Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
Forum Thread
Another tipping thread
May 3, 2012 at
07:51 AM
in
News
Furious staff LOCK family inside restaurant for refusing to pay full 17% tip after bad service
A Houston family were locked inside a restaurant and the police were called after they refused to pay the full 17% tip.
That is the amount the restaurant adds to parties of more than five diners, but Mark's complaint was that the staff were rude, their drinks were not refilled and mistakes were made on their orders.
'We asked her, could the gratuity be removed?' said Marks.
'Could we give our own tip?
'I asked the police officer twice, maybe three times, is it against the law if we don't pay the gratuity and he never gave me a straight answer.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2138736/Tipping-optional-Family-locked-restaurant-staff-refusing-pay-gratuity-bad-service.html
A Houston family were locked inside a restaurant and the police were called after they refused to pay the full 17% tip.
That is the amount the restaurant adds to parties of more than five diners, but Mark's complaint was that the staff were rude, their drinks were not refilled and mistakes were made on their orders.
'We asked her, could the gratuity be removed?' said Marks.
'Could we give our own tip?
'I asked the police officer twice, maybe three times, is it against the law if we don't pay the gratuity and he never gave me a straight answer.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2138736/Tipping-optional-Family-locked-restaurant-staff-refusing-pay-gratuity-bad-service.html
129 Comments
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the customer complains about the service and the manager wants to make the customer happy and removes the 18% so the customer can tip on their own accord.
However if the management refuses and the bill comes out let's say $45.82 after tax and gratuity, then that's the final amount. And if you refuse to pay it then it's against the law just as if you hired a plumber to fix your bathroom leak and his final bill was $88.24 after tax, and you refused to pay the exact amount.
You're just making blanket statements about shit you clearly have no clue about.
You're just making blanket statements about shit you clearly have no clue about.
I have always tipped accordingly prior to the discount, would never think of under tipping, as we always tip around 20% normally, unless we get extremely terrible service from the wait staff and/or something has gone terribly wrong with the meal; and the Manager refuses to do anything about it (like the case cited here).
So where does State Law come into play here
Here from a Restaurant.com Certificate:
Special Instructions: Minimum 2 entrees. 18% Gratuity added prior to discount. Valid for Dinner, Dine In ONLY. Excludes: Other Offers/Promotions. One certificate per table, per group. Excludes happy hour. Not valid on alcohol. Not valid on holiday or special events. Not valid Friday or Saturday.
I've been to this Restaurant previously, and they have never, ever added the 18% Gratuity to my bill prior to the discount and/or prior to my paying the bill. So I think you are barking up the wrong dinner plate here
I have always tipped accordingly prior to the discount, would never think of under tipping, as we always tip around 20% normally, unless we get extremely terrible service from the wait staff and/or something has gone terribly wrong with the meal; and the Manager refuses to do anything about it (like the case cited here).
So where does State Law come into play here
Here from a Restaurant.com Certificate:
Special Instructions: Minimum 2 entrees. 18% Gratuity added prior to discount. Valid for Dinner, Dine In ONLY. Excludes: Other Offers/Promotions. One certificate per table, per group. Excludes happy hour. Not valid on alcohol. Not valid on holiday or special events. Not valid Friday or Saturday.
I've been to this Restaurant previously, and they have never, ever added the 18% Gratuity to my bill prior to the discount and/or prior to my paying the bill. So I think you are barking up the wrong dinner plate here
You're just making blanket statements about shit you clearly have no clue about.
1 x Sweet Tea 1.95
1 x Steak 19.95
1 x Side item 3.95
Sub Total: 28.85
Tax: 2.00
Gratuity (18%): 4.65
Total Bill: 35.50
Then if you paid by let's say credit card then it'll print like this:
Total Bill: 35.50
Additional Tip:______________
Signature:______________
So yea every system is different.
Someone commented this and it hits the head of the nail:
"Assuming she can read since she ordered something from the menu and the notice of the gratuity was clearly posted there, I understand the position of the restaurant. If she was unhappy with the service, at some point she should have asked to speak to the manager and explain in a calm manner why the service didn't meet their expectations. Most of the times it is not the servers fault and the manager will do something to make amends.
Upon ordering the food she entered into a contract. Their was an offer and acceptance. When she was presented the bill and didn't pay for the gratuity it became a theft of services since the cost was established.
This kind of policy is a dual edged sword. It should make a server on their toes and try to up sell to the max, on the other hand there are those servers may think there is $50 and I will do as little as possible. Also, it is up to management to be checking on the diners."
In the end, like i said, i feel it's "against the law" because if it really came down to it, like the LA fisherman's case, the judge will see the gratuity as part of the food they ordered. It's clearly stated in the restaurant when she ordered the food. If you read up on it she keeps saying that she didn't mind paying for the food just not the gratuity. Well when she order the food the gratuity is a part of the food. It clearly stated that. If she opened the menu and read 18% will be included and didn't want to pay it but wanted to order the steak then the only way to get out of that situation is to clearly not order the steak. Or else she will be charged. period. She's fighting a losing battle.
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New lounge troll, perhaps...?
ps your attitude is awesome!!!!111 it'll definitely get you everything you want in life!
Seriously, if they wanna pull that bullshit, just raise all the prices of the food, and increase the wages for the waitstaff. NOT... THAT... FREAKIN'... HARD...
I used to wait tables, and I don't ever recall having any mandatory gratuity. Sure, occasionally people stiff you, even when you're a great server because they're just assholes and don't realize you only get $2.35/hr from the actual restaurant, but most people tip well when you're decent, and regulars tip even better. It's the nature of the job.
I have to say though, I think it would be pretty cool if we could pay all employees of every industry based on how well they do their job - I'm sure it'd be much more of an incentive for some people that are shit at their job to step it up a notch. *cough* customer service people *cough* *cough*
I wish the government would rehaul this tipping system and abolish it but there's a downside to it. If we abolished tipping and restaurants charged more for services and paid the wait staff a decent wage what would guarantee good service?
1 x Sweet Tea 1.95
1 x Steak 19.95
1 x Side item 3.95
Sub Total: 28.85
Tax: 2.00
Gratuity (18%): 4.65
Total Bill: 35.50
Then if you paid by let's say credit card then it'll print like this:
Total Bill: 35.50
Additional Tip:______________
Signature:______________
So yea every system is different.
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i hate to be the one to ask this... but since someone asked me earlier mine as well as ask you in the same manner. proof or i call troll. lol jk. but seriously i'm not gonna argue. i'm not from ny.
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I wish the government would rehaul this tipping system and abolish it but there's a downside to it. If we abolished tipping and restaurants charged more for services and paid the wait staff a decent wage what would guarantee good service?
How about we have the goddamned people at the DMV work for tips? Now THAT would be a good idea!