Food and Drink Would this piss you off if a bar.... - Page 3

**AustinChief** · 07-28-2013, 04:18 PM

Would it piss you off if a bar charged 8.25% sales tax (normal in Texas) on credit card tabs but ate the sales tax themselves on cash purchases?

To clarify a bit... CURRENTLY all bars here eat the tax on ALL purchases... it has to be built into the price. They aren't allowed to break it out but that all changes January 1st.
Of course it would be a complete pain to add sales tax to cash purchases but a no brainer for cc purchases.

But let's assume consumers are completely ignorant of any changes in tax code. They only see that now their credit card tabs have sales tax added. I understand a certain amount of people will be pissy but how bad would you rate the backlash?

**007** · 07-28-2013, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Of course it is, but there is currently no way to pass that on without having to change ADVERTISED prices. There is a big difference in perception for some people when it comes to a $2 beer and a $2.25 beer. All fine and dandy when you have a level playing field but now with the new craptastic system restaurants get a clear edge because everyone EXPECTS taxes on the bill there.

Imagine bartending and a guy orders a $2 Bud. He stuffs a dollar in the tip jar and hands you $2.. you gonna say "hey it's $2.16 with tax, gonna need 16 cents man." What a complete cluster****.

Your only choice is to take it in the ass and lose a couple grand a month OR raise prices overtly OR this solution which is to add the 8.25% sales tax to CC tabs because then it's seemless.

The ONLY drawback would be customer reactions to seeing the sales tax on the tab. I figure 80% of us are so trained to see sales tax that most wouldn't even notice.

who the hell tips a buck for a $2 tab?

Raiderhater · 07-28-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Of course it is, but there is currently no way to pass that on without having to change ADVERTISED prices. There is a big difference in perception for some people when it comes to a $2 beer and a $2.25 beer. All fine and dandy when you have a level playing field but now with the new craptastic system restaurants get a clear edge because everyone EXPECTS taxes on the bill there.

Advertised prices get changed all the time. It really isn't that big of a deal.

Quote:

Imagine bartending and a guy orders a $2 Bud. He stuffs a dollar in the tip jar and hands you $2.. you gonna say "hey it's $2.16 with tax, gonna need 16 cents man." What a complete cluster****.

Your only choice is to take it in the ass and lose a couple grand a month OR raise prices overtly OR this solution which is to add the 8.25% sales tax to CC tabs because then it's seemless.

The ONLY drawback would be customer reactions to seeing the sales tax on the tab. I figure 80% of us are so trained to see sales tax that most wouldn't even notice.

I not only always told my customers what the total was, the vast majority of the time I would put a ticket in front of them as well. That is all you have to do. Don't give someone one the option of deciding what they think the price might be, tell them when you hand them the drink. Again, not a big issue.

Raiderhater · 07-28-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

who the hell tips a buck for a $2 tab?

I never tip less than a dollar. But, I also used to be a bartender.

**AustinChief** · 07-28-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

who the hell tips a buck for a $2 tab?

$1 is minimum tip per drink!

**AustinChief** · 07-28-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

I never tip less than a dollar. But, I also used to be a bartender.

haha you just beat me to this.

**007** · 07-28-2013, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

$1 is minimum tip per drink!

I round up to the next dollar from 50 cents up. Other than that I only tip 20%. Basically, whichever is largest.

Also, since when is there a minimum tip per drink? Is this just your opinion on this?

Raiderhater · 07-28-2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

haha you just beat me to this.

I'm not that far removed from those days. I'll still jump all over that shit in a hurry.

**AustinChief** · 07-28-2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

Advertised prices get changed all the time. It really isn't that big of a deal.

For you and your fancy pants bars maybe! Some of the dives I go to would see mass revolts every time prices change.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

I not only always told my customers what the total was, the vast majority of the time I would put a ticket in front of them as well. That is all you have to do. Don't give someone one the option of deciding what they think the price might be, tell them when you hand them the drink. Again, not a big issue.

Again, you and your top hat wearing, monocle sporting customers...

In many many bars they don't have this option. At least not in any convenient way. And not to mention what happens with a beer girl who is stuck out "on an island" with no proper till?

