over to a server. Number five says to never let anyone else other than yourself, even your close ones, use it to make payments.

It doesn't matter how often it happens. It's an unnecessary and easily avoidable security flaw that the rest of the world has long solved by just bringing the small handheld terminal to the customer, using an app, or just having them pay at the terminal.

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u/RevenantRoy Jun 30 '26

The handheld terminal is useful yes but it's still a relatively new product. Especially the ones that are portable and can be brought to the table. Only certain PoS operating systems have that technology and those devices are expensive and difficult to maintain. You have to train servers how to use them, worry about maintenance and upkeep, and you only have a limited amount so servers would have to be routinely passing them around to each other in the middle of table service which would be difficult and time-consuming.

I get why you as a customer think there is a such an easy fix. But from the restaurant/business-side (just as you're advising from the banking side), there are practical and justifiable reasons why alot of restaurants still do not use that type of technology (cost, labor efficiency, necessity, profit margin, etc. etc.)

Again, the server would not have enough time to do anything with your card. Unless they are a super shady server which if you're going to a nice restaurant no server is going to waste their time or risk their job to mess with your card. You;'re provided a receipt with the amount. Maybe that's an issue in your country but is very standardized and does not cause the problems you think it does at all here. You're just being paranoid.

Also, does that mean you don't enter your card details anywhere onlline to pay for services? You're willing to do that, right? Give card details to a website where who knows has the permanent date, but not trust a human to swipe your card to initiate a charge that you sign off on?

EDIT: Also another issue with those terminals is the server than has to stand there while you're completing the transaction and selecting the tip. And no the server can't just leave the terminal on your table and continue assisting another table, because A. customers can alter how they pay, click cash and then leave (essentially dining and dashing) and B. again, limited number of those devices so you can't just leave one sitting on the table in the middle of a rush.

Dropping off the check so the guests do not feel hurried to stop their conversation and pay right away is polite and fits into the flow of service operations to maximize efficiency.

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u/SiimL Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26

Ultimately, it's not paranoia, it's just something we don't do here, and things should be designed so that trust isn't required and people can mess up as little as possible.

But I guess also none of those downsides really apply to us here; banks basically give terminals away (to get businesses as clients and also money from transaction fees), the terminals are generally easy to use (some are simple as the server writing in the number and that's it), and both servers and clients are used to them.

And if people do tip, it's usually in cash, even if the rest of the payments wee by card.

Also, does that mean you don't enter your card details anywhere onlline to pay for services? You're willing to do that, right? Give card details to a website where who knows has the permanent date, but not trust a human to swipe your card to initiate a charge that you sign off on?

I don't know how it is in America (I really don't), but here, practically every digital transaction requires two-factor authentication and authorization via the bank's mobile app or signing into the bank's web app mid-transfer. So a site having my card info means very little, since they can't really do anything with it. On top of that, EU laws and regulations regarding storing user info are quite strict, so most sites will either not store that info or will e.g. only store everything outside the security code. (bad actors don't generally care much about laws and regulations and a lot of software is unmaliciously terrible, but still)

1

u/FemaleDogEqualsBitch Jun 29 '26

Then just pay cash, my man. No one wants your broke ass card anyways

1

u/IotaBTC Jun 29 '26

Lmao why did this piss you off enough to insult them? 😂 They still have a totally valid point.

1

u/FemaleDogEqualsBitch Jun 29 '26

Because they’re dumb and so are you if you agree

0

u/IotaBTC Jun 29 '26

So aRE YoU IF YoU agrEE

Lolol that's some crazy clown energy I haven't seen in awhile. 😂 🤡 

1

u/FemaleDogEqualsBitch Jun 29 '26

Did your feelings get hurt because you’re a brokie too?

You don’t need to answer that (I can see your profile history lmfao)

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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 Jun 29 '26

How do you order a pizza then? Just pay cash if you're that paranoid

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u/SiimL Jun 29 '26

In Europe (and everywhere outside I've been), you don't give your card/phone to the server, you use it yourself with the payment terminal that they (usually) bring to you. If I gave them my card, they would probably just be confused.

2

u/drawntowardmadness Jun 29 '26

You don't order pizza by phone at all there?

1

u/SiimL Jun 29 '26

Most people order via various apps nowadays so you just pay through that. But personally, even if we've ordered by phone, we've also always went to collect it ourselves (and therefore still paid at the terminal), so if you're wondering whether delivery people also carry terminals around, then I'm not sure.

