Has anyone had a 5% service charge posted on your bill for a party under 6 at dinner?

Mojo Rising · 04-21-2007, 09:20 PM

I went out to dinner tonight with my wife and daughter. The bill came and it was $79 plus tax...plus 5% for what was labaeled as a service fee.

I have seen a minimum 15% service charge for parties over 6 at restaurants before. However, I have never seen this.

This is not the type of place that the waiters will get stiffed so I doubt this a waiter supplemental charge.

SF is as socialist as Russia so we force our restaurants to pay the $10+ minimum wage to even tipped help. Plus, every employee must have health care.

So, this might be a way that the restaurant is charging their patrons for their extra expenses. If I were the restauranteer I would just raise my prices 5%.

I used to be a waiter incollege and high school so I have been in the trenches. However, I reduced my tip to 10%. I thought if it was a fee that was going to the waiter in cash I wan't going to give more.

If it wasn't...then he just got a lot of extra benefits that I just paid for and it has to come from somewhere.

Has anyone else seen this on their bill?

listopencil · 04-21-2007, 09:23 PM

Why not just ask the place what the charge was for?

Silock · 04-21-2007, 10:08 PM

Yeah, I would have asked before just stiffing the waiter.

Mojo Rising · 04-21-2007, 10:09 PM

I guess I could of asked but it would not have changed my tip. If they would have said the $$$ went the the waiter or the restaurant would you have tipped the full 15%?

Silock · 04-21-2007, 10:11 PM

Yes, because I tip 20%

**QuikSsurfer** · 04-21-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Rising

I went out to dinner tonight with my wife and daughter. The bill came and it was $79 plus tax...plus 5% for what was labaeled as a service fee.

I have seen a minimum 15% service charge for parties over 6 at restaurants before. However, I have never seen this.

This is not the type of place that the waiters will get stiffed so I doubt this a waiter supplemental charge.

SF is as socialist as Russia so we force our restaurants to pay the $10+ minimum wage to even tipped help. Plus, every employee must have health care.

So, this might be a way that the restaurant is charging their patrons for their extra expenses. If I were the restauranteer I would just raise my prices 5%.

I used to be a waiter incollege and high school so I have been in the trenches. However, I reduced my tip to 10%. I thought if it was a fee that was going to the waiter in cash I wan't going to give more.

If it wasn't...then he just got a lot of extra benefits that I just paid for and it has to come from somewhere.

Has anyone else seen this on their bill?

I'm a server at a polished casual restaurant and honestly haven't a clue why that would be on the ticket - maybe just general gratuity?
You definitely should have asked the server/MOD about the charges before leaving a ****ing 10% tip on a $80 check

**QuikSsurfer** · 04-21-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Rising

I guess I could of asked but it would not have changed my tip. If they would have said the $$$ went the the waiter or the restaurant would you have tipped the full 15%?

lol 15%? How old are you?
it's 20%

**QuikSsurfer** · 04-21-2007, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Yes, because I tip 20%

right on!

Logical · 04-21-2007, 10:35 PM

Never for number of diners, but for less than a certain bill total. Though rare I have seen that.

Mojo Rising · 04-21-2007, 10:50 PM

I am 37 and for better service I do tip 20%. I bussed at EBT in 88. I waited in Hawaii at many restaurants in '88-91. And, at Cork N Cleaver in '92.

My belief is that 15% is expected. 20% is deserved.

I do not consider a 10% tip on top of a 5% service charge a stiff.

My guess is that this is a way for the restaurant owner to pass along the extra cost of our cities communist policies to the patrons and allow them to make the decision if they want to tip more.

Quicksurfer: Do you get $10/hour and health bennies on top of your tips? hat is what the SF law is.

When I waited I got $2.01 an hour plus tips. If you are going to standardize the pay...what is the incentive to provide better service?

SPchief · 04-21-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Rising

If you are going to standardize the pay...what is the incentive to provide better service?

More money? IMO

**QuikSsurfer** · 04-21-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Rising

I am 37 and for better service I do tip 20%. I bussed at EBT in 88. I waited in Hawaii at many restaurants in '88-91. And, at Cork N Cleaver in '92.

My belief is that 15% is expected. 20% is deserved.

I do not consider a 10% tip on top of a 5% service charge a stiff.

My guess is that this is a way for the restaurant owner to pass along the extra cost of our cities communist policies to the patrons and allow them to make the decision if they want to tip more.

Quicksurfer: Do you get $10/hour and health bennies on top of your tips? hat is what the SF law is.

When I waited I got $2.01 an hour plus tips. If you are going to standardize the pay...what is the incentive to provide better service?

2.13 an hour - the rest is what i make
no benefits.

el borracho · 04-21-2007, 11:05 PM

Oh, that is the service charge added to checks for obvious cheapskates. Looks like the waiter guessed correctly.

Mojo Rising · 04-21-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el borracho

Oh, that is the service charge added to checks for obvious cheapskates. Looks like the waiter guessed correctly.

If I was a cheapskate I wouldn't have ordered the $39 bottle of wine.

The laws in SF require all workers to be paid $10/hour and for all employees to be provided with health care.

As I was paid when I waited...and as QS is paid a low hourly rate with the opportunity to make a lot more if you turn tables faster and with a friendly demeanor to earn more.

Who is going to bear the extra costs for the new benefits the wait staff is getting? Are they forcing a change in the tip paradigm?

This restaurant is passing their extra cost to their customers, not in the form of higher menu prices to their customers.

They could have easily raised their prices by 5% and I wouldn't have even noticed.

If you think I stiffed the waiter. Would you tip 20% on top of the 5% they charged me? Then are you going to start tipping 25% to all the KC waitreresses who don't get $10/hour and health care?

el borracho · 04-21-2007, 11:24 PM

I would have asked what the charge was and then tipped the waiter accordingly, usually around 20% for good service.

04-21-2007, 09:20 PM
Mojo Rising Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: OC Casino cash: $10009560	Has anyone had a 5% service charge posted on your bill for a party under 6 at dinner? I went out to dinner tonight with my wife and daughter. The bill came and it was $79 plus tax...plus 5% for what was labaeled as a service fee. I have seen a minimum 15% service charge for parties over 6 at restaurants before. However, I have never seen this. This is not the type of place that the waiters will get stiffed so I doubt this a waiter supplemental charge. SF is as socialist as Russia so we force our restaurants to pay the $10+ minimum wage to even tipped help. Plus, every employee must have health care. So, this might be a way that the restaurant is charging their patrons for their extra expenses. If I were the restauranteer I would just raise my prices 5%. I used to be a waiter incollege and high school so I have been in the trenches. However, I reduced my tip to 10%. I thought if it was a fee that was going to the waiter in cash I wan't going to give more. If it wasn't...then he just got a lot of extra benefits that I just paid for and it has to come from somewhere. Has anyone else seen this on their bill?
Posts: 1,792

04-21-2007, 09:23 PM	#2
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $-1064120	Why not just ask the place what the charge was for? __________________ *While you live, shine. Have no grief at all. Life exists only for a short while and time demands its toll.*
Posts: 56,881

04-21-2007, 10:08 PM	#3
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Yeah, I would have asked before just stiffing the waiter.
Posts: 19,908

04-21-2007, 10:09 PM	#4
Mojo Rising Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: OC Casino cash: $10009560	I guess I could of asked but it would not have changed my tip. If they would have said the $$$ went the the waiter or the restaurant would you have tipped the full 15%?
Posts: 1,792

04-21-2007, 10:11 PM	#5
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Yes, because I tip 20%
Posts: 19,908

04-21-2007, 10:35 PM	#9
Logical Screw U if U can't take a joke Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Never for number of diners, but for less than a certain bill total. Though rare I have seen that.
Posts: 31,579

04-21-2007, 10:50 PM	#10
Mojo Rising Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: OC Casino cash: $10009560	I am 37 and for better service I do tip 20%. I bussed at EBT in 88. I waited in Hawaii at many restaurants in '88-91. And, at Cork N Cleaver in '92. My belief is that 15% is expected. 20% is deserved. I do not consider a 10% tip on top of a 5% service charge a stiff. My guess is that this is a way for the restaurant owner to pass along the extra cost of our cities communist policies to the patrons and allow them to make the decision if they want to tip more. Quicksurfer: Do you get $10/hour and health bennies on top of your tips? hat is what the SF law is. When I waited I got $2.01 an hour plus tips. If you are going to standardize the pay...what is the incentive to provide better service?
Posts: 1,792

04-21-2007, 11:05 PM	#13
el borracho In Pat We Trust Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Casino cash: $2509148	Oh, that is the service charge added to checks for obvious cheapskates. Looks like the waiter guessed correctly.
Posts: 12,276

04-21-2007, 11:24 PM	#15
el borracho In Pat We Trust Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Casino cash: $2509148	I would have asked what the charge was and then tipped the waiter accordingly, usually around 20% for good service.
Posts: 12,276