A Tip about Tips
24 06 2008 
Originally uploaded by Jason DeRusha
I pay at the counter at my favorite lunch place. Most people do not tip even when they sit and at this little dive. I’ve noticed that when people pay with a credit card, they always tip well. And when they pay in cash, they seldom tip.
When they pay with a credit card, the receipt is printed with a blank line for the tip. And when they pay in cash, there’s obviously no such line.
It’s the expectation of leaving a tip—or the fear of insult surrounding leave the tip line blank, which causes many people to tip when paying with a credit card but not when paying cash.
I would love to see how asking customers paying in cash, “do you want to leave a tip?” would affect how many of them do. So, do you want to leave a comment?
P.S. I am currently at blog group deciding whether to delete this post or explain it further. The point I want to emphasize is the “do you want fries like that phenomena” that when people are asked directly they tip. This restaurant is a little take out place, I appreciate their service and acknowledge it often with gratuity.
You have guilted me into tip-commenting your blog, good sir. It’d be interesting to see the effect of having each entry on a blog followed by a text entry form (on the main page, not the single-post page) for commenting, rather than just a ‘comment’ link, as a way of creating an expectation of commenting.
Interesting to think that most people may not leave a tip. I have no memory of eating at a restaurant and not leaving one. For me there is no difference, if I pay in cash or credit card. I worked occasionally as a bartender/waiter but that is not why I leave a tip. I think of it as the only source of income for the service person and feel like I want to support them. I ran my business in a small community for years and had this feeling that we all looked out for one another’s business through our patronization. I am also too chicken, usually, to express my upset with poor service by withholding a tip.