>> ^Mashiki: You know, if it's mandatory it's not a tip. It's a serving tax, don't try to bill it as something it's not.
Restaurants cannot levy a tax. It's a charge, it's a gratuity, it's a tip, it's whatever you want to call it, but it's not a tax. I'm not quite sure what people aren't getting about this.
Also we're arguing semantics if the argument is based on whether gratuity or tips can or cannot be compulsory. There is no written law I know that says they must be one way or another. If you agree to pay a gratuity before service, then you should be ready to pay it after service is completed.
If I buy a massage for my girlfriend, they ask if I'd like to add a gratuity to the gift certificate. Obviously I don't know if the massage is going to be rubbish or fantastic, but I add it ahead of time so she doesn't have to tip them. At that point, I've agreed to the price before service. Same thing here.
My first job was as a bus boy/dishwasher at a Western Steer restaurant in North Carolina. I hated it. I, too, tip at least 20% and typically more depending on what I order. It figures the ones everyone else would want to label as heartless libertarians would be the ones who tip the greatest.
I'm not sure why everyone else on that post hates tipping waitresses so much.
In reply to this comment by imstellar28: My first job was as a bus boy/dishwasher, and the waitresses I worked with made $2.13 an hour - three dollars less than minimum wage at the time. Waitresses don't just keep their tips...they have to "tip out" other people like the bus boy, etc. So as a bus boy, sometimes I would bring home $50 a night in tips from what the waitresses would give me - outside of my regular wages which were above minimum wage.
To this day, as a rule I tip 25-30% on all bills, usually with a minimum of 20%. If the person gives really lousy service - aka - charges me for extra bread etc. I subtract that out of the tip sometimes; otherwise I always tip at least 20% even if they are mediocre. For really good service (especially on low-priced bills) sometimes I'll tip upwards of 50%.
Worst tip I ever gave was -$1.00 yes I actually subtracted money from the bill and signed it on a credit card. The restaurant had a deal "$5 pitchers for domestic drafts" and I had ordered Yuengling...ended up being charged like $9.50 a pitcher when there was a sign at the very bar "Yuengling...America's oldest brewery"
It should be noted that a lot of times people penalize the waitress for problems with the cook. If the food is bad, or wrong, or late - that could be the cook's fault; many times it has nothing to do with the waitress. And if its busy, and/or the restaurant is under-staffed, how is that her fault and why should she be penalized? If it takes one hour to get your food, eat somewhere else don't be a dick to the waitress.
^Yeah, I get that gwiz (and others) think somehow this mandatory tipping thing happens with every meal purchase in the States and done so to bamboozle the customer with hidden charges when the check arrives.
I have tried to illustrate, however ineffectively, that this is not the case, and that this is an agreed upon service charge (mandatory tip) before the patron begins his dining experience.
When you order food are you not agreeing on the price for services and goods (without signing a contract)? And it should clearly marked on the menu (and sometimes by the hostess station or on the wall) 'for parties of x or more a y percent gratuity is added'.
Therefore The gratuity is agreed upon before you order. The princes and princesses in this video most likely were well aware of this but made up their mind to protest because their napkins weren't on the table when their food arrives. That's not bad service. That's a simple oversight that would've been easily rectified if given the opportunity instead of them showing their butts.
I don't personally agree with mandatory gratuity, but it exists, and if I agree to eat at the restaurant with a large party, I have to pay for it. Or I could move to a "make better society".
We don't want none of your commonsense around in these parts. We'd much rather not burden ourselves with paying people what they deserve for the service they give me, but instead moan and complain until someone else has to pay for it. That will make life better for us, so stop fucking that up with your reason and good principles!!
In reply to this comment by dystopianfuturetoday: I've got to side with the business on this one. If you go to a restaurant that requires you tip, then don't act surprised and angry at the end of the meal when you get your bill.
>> ^Xax: Perhaps the patrons were simply confused. Which is it: a mandatory fee, or a gratuity? It can't be both. If they want to charge an 18% service fee, that's what they need to call it -- and make sure patrons are aware of it before being served, and then deliver the good service they're charging for. If patrons don't receive what they pay for, should they be required to pay it?
