Went to a restaurant in LA today and when I got the check I noticed that it was a bit higher than it should be. Then I noticed this 18% service charge. So… We, as customers, need to help pay for their servers instead of the owners paying their servers a living wage. And on top of that they have suggested tip. I called bs on this. I will bet you that the servers do not see a dime of this 18% service charge. [deleted a word so it wasn’t a grammatical horror to read]
It doesn’t matter if it is. The way to do that is to increase your prices, not with hidden fees.
I’m okay with the fee IF that means no tipping. If they have a mandatory fee, fine. I prefer when they just raise the prices and I don’t see it, you know, like everything else. (There’s not a plumbing or electrical fee), but at least everyone gets a fair wage. This is bullshit though, the fee means no tip. Tipping should be gone then if there is a fee.
Absolutely… service charge or tip, pick one. No double dipping.
Here in the UK service charges are always labelled ‘voluntary’ to get around the law I think. They’re incredibly bad for business though… people don’t like having extra charges slapped on and the servers don’t like being asked (not always politely, from what I’ve seen) to have them removed. People don’t go back to such places… It’s been a while since I’ve seen a restaurant try to do it, but I reckon they’re still out there.