Restaurant Service Charge

[Anonymous]

I know, another hated tipping question.

We went out to dinner last night to a sit down restaurant that I’d classify as pretty causal (I.e they don’t take reservations, very casual dress and close/crowded tables).

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

Do you tip on top? Another 20% on top of the meal cost and included service charge would have been another $40. That seems high right? We didn’t have a single waiter either. We had a food runner, a woman who brought us a carafe of water for the table and another person who took our order but we never really saw again.

Are they hoping you don’t notice the service charge?

[Anonymous]

I would have expected it to be pensioned on their menu. What restaurant was it? Maybe others can confirm you just overlooked it. No I would not tip additional.

[Anonymous]

I would not tip anything else.

[Anonymous]

Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

[Anonymous]

How large was your party?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

NP. I get that, but if this is the intent, why did the OP encounter and additional line for gratuity?

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

NP. I get that, but if this is the intent, why did the OP encounter and additional line for gratuity?

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

Because it automatically prints out on every receipt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

NP. I get that, but if this is the intent, why did the OP encounter and additional line for gratuity?

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

Because it automatically prints out on every receipt.

I suppose I can respect that if the fact that a tip has already been applied is clearly highlighted to prevent error, not just tucked into the rest of the writing which might be missed by someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

NP. I get that, but if this is the intent, why did the OP encounter and additional line for gratuity?

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

Because it automatically prints out on every receipt.

I suppose I can respect that if the fact that a tip has already been applied is clearly highlighted to prevent error, not just tucked into the rest of the writing which might be missed by someone.

Yes, these receipts are templated, not customized to each establishment. If you’ve paid the 20% service charge, you’re good to go. And it’s on you to look at the bill. Do you really just look at the final line, multiply by 1.2, and pay? I think you should scrutinize your checks with a bit more care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

NP. I get that, but if this is the intent, why did the OP encounter and additional line for gratuity?

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

Because it automatically prints out on every receipt.

I suppose I can respect that if the fact that a tip has already been applied is clearly highlighted to prevent error, not just tucked into the rest of the writing which might be missed by someone.

Yes, these receipts are templated, not customized to each establishment. If you’ve paid the 20% service charge, you’re good to go. And it’s on you to look at the bill. Do you really just look at the final line, multiply by 1.2, and pay? I think you should scrutinize your checks with a bit more care.

reap the benefits of
Are you really this lazy about making assumptions? I think you should read more carefully and make your assumptions with more care.

I rarely eat out, and I don't fail to look at the check closely. I do, however, not suffer from the snobbery of thinking that tired and distracted people don't exist. I also judge people who are happy to reap the benefits of an expected area of confusion while pretending to themselves and others that their moral failing is someone else's responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

NP. I get that, but if this is the intent, why did the OP encounter and additional line for gratuity?

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

Because it automatically prints out on every receipt.

I suppose I can respect that if the fact that a tip has already been applied is clearly highlighted to prevent error, not just tucked into the rest of the writing which might be missed by someone.

Yes, these receipts are templated, not customized to each establishment. If you’ve paid the 20% service charge, you’re good to go. And it’s on you to look at the bill. Do you really just look at the final line, multiply by 1.2, and pay? I think you should scrutinize your checks with a bit more care.

So, if people often miss this -- and they do -- then why not address it clearly in a way they are more likely not to miss?

The consistent part in this recurrent error is you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How large was your party?

3 people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If you have a party of 8 or more than I would expect that on top of tip. If it's one of their "recovery fees" I'd never go there, again.

No, if 20% is added to the total for a larger party, that is the tip. They just want to ensure the server is not getting stiffed, as often happens in large groups.

NP. I get that, but if this is the intent, why did the OP encounter and additional line for gratuity?

We got our bill and it included an 20% service charge (which was not included in the total under food, but after they ran our card) and then it had another line for gratuity. At the bottom of the receipt it had the “cheat sheet” of 18% tip is $20, 20% tip is…

Because it automatically prints out on every receipt.

I suppose I can respect that if the fact that a tip has already been applied is clearly highlighted to prevent error, not just tucked into the rest of the writing which might be missed by someone.

Yes, these receipts are templated, not customized to each establishment. If you’ve paid the 20% service charge, you’re good to go. And it’s on you to look at the bill. Do you really just look at the final line, multiply by 1.2, and pay? I think you should scrutinize your checks with a bit more care.

So, if people often miss this -- and they do -- then why not address it clearly in a way they are more likely not to miss?

The consistent part in this recurrent error is you.

Not sure how I’m the problem, as I am neither a restaurateur nor a person who doesn’t read their bill closely. If you find this repeatedly happening to you, you are the common denominator. I’m genuinely shocked that people would not notice their bill is 20% higher than they expected it to be.

[Anonymous]

For a little more clarity we got the bill and the total was $84. My DH hands over the card and they bring the bill back and it is now $102. The total changed and on the second receipt it said 20% service charge included then the gratuity line then the new total line.

He was mad about the bait and switch on cost when the original receipt never mentioned the 20% and I looked at their online menu and don’t see it mentioned there either. We did not tip more but then I started to feel like we did something wrong after we left.