<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kabbar:
Oh, I think everyone here should chill. If you're buying room service, and are staying at a hotel that offers it, you're probably not poor.
Most of the folks who slog the food up to your room, reverently, are. If they were reaping untold riches, the turnover wouldn't be so great.
Most spend 60% of their shifts waiting around (unless it's a good night), until they finally get an order. They bring it up to your room, are generally reasonably gracious, and then hope for the best. I've been there.
To re-cap: your hard-earned money is going to the hotel to the extent that the food charges are inflated. Delivery charges, the mandatory 18%, and whatever you offer in addition (I toss in a couple of bucks because I'm a nice guy), goes directly to those that try to make your trip more comfortable, while earning a living for themselves.
Best,
Abkar</font>
Respectfully disagree.
My hard earned money "going to the hotel to the extent that the food charges are inflated" is also the amount upon which the 18% gratuity is based. So the inflated food prices only add to the servers' tips.
I'm a nice guy, too, and I've also "been there" (worked at the same restaurant all through high school and college for a little over minimum wage plus tips).
But I'm not a pushover. The issue being discussed here was the confusion
prncess674 felt when presented with a room service bill that included 1) a $2.00 delivery charge 2) a 18% mandatory gratuity and 3) a space to fill in for an additional tip.
I am under the impression that
prncess674 added another $2.00 because "the guy was standing there" and she wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Other posts here by FTers indicate the same confusion or annoyance.
Sorry, on this subject, I won't "chill out".