Another question about tipping (in Restaurants)...
 

If a restaurant includes tips in the bill, does anybody actually leave additional tip? When on a project in Miami, I noticed that the restaurants included 18% tip on the bill (what happened to 15%, #@&$it?) and then had the audacity to include a line for "additional tip". For me, if a restaurant includes a tip in the bill, thats it. They have taken away any input from me as to the amount of tip. Unless I receive service which is nothing short of miraculous, I will never leave "additional tip".

The WORST is hotel room service where they include a "delivery charge", THEN a tip, THEN yet another space for the guest to put "additional tip".

Feels good to get that off my chest. What do you guys think?

The only time I've seen tips included in the bill are for larger parties. Now when I'm in Europe, I tip for good service even if the gratuity is included. If service is average or below, then no tip.

Tipping is almost universally included in restaurants in South Beach (regardless of number of people in party). This is apparently due to the large number of visitors from countries where tipping is either uncommon or common at considerably lower percentages than our increasingly generous standards.

My theory on the 18% included tip is that the extra is to help with taxes since the possibility of non-reported income has been virtually eliminated.

I just got back from a cruise on RCCL where they have changed the previous practice of cash only tips to allowing pax to charge them. I noticed a peculiar lack of enthusiasm among the waitstaff for the vouchers vs. the envelopes filled with green.

If the tip is included I do not add an additional tip. It is annoying that you can not reduce the tip for bad service. It also give the server no incentive to provide great service, since they are already getting 18% no matter what.

sorry, duplicate

If the service is really bad, and since the tip is voluntary, you could always cross off the 18% and add whatever you want - or nothing. In New York it's against the law to include a service charge or tip, unless it's for a group of 6 or more.

I circle the service charge (tip) on the room service bill...then I sign it. Also, I hate being charge a gratuity that is based on the total with the tax and delivery charge added. But, I find that is the case more often than not...

Interesting take that the extra 3% is to make up for the wait staff's reduced or eliminated ability to break the law. ;)

That's just the way an accountants mind works. :eek: