"The 17% is a service charge, sir, it is not a tip."
Aug 29, 2009, 12:24 am
#1
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
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"The 17% is a service charge, sir, it is not a tip."
Place: an old line San Francisco steakhouse called "Alfred's."
They actually have handouts explaining
(a) that the charge is subject to sales tax (making it more like 18.5%)
and
(b) that if you want to give something JUST to your waiter, you should tip in addition.
The waiter claimed he only got 45% of the service charge so we should tip him in addition. Haven't waiters always had to split their tips with bus boys and such?
This is a scam, and I don't like it. Really spoiled the dinner for me.
They actually have handouts explaining
(a) that the charge is subject to sales tax (making it more like 18.5%)
and
(b) that if you want to give something JUST to your waiter, you should tip in addition.
The waiter claimed he only got 45% of the service charge so we should tip him in addition. Haven't waiters always had to split their tips with bus boys and such?
This is a scam, and I don't like it. Really spoiled the dinner for me.
Aug 29, 2009, 12:36 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
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Posts: 6,819
The point of the forced tip....oh sorry I mean "service charge" is that service is included so no need to tip.
I do not find it appealing to go to a place that begs in the way that you describe.
I do not find it appealing to go to a place that begs in the way that you describe.
Aug 29, 2009, 1:17 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
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I am not a fan of this either -- I dislike restaurants and especially hotels which add the service charge and still expect an additional gratuity. I tend to tip more when not "boxed" in like this.....
Aug 29, 2009, 7:26 am
#4
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
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This entire tip thing in the US really does go a little toooo far sometimes... 
Aug 29, 2009, 7:36 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MD, USA
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Posts: 272
poor management decision!
since when do kitchen staff employees get tipped anyway?? that's absurd, they get paid a fair wage where servers get less than 1/2 of minimum wage. this is just the restaurant's way of paying the kitchen staff less...
Aug 29, 2009, 7:41 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
Is this like a $35pp kind of place? More or less?
If it's $35pp...that's $5.95 per person. If he has 2 tables on 4 and everyone stays for 2 hours he is making $21 just from the service charge for those 2 hours. That means he's making $8/hr CA minimum wage (CA doesn't do tip wage from what I've read) + $11/hour just from service charge.
...do they do a surcharge for the mandatory health insurance too?
If it's $35pp...that's $5.95 per person. If he has 2 tables on 4 and everyone stays for 2 hours he is making $21 just from the service charge for those 2 hours. That means he's making $8/hr CA minimum wage (CA doesn't do tip wage from what I've read) + $11/hour just from service charge.
...do they do a surcharge for the mandatory health insurance too?
Last edited by gj83; Aug 29, 2009 at 7:53 am
Aug 29, 2009, 7:57 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
17% is an odd number. I typically tip more than that, but autograt me and that's all you get.
Aug 29, 2009, 8:05 am
#9
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Aug 29, 2009, 8:09 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
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17% seems customary for parties 6 and up. As for being dogged by the waiter for insufficient tip, this is crazy. He should be taking that up with management not complaining to the customers if he is getting screwed. How should the customer know the percent breakdown?
When I worked in a restaurant, the front of the house staff divvied the tips (host/ess, wait, bus) and the kitchen were paid their regular salary.
While I would be inclined to add a couple % to bring it close to 20%, I would probably complain to the manager about poor service.
When I worked in a restaurant, the front of the house staff divvied the tips (host/ess, wait, bus) and the kitchen were paid their regular salary.
While I would be inclined to add a couple % to bring it close to 20%, I would probably complain to the manager about poor service.
Aug 29, 2009, 10:38 am
#11
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
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Is this like a $35pp kind of place? More or less?
If it's $35pp...that's $5.95 per person. If he has 2 tables on 4 and everyone stays for 2 hours he is making $21 just from the service charge for those 2 hours. That means he's making $8/hr CA minimum wage (CA doesn't do tip wage from what I've read) + $11/hour just from service charge.
...do they do a surcharge for the mandatory health insurance too?
If it's $35pp...that's $5.95 per person. If he has 2 tables on 4 and everyone stays for 2 hours he is making $21 just from the service charge for those 2 hours. That means he's making $8/hr CA minimum wage (CA doesn't do tip wage from what I've read) + $11/hour just from service charge.
...do they do a surcharge for the mandatory health insurance too?
Aug 29, 2009, 11:22 am
#12
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
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health insurance surcharge..??? are you guys serious...? patrons are supposed to chip-in to pay for staff health insurance..???!!!!
Aug 29, 2009, 5:08 pm
#13
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
Thehealth insurance surcharge is vaguely related to an SF law that requires restaurants to provide insurance to employees. As part of a protest of this by some owners, some restaurants started putting a surcharge on the bill for what is allegedly their cost for insurance. Why this is any different than charging for butter is unclear.
Aug 29, 2009, 6:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Posts: 5,304
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, 2009, 6:45 pm
#15
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Thehealth insurance surcharge is vaguely related to an SF law that requires restaurants to provide insurance to employees. As part of a protest of this by some owners, some restaurants started putting a surcharge on the bill for what is allegedly their cost for insurance. Why this is any different than charging for butter is unclear.
Mike