"The 17% is a service charge, sir, it is not a tip."
Aug 29, 09, 6:47 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,218
Originally Posted by Himeno
I don’t like the idea of tipping at all. It isn’t the customer’s job to pay the staff, it is the employers.
All tipping does is create an entitlement which leads to many people in those jobs doing shoddy work and then demanding a tip. I’ll tip someone if the service deserves it. If the service is just ‘average’ then to bad, no tip for you.
All tipping does is create an entitlement which leads to many people in those jobs doing shoddy work and then demanding a tip. I’ll tip someone if the service deserves it. If the service is just ‘average’ then to bad, no tip for you.
Aug 29, 09, 7:15 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Portland
Programs: AS MVPG75K, Boardroom, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 351
I was under the impression TIPS was actually an acronym for:
To
Insure (although I think it should be ensure but hey, that screws it up right?)
Proper
Service
So I agree with just not going there...it's crazy to have a serving professional to solicit further tip. What's the point? You get crappy service and you still get hosed for 17%?
Glad I moved out of SF, that would drive me nuts to see owners of these places charging for the health care bill...it called the cost of doing business. Move the darn place to Daly City if you're that annoyed.
To
Insure (although I think it should be ensure but hey, that screws it up right?)
Proper
Service
So I agree with just not going there...it's crazy to have a serving professional to solicit further tip. What's the point? You get crappy service and you still get hosed for 17%?
Glad I moved out of SF, that would drive me nuts to see owners of these places charging for the health care bill...it called the cost of doing business. Move the darn place to Daly City if you're that annoyed.
Aug 29, 09, 7:20 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: A small town in North Georgia
Programs: DL Platinum Medallion, AA
Posts: 1,560
Did the server mention the service charge before the OP ordered, or did it just appear on the bill? I would probably have left before ordering if it was mentioned first. Either way, I would have told the manager why I would not be returning, and that dissatisfied customers don't suffer in silence.
Aug 29, 09, 7:22 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Maine
Programs: United Silver, HH Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 1,388
Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
This entire tip thing in the US really does go a little toooo far sometimes... 
Aug 29, 09, 7:51 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: in your villages
Programs: legions, foreign and domestic
Posts: 1,472
Do you want to be fawned over? I find it unseemly. I like the Euro model a lot better. Bring me food, bring me beer. No need to fake smile and be all over me while i'm eating.
Aug 29, 09, 9:30 pm
#21
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,486
Originally Posted by Georgia Peach
Did the server mention the service charge before the OP ordered, or did it just appear on the bill? I would probably have left before ordering if it was mentioned first. Either way, I would have told the manager why I would not be returning, and that dissatisfied customers don't suffer in silence.
I did NOT know that I was going to have to listen to begging afterwards. Most US restaurants that add a service charge also sneak in a blank "tip" line on the charge card receipt, but I've not seen it pushed beyond that before.
Aug 29, 09, 10:31 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Upstate, NY - SYR, ITH, BGM, ELM, ROC
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 3,338
UGH!!! The whole "service charge" thing is like the damned "fuel surcharge"... If it is an expense related to providing the service, then they should role it INTO the price...
If it is unrelated to providing the good/service, and is indeed instead of a "TIP" then it should be OPTIONAL...
Any restaurant that has a required "service charge" for providing SERVICE then pretty much forfeit the right to expect any kind of significant TIP on top of it...
If it is unrelated to providing the good/service, and is indeed instead of a "TIP" then it should be OPTIONAL...
Any restaurant that has a required "service charge" for providing SERVICE then pretty much forfeit the right to expect any kind of significant TIP on top of it...
Aug 29, 09, 10:37 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,218
Originally Posted by inyourvillages
Do you want to be fawned over? I find it unseemly. I like the Euro model a lot better. Bring me food, bring me beer. No need to fake smile and be all over me while i'm eating.
Aug 30, 09, 7:42 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southwest CT
Programs: DL Diamond and Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 7,618
Originally Posted by rjque
It's not about being fawned over, it's about getting efficient and knowledgable service.
Originally Posted by Himeno
Which I find to be more lacking in the US then elsewhere.
Aug 30, 09, 8:03 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MD, USA
Programs: SWA, UA, Delta, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 272
Originally Posted by gj83
Probably not kitchen staff, but the water refiller people. In CA they don't do tipped wage and minimum wage is $8/hr from what I found online. $8/hr for kitchen help isn't much, but I'd hope any good steak house pays kitchen staff above minimum wage.
17% is an odd number. I typically tip more than that, but autograt me and that's all you get.
17% is an odd number. I typically tip more than that, but autograt me and that's all you get.
Choice of Dessert
"A 17% taxable service charge will be added to your bill. This allows for a fair distribution to non-management employees between the service staff (tipped employees) and the kitchen staff (non-tipped employees). This distribution shows the entire staff how appreciated they are.
Any additional tips will stay directly with your server.
Thank you for your understanding and patronage.
The Petri Family "
Aug 30, 09, 8:25 am
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NYC (formerly BOS/DCA)
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Posts: 60,745
Originally Posted by tonypct
Not my experience at all. Then again, YMMV.
Aug 30, 09, 8:47 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
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Posts: 23,731
Originally Posted by PDXOutbound
...Glad I moved out of SF, that would drive me nuts to see owners of these places charging for the health care bill...it called the cost of doing business...
Our companions, who were local, said that the proprietor of this restaurant had been an outspoken opponent of the measure and had placed it on the bills in order to continually call attention to its absurdities.
Therefore, my response was to deduct it from whatever I had thought the waitstaff was worth that evening and think no more about it.
Aug 30, 09, 9:36 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
The waiter claimed he only got 45% of the service charge so we should tip him in addition.
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
This is a scam, and I don't like it. Really spoiled the dinner for me.