Raiderhater · 07-28-2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I round up to the next dollar from 50 cents up. Other than that I only tip 20%

Also, since when is there a minimum tip per drink? Is this just your opinion on this?

It is law. Galactic law. Obey it or else.

**AustinChief** · 07-28-2013, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I round up to the next dollar from 50 cents up. Other than that I only tip 20%

Also, since when is there a minimum tip per drink? Is this just your opinion on this?

Not sure if it's just my opinion.. I know that is what everyone who is anywhere involved in the industry feels. Since I have a ton of friends in the industry my perspective may be slanted.

**007** · 07-28-2013, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Not sure if it's just my opinion.. I know that is what everyone who is anywhere involved in the industry feels. Since I have a ton of friends in the industry my perspective may be slanted.

I have never heard of a minimum tip per drink. I definitely would not tip a dollar for a drink though.

I follow standard tipping. Basic service 15% noticeably good service 20%. GREAT service 25%. If you are just handing me a beer that is basic expected service. Of course, I rarely sit at the bar so there is that.

**Reaper16** · 07-28-2013, 05:15 PM

I tip a dollar per drink, usually. Unless I'm at a bar I don't give a shit about, then I tip one dollar on the first drink and then on every other drink.

Raiderhater · 07-28-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

For you and your fancy pants bars maybe! Some of the dives I go to would see mass revolts every time prices change.

Shit, I ran a bar that was redneck central in redneck central East Texas. Fancy my ass. We went through a price increase a two or three years ago. Had too. Our prices were jumping up. People who are not going to accept the realities of business cannot be helped. You either go out of business by adjusting your prices or you go out of business by not adjusting your prices. It sucks but, tell society to blame themselves for letting government get so big, controlling and expensive.

Quote:

Again, you and your top hat wearing, monocle sporting customers...

In many many bars they don't have this option. At least not in any convenient way. And not to mention what happens with a beer girl who is stuck out "on an island" with no proper till?

Island station with out a proper till? Round your prices up to the next half dollar. Problem solved. And don't give me this crap about a little dive bar that can't afford to piss off their customers with that move. Those bars aren't going to have beer stations set up for some big ass party that would require such things.

**Rain Man** · 07-28-2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

But, all of a merchant's dealings with their vendors involve you. The more a vendor charges, they more you are going to get charged. That is just simple math and a necessary business requirement.

Yeah, but I expect them to handle that without involving me. I don't order a hamburger and expect the waitress to say, "Tomato prices went up a little this week. You owe me three more cents."

Of course, I'm a big proponent that the advertised price of anything should be what it costs. It should be illegal to post a price and then charge the customer more, whether it's a rental car or a drink or a pair of shoes. If the price says, "$8", then I should be paying $8. I shouldn't be paying $8.16. The stated price is $8.

Raiderhater · 07-28-2013, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I have never heard of a minimum tip per drink. I definitely would not tip a dollar for a drink though.

I follow standard tipping. Basic service 15% noticeably good service 20%. GREAT service 25%. If you are just handing me a beer that is basic expected service. Of course, I rarely sit at the bar so there is that.

Not even a Chopin martini that the barkeep shakes the shit out of for five minutes so you have a nice thin layer of ice on top of your drink?

View Poll Results: How bad would sales tax on your bar tab piss you off?
I would rant and piss and moan and never go to that bar again.	2	5.41%
I would be peevish and probably go to that bar less.	3	8.11%
I would just switch to cash at that bar.	15	40.54%
I wouldn't care at all.	15	40.54%
I only drink Tequila Rose in the tub with Gaz.	2	5.41%
Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

07-28-2013, 04:18 PM
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-764998	Would this piss you off if a bar.... Would it piss you off if a bar charged 8.25% sales tax (normal in Texas) on credit card tabs but ate the sales tax themselves on cash purchases? To clarify a bit... CURRENTLY all bars here eat the tax on ALL purchases... it has to be built into the price. They aren't allowed to break it out but that all changes January 1st. Of course it would be a complete pain to add sales tax to cash purchases but a no brainer for cc purchases. But let's assume consumers are completely ignorant of any changes in tax code. They only see that now their credit card tabs have sales tax added. I understand a certain amount of people will be pissy but how bad would you rate the backlash?
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