If I got my hair cut, paid the girl that cuts my hair twenty bucks tip, then later that day called my bank to cancel the charge because I disliked the service, wouldn't I be in the wrong? What if I agree to a mandatory 15% gratuity before ordering the meal, then eat all the food I order and decide to not pay the gratuity because I disliked the service?
The subtle difference between these two is that in one instance you have an opportunity to "experience" the service before tipping and the other you agree to tip beforehand. Either way, you agree to it.
In my personal opinion, if the management knows anything about good business, they should just comp the patrons and be done with it. Nothing good comes from taking a moral position against the customer. Ever.
>> ^xxovercastxx: How is arbitrarily multiplying the bill by 1.18 any different than raising the prices? Aside from not being apparent ahead of time, that is.
Because they don't add the gratuity unless there's a larger group of X amount or more. I've explained that a couple times. I'm not sure why you're jumping to the conclusion everywhere you go they add a compulsory gratuity to your meal. It's only under certain conditions.
I'm pretty sure they knew of the mandatory gratuity. It's most likely on the menu, large parties are typically told when they are seated, and precedent has been set in the industry over this, so this isn't an isolated case.
The manager should've refunded their money or revoked the gratuity. Still, he's not obligated to do so seeing how the price was agreed upon, and thus in the long run his bad business decision will probably cost him.
Wow, where do all you people live that you have such terrible service? I have had bad service maybe once in every eighty times I go out. And even then it's not abysmal, just not great.
I'll be sure to stay away from wherever it is you're all at. Did I hear someone say the great "make better society" Europe?
^Well, most people tip. If they bring a large group of ten people, I think most of them are okay with a compulsory gratuity. If not, then they can go home and get the food from the grocery store and cook it themselves OR find a restaurant that doesn't have a compulsory gratuity.
No. Your words were "make better society". As in "let us social engineer society the way we want it." And then you thumped your chest with your continental pride of Europe.
My point was if you don't want to eat in a restaurant that has a mandatory tip for parties over a described number, then don't visit it. You have options; don't be so arrogant. A small business cannot levy a tax. I don't know where you're getting this bad information. They can only add charges. I wish my ass had lips like yours.
It's easy to complain about a business when you've never invested money in a venture yourself. Most business owners are NOT billionaire fat cats with top hats and monocles. Most are working to make a living, and a lot of restauranteurs make less than the servers because of the debt and having to pay worker salaries first before paying theirs.
That aside, when these customers sat down to order they agreed to the mandatory tip. It would've been wise for the restaurant to comp them when they complained, but they certainly are not obligated to do so.
I rarely tip less than 20% unless the service is terrible. Even when mandatory I tend to add to it. I suppose I should move to Europe where they "make better society" and then I'd never have to reward people for their good work.
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
You know, if it's mandatory it's not a tip. It's a serving tax, don't try to bill it as something it's not.
Restaurants cannot levy a tax. It's a charge, it's a gratuity, it's a tip, it's whatever you want to call it, but it's not a tax. I'm not quite sure what people aren't getting about this.
Also we're arguing semantics if the argument is based on whether gratuity or tips can or cannot be compulsory. There is no written law I know that says they must be one way or another. If you agree to pay a gratuity before service, then you should be ready to pay it after service is completed.
If I buy a massage for my girlfriend, they ask if I'd like to add a gratuity to the gift certificate. Obviously I don't know if the massage is going to be rubbish or fantastic, but I add it ahead of time so she doesn't have to tip them. At that point, I've agreed to the price before service. Same thing here.
imstellar28 (Member Profile)
I'm not sure why everyone else on that post hates tipping waitresses so much.
In reply to this comment by imstellar28:
My first job was as a bus boy/dishwasher, and the waitresses I worked with made $2.13 an hour - three dollars less than minimum wage at the time. Waitresses don't just keep their tips...they have to "tip out" other people like the bus boy, etc. So as a bus boy, sometimes I would bring home $50 a night in tips from what the waitresses would give me - outside of my regular wages which were above minimum wage.
To this day, as a rule I tip 25-30% on all bills, usually with a minimum of 20%. If the person gives really lousy service - aka - charges me for extra bread etc. I subtract that out of the tip sometimes; otherwise I always tip at least 20% even if they are mediocre. For really good service (especially on low-priced bills) sometimes I'll tip upwards of 50%.
