Customer: Restaurant’s Suggested Tips Don’t Add Up, Are ‘Price Gouging’

[radcen]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

Customer: Restaurant’s Suggested Tips Don’t Add Up, Are ‘Price Gouging’

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/09/20/restaurant-tips-price-customer/

 

[reinoe]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

This doesn't bother me; if someone is dumb enough to leave a tip after bad service then they're dumb enough to pay a "suggested tip" of 50%. Tips should be based on service not suggestions. If the service is bad why would anyone even consider tipping?

 

[countryboy]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

If you can't figure out a proper tip, I don't know what to tell you. Probably just a glitch in the system. Perfectly okay to point it out to management, but to be all upset about it is just silly.

People that ****ty at maths, should probably carry a cheat sheet. I'm sure there's an app for that.

 

[MaggieD]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

What an unethical thing to do. It is a horrible practice. I was going to call it false advertising, but it's not that. It's lying pure and simple. I hope this gets plenty of press. Hope it costs them some business. And lots of inconvenience as customers call their credit card companies and say they're disputing the charge unless and until they get a copy of the signed receipt. That would be a logistics nightmare for them. And they deserve it.

If I were going to call my credit card company, I wouldn't explain about the tip to them. I'd simply say I didn't think I made the charge and wanted proof in the form of my signature. They should pay dearly for that kind of subterfuge. I'd bet if enough people did this, they'd just end up comping the check. Logistics nightmare.

 

[radcen]

What an unethical thing to do. It is a horrible practice. I was going to call it false advertising, but it's not that. It's lying pure and simple. I hope this gets plenty of press. Hope it costs them some business. And lots of inconvenience as customers call their credit card companies and say they're disputing the charge unless and until they get a copy of the signed receipt. That would be a logistics nightmare for them. And they deserve it.

If I were going to call my credit card company, I wouldn't explain about the tip to them. I'd simply say I didn't think I made the charge and wanted proof in the form of my signature. They should pay dearly for that kind of subterfuge. I'd bet if enough people did this, they'd just end up comping the check. Logistics nightmare.

The amount of the tip IS the ultimate responsibility of the customer, but... that doesn't excuse or rationalize lying. If they'll freely and openly lie about this, what else are they dishonest about?

Check the bill and make sure an "extra" side that you didn't order got tacked on. Did they cut corners on clean-up and prep? I've worked in enough restaurants to know that people who lack character will gladly cut corners anywhere and everywhere they can.

 

[Mycroft]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

If I saw a tip suggestion like that, I would apply my math skills and tip them 0%...and I would tell them why. On the other hand, I don't look at tip suggestions. I tip what I think they deserve.

 

[radcen]

If I saw a tip suggestion like that, I would apply my math skills and tip them 0%...and I would tell them why. On the other hand, I don't look at tip suggestions. I tip what I think they deserve.

I've never seen this myself, but I'd probably do the same thing.

 

[RAMOSS]

If I saw a tip suggestion like that, I would apply my math skills and tip them 0%...and I would tell them why. On the other hand, I don't look at tip suggestions. I tip what I think they deserve.

The one thing, the tip suggestion is not from the person who would be receiving the tip. In this case, it looks like a bug in the receipt program.. I think tipping what is thought to be deserved makes more sense than punishing a waiter/waitresss who had nothing to do with the program that makes the suggestion.

 

[Mycroft]

The one thing, the tip suggestion is not from the person who would be receiving the tip. In this case, it looks like a bug in the receipt program.. I think tipping what is thought to be deserved makes more sense than punishing a waiter/waitresss who had nothing to do with the program that makes the suggestion.

You're right, it's not the worker's fault, but one very effective way to get the manager's attention and get them to stop this tactic (I don't believe it's a bug in the receipt program) is to get their own employees on their ass.

 

[radcen]

The one thing, the tip suggestion is not from the person who would be receiving the tip. In this case, it looks like a bug in the receipt program.. I think tipping what is thought to be deserved makes more sense than punishing a waiter/waitresss who had nothing to do with the program that makes the suggestion.

You're right, it's not the worker's fault, but one very effective way to get the manager's attention and get them to stop this tactic (I don't believe it's a bug in the receipt program) is to get their own employees on their ass.

I don't buy that it was a bug in the program. Especially since the manager was so dismissive about it. If it were a bug he'd have apologized.

The server may not be responsible for it, but my skeptical self says they know about it and go along. More money in their pocket, which is why they're there.

 

[Baralis]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

Our police feel justified in lying to suspects, our politicians feel justified in lying to their constituents, Im not at all surprised that business would lie to their customers. It is very bothersome that so many aspects of our society feel ok doing so.

 

[Superfly]

I've heard of this happening before. I don't usually follow those things, anyway. I tip what I feel like the server deserves.

I will say this - I don't know how much truth is involved, but I have started following the lead anyway.

I generally try to tip in cash. The servers have to report their tips, but if it's in cash, they can claim whatever they choose to. If it's added on to your bill and paid via debit or credit, it gets reported. I also saw once, someone crossed through the word "tip" and wrote in "a gift for my friend." That way, it can't be considered a tip, because it's not. It's a gift.

 

[radcen]

Our police feel justified in lying to suspects, our politicians feel justified in lying to their constituents, Im not at all surprised that business would lie to their customers. It is very bothersome that so many aspects of our society feel ok doing so.

Police are legally allowed to lie to suspects. No one is legally allowed to lie to the police.

And I totally agree that it's bothersome.

 

[radcen]

I've heard of this happening before. I don't usually follow those things, anyway. I tip what I feel like the server deserves.

I will say this - I don't know how much truth is involved, but I have started following the lead anyway.

I generally try to tip in cash. The servers have to report their tips, but if it's in cash, they can claim whatever they choose to. If it's added on to your bill and paid via debit or credit, it gets reported. I also saw once, someone crossed through the word "tip" and wrote in "a gift for my friend." That way, it can't be considered a tip, because it's not. It's a gift.

I believe that gifts are still technically taxable, but I'm not 100% on that.

As far as cash/card goes, that's where I draw the line. I tip pretty well, but cash vs card is my choice for my convenience. I personally believe that tips should not be taxed, because it is a gift, but that's currently beyond my decision making ability.

 

[joG]

This doesn't bother me; if someone is dumb enough to leave a tip after bad service then they're dumb enough to pay a "suggested tip" of 50%. Tips should be based on service not suggestions. If the service is bad why would anyone even consider tipping?

That is how I handle it. But you need to know the custom of the land ie restaurant. Some places the venue pays high compensation to waiters, some spread tips to back office and in others the head waiter or owner takes all.

 

[jamesrage]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

I think its a glitch or someone not knowing how to do percentages.Because the tips go to the waiters and waitresses. In most states the waitresses and waiters make tipped wages. Depending on the state they are in they are paid a partial wage of 2 to 6 bucks an hour by their employer, taxes as though they are making the full minimum wage and they are expected to make the difference up in tips from customers. In California and a handful of other states the employers have to pay waitresses and waiters the full minimum wage,so the waiter and waitress make a full wage regardless if you tip them or not.

 

[Crovax]

I find it interesting that corporate and the store manager think it perfectly acceptable to lie to customers.

Just stop tipping, it's a pernicious business model anyways

 

[Rexedgar]

When I was very young and accompanying my parents to meals in restaurants, my mother explained the model she used for tipping. The bill is xx.08. To find 10%, all that is required is decimal point movement. 15% was the top tip percentage in those days. To come up with the additional 5%, all that was required was halving the 10% and then adding the two to get the 15%. Today's top seems to be 20%. Easy peezy. If I get really outstanding service I may tip even higher. It is a shame that if the missus and I receive average service (compared to back in the day), we feel that we have been treated like royalty, there is so much crappy service out there in the restaurant business. If we get excellent service, I want to adopt the server..........
As an adult in today's world, one needs to be vigilant and wary. I feel there are not enough people properly prepared for life on their own and others will always seek to take advantage if allowed to. Read everything before you sign and if things are not clear, ask questions. I cannot count the times that I have been told,"oh, nobody reads that all the way through." I do.

 

[radcen]

I think its a glitch or someone not knowing how to do percentages.Because the tips go to the waiters and waitresses. In most states the waitresses and waiters make tipped wages. Depending on the state they are in they are paid a partial wage of 2 to 6 bucks an hour by their employer, taxes as though they are making the full minimum wage and they are expected to make the difference up in tips from customers. In California and a handful of other states the employers have to pay waitresses and waiters the full minimum wage,so the waiter and waitress make a full wage regardless if you tip them or not.