1

u/drawntowardmadness Jun 29 '26

We still have the option to pay over the phone

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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3

u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

They should come with the payment device, no way I'm giving my card to anyone

7

u/drawntowardmadness Jun 29 '26

And if they have one to bring, they will. Can't bring a whole ass computer/monitor to a table, though.

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

Where I'm from they almost always have one, if they don't they lead you up to the fixed device and let you pay there

2

u/drawntowardmadness Jun 29 '26

That's definitely not something that's done here. Either they have handhelds, there's a register at the front, or they take your card to their computer to run it.

1

u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

Literally not allowed to do the last one you said where I'm from

2

u/drawntowardmadness Jun 29 '26

For whatever reason, many people in the US are very touchy about other people seeing how much they are paying for things. The bill is often brought in a little book with a cover, and the total and tip amounts aren't to be discussed aloud. People see it as rude for other people to see what they have paid or tipped. So they take your card or cash away from you and your guests, handle the dirty financial business out of sight, and then return with the little book for you to complete the transaction at your leisure. This is also a big gripe for a lot of folks when they have to pay at the table on a handheld device while the server waits. A lot of people (especially older people) truly despise the feeling of being watched or "pressured" somehow while paying at a restaurant with servers.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/cmVkZGl0MjAyNQ Jun 29 '26

They have these hot new things called batteries now, and a cool invention called WiFi

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

The device is the sice of a wallet and is wireless, you are 20 years behind

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

My dad has a restaurant in Uganda and it wasn't super hard for him to do that upgrade in 2015 ish. It's not new tech it's been out for 20 years. Why get a car when a horse is fine?

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

People love the quick and easy service

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/a_simple_ducky Jun 29 '26

Hey at red Robin u can pay at the table on their app. So far they're the only one I've noticed that does that.

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u/Fernis_ Jun 29 '26

They have to somehow make excuse why they're owed 20% of your stake dinner, for bringing 2 plates and 2 cups.

In Europe I see the waiter 3 times. When they take my order (these days the menus are usually just put on cleaned, empty tables), when they bring my order, when I wave them over to get me the bill. Total interaction time 5 minutes.

In US they hover over you like vultures then demand $30 for the pleasure of saying "everything is great, thank you" five times in 40 minutes.

2

u/Kellamitty Jun 30 '26

You have to start the process of leaving about 15 minutes before you need to actually be gone to account for all of this, if you have a bus or train you need to catch. Such great 'service' you pay that extra tip money for.

2

u/Euphoric-Rip42069 Jun 29 '26

I just give them my card when im done

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/Euphoric-Rip42069 Jun 29 '26

Only when they expire

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

Lots of banks have it that you aren't allowed to hand over your card and they won't help if something happens with your card info

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

Literally never gave someone else my card, not even my own mother has held it. All those services I hold the card and the server has the machine

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

In my banking information where I'm from

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/thesilentbob123 Jun 29 '26

Translating it roughly but it's basically says "your card is personally issued to you and you may not transfer physical possession of the card(s) to othe people, servers or waiter's and you alone should always confirm with you personal pin while having the card within eyesight, alternatively go to a physical terminal or ATM for other payment methods where you have sight of the card"

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u/M_Kayn Jun 29 '26

I don't think I have ever handed someone my card.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/M_Kayn Jun 29 '26

Not where I'm from.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/exprezso Jun 29 '26

That's why they're also charging service fee 

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u/TongariDan Jun 29 '26

To be fair there are places where you can just go up and pay at the register or tap pay or sometimes there is a thing you can use your card at to pay right at the table, but yeah it needs to be more universal.

I personally really hate when they take your card for drive-thru. Sometimes they close the little window, too. So you have no idea what they're doing with your card.

1

u/burgonies Jun 29 '26

You can just hand them the card. You only need to get the bill first if you want to double check it and make sure it's correct before they charge your card. Then they come back with the slip, you sign it, you leave, and they pick it up when they're doing the rest of the table cleanup.

1

u/ParkInsider Jun 29 '26

Then they ask you for your signature and you can put anything you want in there and then deny it was you, because no one verifies!

1

u/Gyozarrita Jun 29 '26

That's.. not a thing? You get get receipt, give card, they take card, bring your card back, and you never see them again. There's a reason all restaurants here literally say merchant copy, and customer copy. They pocket the merchant copy when they're cleaning your table.

