As did this place.

They did have a $15 minimum order requirement for delivery disclosed at the very beginning. I would assume that is because they want to be sure that revenue for the delivery would make it worth it. But then whatever they choose for a delivery fee ought to make it worth it, too. I mean if it is not a tip/fee that goes directly to the driver, then the fee should somehow cover the cost of the delivery not just be an additional revenue for the restaurant. So they shouldn't really need a minimum order requirement, too. But my only experience in the restaurant business has been as a customer. Although, all other things being equal, I'm going to order a heck of a lot more food from the restaurant without a delivery fee compared to a place with one. Just like I no longer go to the Chili's nearest me and instead drive 5 miles further to the one with the decent service.

I may have misunderstood your post. But to me, it appears that you ordered food, the restaurant prepared and packaged the food for take out, and you stiffed them because of the presence of a tip line on the charge slip. That is obnoxious. If you just saw an option to tip while online and cancelled the order without the restaurant doing anything, be outraged all you want...it doesn't bother me.

I read the post as they were placing an order online, but had not confirmed it, so the restaurant did not prepare anything.

Italian in quotation marks — so you ordered from Olive Garden? ;)

Maybe it's because we order from local restaurants but delivery fees are rare for us. I know one place that does it. We'll order from them if it's raining and then we don't mind paying the $1 delivery fee. We also tip the delivery guy in cash. We never put it on the credit card as we want to make sure the delivery guy KEEPS his tip. ^

Ok, that's just taking advantage of the customer. How many people are saps enough to pay that? I wouldn't give such a place my business particularly if you aren't sure how authentically Italian the cuisine is. ;)

Even our local places charge a delivery fee.

:rolleyes: I wonder what kind of blizzard it would take to have you not mind $2. ;)

Sorry buddy, restaurants don't charge $2 delivery fees (or more) here because there is a TON OF COMPETITION. Your loss for not having that! :D

We tip the delivery guy quite generously when the weather is severe and he doesn't have to share it!! ^^^

If there's a tip line, it's because the computer prints it. I leave it blank and write it in the same number on the total. Easy math implies the tip is ZERO because it's not a tipped position (waiting tables). I certainly wouldn't cancel an order as a result, that's silly. How would they even know to cry into their pillows to go to sleep that night if they don't know you canceled a potential order? Did you tell them?

Concur.. on take outs, some restaurants print out receipts with tip line.. I just leave it blank and no explanation needed.

The only time I tip for takeout or food court, is a thai kiosk in Eau Claire Calgary where they are always generous to me.. Heck, last time I tried to tip, they refused it, printed my bill, and wished me well.

That's awesome but would make me want to tip them even more! Maybe wait until they're not looking and toss a few bucks in a tip jar(assuming they have one).

To boot I was supposed to pay for the pad Thai seperately as they were closed and had none left. The owner gave me her pad Thai that was already boxed and didn't charge me..

I was waiting for the tip section to appear on the cc machine, but the tip section didn't appear and I ended up paying ten bucks for a heaping meal and a free pad Thai side. I was going to tip $5..

20% "gratuity" added for pickup order
 

I was getting takeout from a local restaurant this evening, and I saw a sign at the counter that said, "A 20% gratuity will be added to all open tabs." I know some restaurants and bars have this policy, but these signs had clearly been placed since the start of the pandemic. Since we don't have in restaurant dining, I don't see an option of having an open tab. I made sure to fill in the gratuity line and take a photo of the merchant copy of the receipt. This is one more case where I don't like tip adjust.

I feel like the mandatory 20% would be a specific line item and not them writing an amount on the tip line (with any tip above 20% up to the customer if they so desire).

Yes, you have to check the itemized receipt very carefully to see if the service fee as I call it was included up with the items ordered, buried. Some independent restaurants do it that way, make it look like just another item on the receipt. Then they give you the usual receipt with a blank tip line to sign. For another fun round of dispute, see if they put sales tax on top of the service fee.

Admittedly I never saw an itemized receipt, only the credit card slip with the tip line. The only way to order online is through one of the food delivery platforms, and the prices appear higher compared to the subtotal on my order from last night for the same items. I just found it odd that they had the signs out and visible at the pickup tables if the dine in and bar were both closed.