Restaraunt shennanigans

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Caught an interesting trick at a place in downtown Sacramento last night. When we got the bill, there was a gratuity (18%!) added automatically as a line item, and there was also a blank line for a tip. My friend, who apparently has eyes like laser beams, caught it; I don't think I would have. I've eaten there several times before and didn't catch it. I can almost understand doing this for a large group, but this was for a party of four.

vash · vash's Garage

please tell me it wasnt a chinese restaurant..

i find them doing that more and more...and now restuarants are charging for white rice.

i dont get it..tax on the tip needs to be paid by the server correct? if it is a line item,..arggh..my mind went blank. sorry.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

please tell me it wasnt a chinese restaurant..

No, it wasn't.

KevinTodd · 03-17-2012, 12:27 PM

There is NO excuse for an "auto-gratuity" on a four-top. Many restaurants will automatically add it (typically 18%) for what they consider a large party; usually 6 or over, while others give the option to the waitstaff based on their discretion.

Typically the waitstaff will not add this even when they have the option as they generally get a better result by not auto-gratting.

If there is an auto-grat it should be printed conspicuously on the menu so that it is clearly visible.

Without going into specifics--it should be painfully obvious as to why am "auto-gratuity" is necessary in some cases.

BernieP · BernieP's Garage

I'm curios did they also ad sales tax on top of the gratuity?

Bernie

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

always possible they are just using a std. format

.... or not

the automatic 18% tip on all parties no matter the size size up to them - you might call and ask if that is their policy

I don't like it and would not eat there tho....

I find extra tips of a buck or two being added to my cc bills 1x or 2x a year by the unscrupulous...

Neilk · 03-17-2012, 02:42 PM

Waiter last night brought us out of the blue a complementary side dish with our dinner. I checked the bill and it was added to the bill. He was a nice guy and took it off the bill, but I wonder if that is his standard practice and most people never notice.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

So, if the service was bad, and you only wanted to leave a 10% tip, do you put a negative number in the tip amount 'fill-in-the-blank' line?

Just sayin'
-Z

vash · vash's Garage

Haha!

Zeke · 03-17-2012, 04:51 PM

Post it on Yelp.

ossiblue · 03-17-2012, 04:59 PM

The fact that a gratuity was added as a line item and there was a blank line for a tip, would make me suspect they hoped this slips by for added revenue. Most people (myself included) probably glance down the tab, find the total, calculate the tip and add it to the "tip" line, never bothering to actually read what each charge was for.

The only times I have had a gratuity automatically added, I was informed before hand, either by the server or on the menu, or it was clearly added after the total and there was no additional "tip" line--it was the tip line.

I would like to know, if one also leaves a tip, who gets the "gratuity" amount? I'll give you one guess.

Baz · Baz's Garage

Oh my.....I thought going out to dinner was considered a treat!

look 171 · 03-17-2012, 05:09 PM

They will never get my business again. I don't understand the automatic tip of 18or 20%. What id the service isn't good. If they want their server to make more, why not just jack up the price of the meal a little bit like a buck or two. this way, the price is known in advance.

I once had dinner with my wife and two kids. I had to ask for items like napkins and coffee three to four times before the waitress would bring it by. Our drinks were completely forgotten. I left a 10% tip and I got the evil eye when we were putting the jacket on the kids as we were leaving. i wanted to take it back and leave them no tip, but my wife would have any of it.

plumb4u2 · plumb4u2's Garage

I have no problem with restaurants that add a tip however in my area it is usually 15% then you can add to that

HOWEVER I do have a problem if you are not verbally told about it...Just having it listed in the menu is not enough

I have never been in a rest. that did this on a party of less then 6 though...4 people is pushing it in my opinion

I have been in the situation where we were not told about it and I refused to give anymore(and I usually tip 20% or above)....Its no difference then all these other businesses putting hidden charges in bills that you are not informed about

Hawktel · 03-17-2012, 05:18 PM

These two say Thanks for the tip!

ossiblue · 05:30 PM

Just a counter point.

A local woman wrote a letter of praise about a local restaurant in San Clemente. She and her party ate dinner, paid with a credit card and went home. Later that evening, she got a phone call from the restaurant informing her that a gratuity had been automatically added to the bill and she had also added a "tip", which was not necessary, and they wanted permission to credit back that amount.

Maybe it was because it was a family owned, local business but that's the kind of customer service that should be the norm, not the exception.

Bill Douglas · 03-17-2012, 05:58 PM

This tipping thing is complicated. Here in NZ waiters get paid quite well (I've waitered as a second job in the past) so when dinning you don't leave a tip unless the waiting person has been REALLY good or is a cute high school girl. The waiter or the restaurant certainly have no right to ask for a tip.

aigel · aigel's Garage

I don't like that they add 18% regardless of party size. If they do have to add something due to math challenged customers, I would think 15% was customary and sufficient for satisfactory service. I also agree with Z-man on the notion that you have no leverage with this rule in case you received very poor service. It almost encourages the server not to pay attention to large parties, because they have 18% in the bag automatically. If you have been to countries where service is included, you will know what I mean.

G

john70t · 03-18-2012, 03:26 AM

I'll say that any credit card transaction for other than the stated price with tax is fraud...unless clearly marked on menus/etc.

Imagine purchasing a car and finding a 20% gratuity added for the salesperson...
Different senario and amount. Same concept.
(I've waited tables for several years, btw.)

Rick V · 03-18-2012, 03:35 AM

I almost got nailed by this last summer, I was a little ticked off about it and crossed it off the receipt and corrected the amount on the bill. I did leave a tip, but it was cash on the table. The waitress can decide if she wants to claim it in her taxes or not. I will not go back to a place that hides a tip in the bill.