Nail salon tip question

[CJ2008]

It's been a couple of times already that when I go to the nail salon the cashier asks me how much tip I want to leave and instead of separating out the service from the tip, e.g. $13 for manicure, $3 tip, they just charge me $16.

What are the reason/s why a business would do this?

 

[amc80]

It's been a couple of times already that when I go to the nail salon the cashier asks me how much tip I want to leave and instead of separating out the service from the tip, e.g. $13 for manicure, $3 tip, they just charge me $16.

What are the reason/s why a business would do this?

My place does this as well. But then they take the tip amount out of the register in cash.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Maybe it's just to reduce the amount of bookkeeping work?

 

[CJ2008]

amc and mc - I *like* both reasons you gave. Meaning that there's no "weird" reason why they're doing this (I always think the worst I guess?)

ETA: the reason why I thought the worst was mostly because when I asked the cashier (who's one the owners/managers) why he was doing it this way he mumbled something that didn't really answer the question. I didn't want to make a big deal about it (so funny how I can be assertive in some ways but in other situations I'm a mouse) so I didn't say anything else. And the next time I was there he did it again.

Today I got someone else who did separate out the tip.

 

[madelise]

How would you separate it? Like, run the card twice? I believe the CC companies charge a fee per transaction on top of a % and monthly fee. Every transaction just means they have to pay more. I used to work at a place that would make us reverse the charges on the first payment and do just ONE total payment.. if someone decided to buy more stuff.

 

[CJ2008]

How would you separate it? Like, run the card twice?

No - they would just charge $13, and then I'd write in my tip in the space provided for it...

 

[aviastar]

How would you separate it? Like, run the card twice?

No - they would just charge $13, and then I'd write in my tip in the space provided for it...

I think you have to set this up differently, though, as the merchant. So maybe easier/cheaper to not have a tip option? When I worked in restaurants the first run of the card approves the amount of the bill plus some wiggle room for the expected tip. Then when you have the final amount, including tip, it's closed as a single transaction. So they are just consolidating those steps, I think!

For this exact reason, though, I always try to remember to bring some cash for my tip; I just feel better handing cash to my manicurist in person.

 

[CJ2008]

I think you have to set this up differently, though, as the merchant. So maybe easier/cheaper to not have a tip option?

For this exact reason, though, I always try to remember to bring some cash for my tip; I just feel better handing cash to my manicurist in person.

They do have the option - the receipt has a place to write in the tip - it's only at random that they'll ask me how much tip im going to give and they add it to the total instead of letting me write it in.

But yes, that's part of what felt "funny" for me - that the girl get the amount I intended. But I never have cash on me so I always end up giving it on the card.