Because the manager was so indignant of the "error" and dismissive of the customer I do not see how it can be an honest mistake. If the manager had at least mouthed the words of an apology I would consider it a possibility.

 

[radcen]

When I was very young and accompanying my parents to meals in restaurants, my mother explained the model she used for tipping. The bill is xx.08. To find 10%, all that is required is decimal point movement. 15% was the top tip percentage in those days. To come up with the additional 5%, all that was required was halving the 10% and then adding the two to get the 15%. Today's top seems to be 20%. Easy peezy. If I get really outstanding service I may tip even higher. It is a shame that if the missus and I receive average service (compared to back in the day), we feel that we have been treated like royalty, there is so much crappy service out there in the restaurant business. If we get excellent service, I want to adopt the server..........
As an adult in today's world, one needs to be vigilant and wary. I feel there are not enough people properly prepared for life on their own and others will always seek to take advantage if allowed to. Read everything before you sign and if things are not clear, ask questions. I cannot count the times that I have been told,"oh, nobody reads that all the way through." I do.

I do that, too, but not all people are good at math. Some have legit issues such as dyslexia, or whatever. Do we allow them to fall under the bus and say, "Haha. Sucks to be you."?

Most places don't put anything at all, which is customary. To put something, it is not unreasonable that that something be correct.

 

[Deuce]

Businesses are ****ty. But this might just be an error. I recall a similar situation where it turned out the software was calculating tips based on the whole table. (Who had split checks)

 

[ttwtt78640]

When I was very young and accompanying my parents to meals in restaurants, my mother explained the model she used for tipping. The bill is xx.08. To find 10%, all that is required is decimal point movement. 15% was the top tip percentage in those days. To come up with the additional 5%, all that was required was halving the 10% and then adding the two to get the 15%. Today's top seems to be 20%. Easy peezy. If I get really outstanding service I may tip even higher. It is a shame that if the missus and I receive average service (compared to back in the day), we feel that we have been treated like royalty, there is so much crappy service out there in the restaurant business. If we get excellent service, I want to adopt the server..........
As an adult in today's world, one needs to be vigilant and wary. I feel there are not enough people properly prepared for life on their own and others will always seek to take advantage if allowed to. Read everything before you sign and if things are not clear, ask questions. I cannot count the times that I have been told,"oh, nobody reads that all the way through." I do.

The idea that the tip should be based on the total cost of the goods/services provided is wrong to begin with. Trips to and from the table with a glass or plate require no more effort based on what is in that glass or on that plate. I am already being charged full price of the goods/services plus profit for the content of my order. Assuming that the tip is going to my server or the service staff in general (pooled tips) I base the tip amount on the time spent performing that service on behalf of my party. If I am at a bar or restaurant for an hour then surely a tip of MW ($8) or MW x 1.5 ($12) is more than generous (considering that others are being served by that same paid staff during this time) regardless of the size of (single table's) party's total food/drink bill.

 

[Rexedgar]

The idea that the tip should be based on the total cost of the goods/services provided is wrong to begin with. Trips to and from the table with a glass or plate require no more effort based on what is in that glass or on that plate. I am already being charged full price of the goods/services plus profit for the content of my order. Assuming that the tip is going to my server or the service staff in general (pooled tips) I base the tip amount on the time spent performing that service on behalf of my party. If I am at a bar or restaurant for an hour then surely a tip of MW ($8) or MW x 1.5 ($12) is more than generous (considering that others are being served by that same paid staff during this time) regardless of the size of (single table's) party's total food/drink bill.

Guess we can blame you when the price of dining out goes through the roof because the servers are paid a wage that they can live and advance in their careers. It's all like the clown balloon, squeeze in one place it expands in another. I'll wager there is a contest to see who serves you at your regular haunts.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Guess we can blame you when the price of dining out goes through the roof because the servers are paid a wage that they can live and advance in their careers. It's all like the clown balloon, squeeze in one place it expands in another. I'll wager there is a contest to see who serves you at your regular haunts.

Actually there is - my tip of $8 to $10 on our average $25 to $30 check is sought after.

 

[Rexedgar]

Actually there is - my tip of $8 to $10 on our average $25 to $30 check is sought after.

I'm not one to judge where someone eats, but you need to expand your experiences!

How much it costs to eat at resaurants - Business Insider

Lunch for two for thirty dollars, that's some frugal dining!