I bought a cappuccino at a coffee bar yesterday. I paid cash. I offered the barista a tip and she said “We’re not allowed to accept cash tips.” But since I had already paid, in cash, there was no way to give her a tip using a credit card. She explained that the staff divided up the tips among them and that accepting cash tips would complicate that. She suggested that I just come back again and use a credit card the next time.
We were both too busy to discuss it further. I understand the reasoning, maybe, but if someone were going to cheat on the cash tips by not dividing them fairly, wouldn’t they just accept and pocket the cash anyway? And how does refusing the tip entirely benefit anyone?
I suppose there is a way it works out, but the logic eludes me for now. Alas, it seems unlikely I’ll be able to return any time soon to try to unravel the mystery.
—2p