Is there a way to increase a tip on a credit-card charge after the initial transaction? — Lisa H., St. Louis
Concerns about tipping—when to tip, who to tip, how much to tip—continue to be one of the most popular Ask George subjects, as that landscape and the specific circumstances are forever changing.
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
When credit-card processing was less sophisticated, making an adjustment involved calling the restaurant, explaining the situation, and running an additional charge, usually for a cent plus the added tip. Nowadays, tips on credit cards can be adjusted, even after the charge has been submitted for processing.
“It’s an easy correction,” says Olive+Oak co-owner Mark Hinkle. “We do it all the time.”
Sugarfire Smoke House co-owner Charlie Downs adds, “The more information you can supply, the better. Having the check number, the transaction number, and/or the server’s name will speed the process.”
There are many reasons why tip adjustment occurs. “It happens a lot, more than you would think,” says Herbie’s owner Aaron Teitelbaum, “especially in business and banquet situations. Maybe some above-and-beyond treatment by the server or maybe the entire service staff knocked it out of the park.”
Many of us have attended a dinner and later realized that our tablemates were, let’s say, overly frugal, and felt the need to compensate the server the next day—or, on other occasions, realized that we had been overly frugal. (Yes, there’s a classic Curb Your Enthusiasm scene about the conundrum.)
In a recent twist, we witnessed a staffer absorbing an unwarranted amount of boorish behavior from an impatient customer—apparently a common occurrence during the pandemic, as this recent article in The New York Times points out. Somehow, the staffer reacted with an unrelenting smile and kindness. We felt the need to throw in a little extra compensation, saying, “Thank you for all you do.”
Follow George on Twitter and Instagram, or send him an “Ask George” email at [email protected]. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
