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Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

nytimes.com

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Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#171

Post by sushid »

jedberg wrote: post #131
lotsofpulp wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless jedberg is referring to a 3% discount as a big discount, then I think it's quite obvious that it's due to tax evasion, which would allow the merchant to provide deeper discounts. This is common in cash businesses.

Well it's $12 instead of $15, so 20% off. But keep in mind that for a small merchant, besides the 3% processing fee, there is also a base fee, and when you talk about a haircut for $15, the base fee eats up a whole lot of the profit.

The standard maximum rate is 2.9% + 30 cents. Looks like they're losing over $2 per transaction for doing business in cash, unless, they make us for this cough somehow.

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#172

Post by choward »

betterunix2 wrote: post #2

Maybe we should not have tips? There is no actual need or advantage to giving people tips, and there are plenty of countries where tipping is not common (including some where cash is still favored over electronic payments). Why not just pay people a fair wage that they can live on?

Tips are just a way to trick people thinking items are less expensive than they really are. It's like service fees on your bills. Those should be included in the monthly price of the package, but since that's the price they get to advertise, they want it to appear as low as possible. It's like food prices on a menu. You have to pay an additional 20% fee over the listed prices.

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#173

Post by jpindar »

acdanger wrote: post #26
jedberg wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope it's because services for them have picked up, funded by both public money and private (digital) donations. But I suspect the real answer is something closer to "starving and dying". :(

I'm aware of donations through apps like GoFundMe, but does there exist any services for making digital donations to homeless people I might encounter on the street? I've thought about how the lack of cash is affecting these people, quite a lot but haven't encountered any solutions.

Gift cards? Coffee shops and such have low denomination ones.

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#174

Post by keyboardhitter »

greggarious wrote: post #54

Do people not carry cash? Maybe the types who have an apartment with a doorman in Manhattan don't. But I (a "millenial") often go to bars and restaurants that are cash only. Eventually, I found it was easier keep budget my "entertainment" in cash. Visually being able to see how much I have, how much I'm taking out helps. Being able to see that amount grow if I'm frugal one month feels good too. I have friends who cla…

I don't abuse cards or rush to a minimum spend to get benefit from cash back bonuses. I use two different 2% cash back cards for groceries and food, respectfully, and pay off in full each month. in fact, these cards still give the bonuses without even carrying balance to statement close, though not all do (amex comes to mind). I have never accrued interest or fees by using the card on everyday purchases towards cash back benefits. many people are apprehensive to do this and I totally understand why, especially those who don't feel they have self control around spending habits

it is worth it for me, i do have to stay vigilant but it keeps me in check with my budget at the same time. then at the end of the month I will have some extra money to pay for generous tips or a cup of coffee, or to put back in my checking/savings account. it works great for me.

I never use cash unless I am buying marijuana (Washington state but not all stores allow cards at this time). having to manually track my cash spending actually has the opposite effect on frugality awareness for me, because I may forget to notate it, or will be more impulsive because I won't have to see it right away on any bank statements/spend tracker apps

Obviously everyone has their own preferences. Figured I would share my contrary pov!

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#175

Post by aarreedd »

Sangermaine wrote: post #4
betterunix2 wrote: post #2

Maybe we should not have tips? There is no actual need or advantage to giving people tips, and there are plenty of countries where tipping is not common (including some where cash is still favored over electronic payments). Why not just pay people a fair wage that they can live on?

Because that would cost the companies more and they're happy to get away with paying less. It's really not a mystery.

It's not that it would cost companies more. It's that companies would have to charge more up front.

Even if customers end up paying the same price in the end they are not thinking about the cost of the tip when ordering their food. They are just looking at the price on the menu.

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#176

Post by ggg9990 »

bunderbunder wrote: post #149
santaclaus wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently went to Homestead in Oakland, which includes tips. The service was top notch, despite what the include-the-tip naysayers claim will happen.

I'm impressed by the pervasiveness of the belief that people won't, for the most part, try to do good work simply for the sake of taking pride in their work. It's such a remarkably pessimistic way to regard other people.

Or, just to keep their job! I don't take pride in my work but I make good money and I don't want to risk my job. so I do fairly high quality work.

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#177

Post by mikez302 »

jhpankow wrote: post #6
Sangermaine wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because that would cost the companies more and they're happy to get away with paying less. It's really not a mystery.

I wish there was a list of Bay Area restaurants that don't require tipping. I discovered one last Friday and look forward to returning for the good food, service, and fair wages.

This may be helpful (anywhere in the US, not just the Bay Area): http://bit.ly/tip-free-restaurants

I found it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/EndTipping/

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#178

Post by StanislavPetrov »

Androider wrote: post #148
lazerpants wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anecdotally, New Yorkers (of all varieties) carry some cash most of the time. There are just too many places that do not accept cards in NYC for people to go cashless. My friends in Denver and LA almost never seem to have cash, and are always surprised that it is a problem when they visit NYC.

New Yorker here, I can't really think of any place that doesn't take cards. Some bodegas have minimums, e.g. $5 or $10, but even those are rare and I typically pay for everything by card and carry no cash.

Obviously not a fan of the dirty water hot dog.

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#179

Post by racl101 »

45h34jh53k4j wrote: post #3

Its time to pay people a living wage, and stop the tipping culture. I hate carrying cash, and It bothers me that I have to carry $1 bills for the tipping extortion. Im resentful that I have to pay for things as well as bribe the workers. Its disgusting.

Agreed. I only want to pay for the advertised price. I hate these unwritten rules.

People should just do their job because they're being compensated fairly.

Maybe this will be one good thing about robots.

Re: Casualties of the Cashless Society: Those Who Get Seasonal Tips

#180

Post by dvtv75 »

wfo wrote: post #64
c0wb0yc0d3r wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US, employees must still be paid minimum wage. Depending on the state, an employer may count tips toward this amount. If an employee reports $0 in tips, the employer must pay them $7.25/hr. While I would like to believe that what you say is true, I find it hard to be true. I think the bigger issues are at play whether it's is the fact that minimum wages need to be adjusted, a more modern solution is needed to…

>In the US, employees must still be paid minimum wage. Depending on the state, an employer may count tips toward this amount. If an employee reports $0 in tips, the employer must pay them $7.25/hr. While I would like to believe that what you say is true, I find it hard to be true. Sure this is technically correct according to the way the law is written but it ignores the reality which is that a large group of crimina…

Not in the US, but these have happened to me in my last three jobs (mostly in Dunedin, New Zealand):

* steal from their employees by not paying them when they quit * intimidating employees into not reporting wages under the minimum * refusing to pay legally mandated overtime * refusing to allow legally required breaks

I'm owed between $20,000 and $40,000 by two (New Zealand) employers in particular, who refused to pay for or record my extra hours worked, and one of them threatened me with physical harm if I went to the government watchdog.

One of them was a small business, the other a multimillionaire. It was the latter who paid less than the minimum every day I worked, and demanded I work as many free hours as he could force me to. It's not just physical harm with him, because he also promised to destroy my reputation around town if I so much as stepped out of line.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for not resigning on the spot. I know.

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