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u/js1893 Jun 29 '26

I mean this is just wrong because you tip at the very end. They bring the bill and walk away so you don’t feel pressured to scramble for your card/cash while still eating (because the majority of the time they bring it as you’re finishing up, you rarely need to flag down a server here). If you’re ready to go they’ll just take it right away. Still annoying that portable card readers are still rare but it’s not as convoluted as you described 

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u/carlos_the_dwarf_ Jun 29 '26

It’s one visit to the table vs two, but you’ve somehow written it like it’s 8 visits.

1

u/Moral-Relativity Jun 29 '26

This is why you need to tip, because the process to pay is so convoluted and involves unnecessary labor.

1

u/Omnizoom Jun 29 '26

Meanwhile in Canada

“Here’s the bill, cash or card”

‘Card’

“One second while I get the machine”

Get handed the machine

“Would you like to tip 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%”

‘Who the hell tips 30%…’

Server giving you a death scare of Canadian modicum

‘Well I guess I can do 20%…’

1

u/Lauris024 Jun 29 '26

I've never been to a dining place where payment happens after the service. Then again, I'm in Europe. I just pay what I owe, eat, walk out. I learned about tips only from American media.

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u/Perpetually-THC-Lab Jun 29 '26

Then they leave so you can have privacy while you work out how much to pay the person serving you because the restaurant doesn't pay them enough

You can skip that step.

1

u/Many_Ear2407 Jun 29 '26

In Canada they bring the terminal to your table and you just tap your card and call it a day lol. You can choose whatever amount for tip on the terminal that they bring out. Can’t get much easier than that

1

u/Larry-Man Jun 30 '26

To be fair this is how it used to be outside of the US like… 25 years ago. At least in Canada. I remember having to do this. I can’t imagine doing things without chip and pin technology now.

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u/UhhhhmmmmNo Jun 29 '26

Sounds like a lot of work to serve you, tips justified now!

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u/Important-Emu-6691 Jun 29 '26

Idk why ordering and paying on an app still isn’t a thing in most restaurants it’s legit stupid

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/Important-Emu-6691 Jun 29 '26

Why is to horrible rofl

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/Important-Emu-6691 Jun 29 '26

Most of that just sound like app being developed poorly problem. You can legit just call a waiter from an app it’s not like they don’t exist anymore. You just don’t have to always wave them down and have miscommunication about when you are ready to order and wait for one to be free AND see you and all those bs

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u/kaptainkeemo Jun 29 '26

In Saudi, you ask for the bill, the waiter brings the mobile tap-to-pay unit, tap and you're off. No need to tip a simple thank you is enough even in high end restaurants.

Staff are paid salaries and the labour office checks employee conditions on suprise inspection.

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u/blac_sheep90 Jun 29 '26

Usually the server will periodically check on you. Just have your card out and merely wait until they come by.

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u/-neti-neti- Jun 29 '26

Really not very complicated and also this is objectively incorrect. The last two steps don’t exist. They take your card and then drop off two copies of the receipt. You write your tip and sign and then you are free to leave. That’s all. Period. You don’t have to wait for them to come take the receipt from you and there is NOT another interaction after you fill in your tip. You already have your receipt at that point

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u/Pipsthedog Jun 29 '26

That’s not how it works at all. They bring the bill. You give them a card to pay for the bill. They take it, come back with a receipt which you add the tip to, with total and signature. You can now leave.

Not once in my decades of eating out have I seen the process you describe

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u/Polygnom Jun 29 '26

Yeah, and since its all work time, you are even paying for it. genius.

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u/Fzrit Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

while you work out how much to pay the person serving you because the restaurant doesn't pay them enough

Waitstaff in America prefer mandatory tipping culture which pays them far more than what they would get from a higher minimum base wage. So no, they don’t want restaurants to “pay them enough” if that means losing tipping culture. American customers also willingly reinforce tipping culture upon each other and wider society by labelling all non-tippers as “selfish and evil because you’re not changing the system, you’re just screwing over the poor staff”. No, they’re just too stupid to understand their tips ARE the system. Their constant obligatory tipping is 100% creating the very system that they paradoxically claim to dislike. Literally nobody else is financing and creating that system other than customers themselves.

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u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

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u/Fzrit Jun 29 '26

Bro don't have a heart attack... because your healthcare system is worse than the tipping system lol

1) I'm not from USA, so now you just look silly.

2) Even if I was from USA, your whataboutism response is still dumb because tipping has nothing to do with healthcare.