Family refuses to pay tip, gets locked inside restaurant

[Sinsear]

Wow; black folks not tipping. I would say i'm shocked, but we have a whole thread on this.

 

[silverpig]

Pay it via CC, then do a chargeback.

 

[Newbian]

if the response of the management to poor service was "we can call the cops" instead of "heres a discount on the bill please give us another chance" then they are doing this entirely wrong.

The problem I have is they waited until the end of the meal to complain it sounds like instead of after these incidents happened before they were done.

 

[Fingolfin269]

This really is a simple concept. Don't like the idea of a forced gratuity? Don't go there.

 

[Dari]

This really is a simple concept. Don't like the idea of a forced gratuity? Don't go there.

You're missing the point...

 

[Fingolfin269]

You're missing the point...

No, I'm really not. If you don't like the idea of a forced 17% gratuity then get up and leave before ordering.

 

[NFS4]

No, I'm really not. If you don't like the idea of a forced 17% gratuity then get up and leave before ordering.

I don't think I've ever been to a sit down restaurant that doesn't have a gratuity on 5+ people, so it's not exactly avoidable.

With that being said, the on-duty manager is an ass. They paid for the meal; should have works out either a discount on the tip or a discount on a future meal to keep them as future customers.

 

[Veliko]

No, I'm really not. If you don't like the idea of a forced 17% gratuity then get up and leave before ordering.

You are completely missing the point.

In the story, the complaint was that the service was very poor.

That is why the part refused to pay it.

 

[sdifox]

No, I'm really not. If you don't like the idea of a forced 17% gratuity then get up and leave before ordering.

so what you are saying is you are entitled to treat patrons poorly and get 17% tip to boot?

 

[Fingolfin269]

so what you are saying is you are entitled to treat patrons poorly and get 17% tip to boot?

What I'm saying is that you have a choice of eating there or not.

 

[Veliko]

The problem I have is they waited until the end of the meal to complain it sounds like instead of after these incidents happened before they were done.

Why is that a 'problem'?

 

[Fingolfin269]

You are completely missing the point.

In the story, the complaint was that the service was very poor.

That is why the part refused to pay it.

I'm not missing the point at all. I read the article. When I sit down at a restaurant I go ahead and assume that the forced gratuity is part of the regular bill. Any service above what I would expect may then result in a greater tip. Any service less than what I would expect may result in never going back.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

I do see both sides of this discussion, but I have to side on the family side here.

Yes, they were told ahead of time that there would be a 17% gratuity charge added to their bill for parties of more than 5. I understand that. But I have a problem with at what time in the experience do you stand up and say that we are leaving? I could imagine sitting down for a dinner at this place and cutting into a nice medium steak only to have it overcooked piece of char and asking to take it back and get me a new one. Mistakes can happen. But the body of work must be taken into context here. If mistakes keep happening during the meal, is that when you stand up and leave the premises? Do you do it before the dessert portion?

 

[sourceninja]

What gets me is the forced tip would be assumed to be the minimum they would expect a server to get even in the worst situations. So the restaurant actually thinks that even in the worst case, you tip 17%, and higher if it's acceptable or good service.

Also, parties of 5 or more?? That's insane. The places I've been with mandatory tip have been 7+. Five is a pretty common number to go out with.

Lastly, they knew it going in, they should pay it. But they also needed to voice their displeasure the whole time they were eating. If my service is poor, I don't wait for the tip to show it, I ask for a manager well before I get my check.

 

[Veliko]

I'm not missing the point at all. I read the article. When I sit down at a restaurant I go ahead and assume that the forced gratuity is part of the regular bill. Any service above what I would expect may then result in a greater tip. Any service less than what I would expect may result in never going back.

If I am forced to pay for gratuity then I expect to get what I paid for. If I don't get it then I am perfectly entitled to refuse to pay.

It is the restaurant who broke the contract.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

What I'm saying is that you have a choice of eating there or not.

The issue is that service isn't rendered until the meal is over. Its like ordering a steak, having them substitute a hot dog, and then making you pay for the steak. I have no issues paying the posted gratuity if I receive what I'm paying for. In this case the post 17% gratuity is for wait service, which, according to the diners, was not adequately rendered. (Heck, including gratuity at 17% is less than I usually pay, and it makes splitting the check easier, I'm all for it but thats besides the point)

And, more to your point, they did try and get up and leave (after paying what they owed for food) after not receiving what they wanted for service, and then they were locked in the restaurant.

 

[sdifox]

What I'm saying is that you have a choice of eating there or not.

Entitlement is the word you were looking for.

 

[highland145]

I guess we're assuming the service was poor?

 

[her209]

On the flip side, some customers expect way too much.

 

[soulcougher73]

Yeah those policies are totally lame and need to DIAF. If its 5 people then they could eat and not tip at all. BUT 6 PEOPLE? OMG 17% manditory or we call the cops. WTF. Hell at 6 people they could just give the shittiest service since they know they get 17% no matter what and i bet they do a lot of the times.

 

[Veliko]

Yeah those policies are totally lame and need to DIAF. If its 5 people then they could eat and not tip at all. BUT 6 PEOPLE? OMG 17% manditory or we call the cops. WTF. Hell at 6 people they could just give the shittiest service since they know they get 17% no matter what and i bet they do a lot of the times.

To be honest, having a mandatory charge when the party is larger strikes me as being strange.

Why is serving a party of 6 any harder than serving two parties of 3...?

 

[soulcougher73]

If there is notice about a mandatory tip for a certain amount of people in a area, city ordinance or such, that allows it then yes it is just that and people have been arrested for breaking it.

I would let them arrest me if it came to that. Id be all over the news getting that place boycotted and making legal changes to the US Constitution in the process to make this practice illegal LOL

 

[shortylickens]

To be honest, having a mandatory charge when the party is larger strikes me as being strange.

Why is serving a party of 6 any harder than serving two parties of 3...?

Its actually easier, cuz all the stuff goes to the same table.

 

[SunnyD]

Gratuity

gra·tu·ity noun \grə-ˈtü-ə-tē, -ˈtyü-\
plural gra·tu·ities

Definition of GRATUITY

: something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service; especially : tip

Hopefully that's big enough and bold enough for ya'll.

Again, moral of the story here: Always ask for separate checks.

 

[brainhulk]

Gratuity



Hopefully that's big enough and bold enough for ya'll.

but

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but
but
but
but



but
but
but


















it's mandatory gratuity.

lolz