Worst tip I ever gave was -$1.00 yes I actually subtracted money from the bill and signed it on a credit card. The restaurant had a deal "$5 pitchers for domestic drafts" and I had ordered Yuengling...ended up being charged like $9.50 a pitcher when there was a sign at the very bar "Yuengling...America's oldest brewery"
It should be noted that a lot of times people penalize the waitress for problems with the cook. If the food is bad, or wrong, or late - that could be the cook's fault; many times it has nothing to do with the waitress. And if its busy, and/or the restaurant is under-staffed, how is that her fault and why should she be penalized? If it takes one hour to get your food, eat somewhere else don't be a dick to the waitress.
eric3579
In reply to this comment by eric3579:
*dead
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Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
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Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
I have tried to illustrate, however ineffectively, that this is not the case, and that this is an agreed upon service charge (mandatory tip) before the patron begins his dining experience.
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Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
When you order food are you not agreeing on the price for services and goods (without signing a contract)? And it should clearly marked on the menu (and sometimes by the hostess station or on the wall) 'for parties of x or more a y percent gratuity is added'.
Therefore The gratuity is agreed upon before you order. The princes and princesses in this video most likely were well aware of this but made up their mind to protest because their napkins weren't on the table when their food arrives. That's not bad service. That's a simple oversight that would've been easily rectified if given the opportunity instead of them showing their butts.
I don't personally agree with mandatory gratuity, but it exists, and if I agree to eat at the restaurant with a large party, I have to pay for it. Or I could move to a "make better society".
dystopianfuturetoday
In reply to this comment by dystopianfuturetoday:
I've got to side with the business on this one. If you go to a restaurant that requires you tip, then don't act surprised and angry at the end of the meal when you get your bill.
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
Perhaps the patrons were simply confused. Which is it: a mandatory fee, or a gratuity? It can't be both. If they want to charge an 18% service fee, that's what they need to call it -- and make sure patrons are aware of it before being served, and then deliver the good service they're charging for. If patrons don't receive what they pay for, should they be required to pay it?
If I got my hair cut, paid the girl that cuts my hair twenty bucks tip, then later that day called my bank to cancel the charge because I disliked the service, wouldn't I be in the wrong? What if I agree to a mandatory 15% gratuity before ordering the meal, then eat all the food I order and decide to not pay the gratuity because I disliked the service?
The subtle difference between these two is that in one instance you have an opportunity to "experience" the service before tipping and the other you agree to tip beforehand. Either way, you agree to it.
In my personal opinion, if the management knows anything about good business, they should just comp the patrons and be done with it. Nothing good comes from taking a moral position against the customer. Ever.
>> ^xxovercastxx:
How is arbitrarily multiplying the bill by 1.18 any different than raising the prices? Aside from not being apparent ahead of time, that is.
Because they don't add the gratuity unless there's a larger group of X amount or more. I've explained that a couple times. I'm not sure why you're jumping to the conclusion everywhere you go they add a compulsory gratuity to your meal. It's only under certain conditions.
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
I'm pretty sure they knew of the mandatory gratuity. It's most likely on the menu, large parties are typically told when they are seated, and precedent has been set in the industry over this, so this isn't an isolated case.
The manager should've refunded their money or revoked the gratuity. Still, he's not obligated to do so seeing how the price was agreed upon, and thus in the long run his bad business decision will probably cost him.
It's not rocket science.
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No end property.
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
I'll be sure to stay away from wherever it is you're all at. Did I hear someone say the great "make better society" Europe?
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
I think you are twisting my words.
No. Your words were "make better society". As in "let us social engineer society the way we want it." And then you thumped your chest with your continental pride of Europe.
My point was if you don't want to eat in a restaurant that has a mandatory tip for parties over a described number, then don't visit it. You have options; don't be so arrogant. A small business cannot levy a tax. I don't know where you're getting this bad information. They can only add charges. I wish my ass had lips like yours.
Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip
That aside, when these customers sat down to order they agreed to the mandatory tip. It would've been wise for the restaurant to comp them when they complained, but they certainly are not obligated to do so.
I rarely tip less than 20% unless the service is terrible. Even when mandatory I tend to add to it. I suppose I should move to Europe where they "make better society" and then I'd never have to reward people for their good work.