According to Kevin O’Leary, it’s one of his important tipping strategies to add cash to the credit card tip, but I think he is wrong and challenge him on this. As we’ve butted heads before (Dragons’ Den – video), this could prove to be a heated discussion.
The problem
To start with, there is no record of the financial transaction. The cash tip may work for him as he’s a noted celebrity, but this not so for the average patron. He states it’s an investment for future visits (personal recognition, prime service, better seating), but most customers will most likely have a different server each time. Hence, his argument is a shaky one.
Issues
Who benefits? Who gets short-changed? What if Kevin doesn’t add the extra cash tip? Who knows what he did? Plus, what is the restaurant’s protocol regarding sharing tips with the busser & the kitchen?
Still…
The basic premise is not a bad idea though. Alternatively, my tipping policy is to tip a bit more when the bar/restaurant is slow as the staff are not making much in tips that shift.