Family refuses to pay tip, gets locked inside restaurant

[lxskllr]

The pedantry is strong in this thread. Who cares if it uses contradictory English? Everyone knows exactly what it means, and its reason for existing. I don't have a problem with extra charges for large tables, and I don't care what it's called. It's there to protect the staff from getting screwed by douchebags, and is a commonly known practice. Don't like it? Go to McDonalds instead. You can even refill your drink cup to stick it to the man :^S

 

[brainhulk]

from now on all meals at restaurants should be video taped to verify sufficient service is rendered

 

[AMDZen]

The customers win any way. Who is going to go eat at that POS place now after this bad publicity.

 

[Veliko]

The pedantry is strong in this thread. Who cares if it uses contradictory English? Everyone knows exactly what it means, and its reason for existing. I don't have a problem with extra charges for large tables, and I don't care what it's called. It's there to protect the staff from getting screwed by douchebags, and is a commonly known practice. Don't like it? Go to McDonalds instead. You can even refill your drink cup to stick it to the man :^S

What does this even mean? In what way does it protect the staff from anyone?

If I am being charged for a service, as is the case with a mandatory gratuity, then I am within my rights to refuse payment if I don't get it.

 

[MotionMan]

Sounds like a civil matter, not a criminal matter.

Pay the bill, then sue the restaurant in small claims court.

And lose.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

from now on all meals at restaurants should be video taped to verify sufficient service is rendered

Eventually everything will be on camera.

MotionMan

 

[Krazy4Real]

Stupid restaurant.

 

[MotionMan]

What does this even mean? In what way does it protect the staff from anyone?

It "protects" them from getting screwed out of a tip on a large table where, in theory, they had to work extra hard to serve the food and fill the drinks.

MotionMan

 

[lxskllr]

What does this even mean? In what way does it protect the staff from anyone?

If I am being charged for a service, as is the case with a mandatory gratuity, then I am within my rights to refuse payment if I don't get it.

No dude. In America food price is subsidized with tips. It doesn't matter what the fuck you call it, you're getting food cheaper with the tip system. It's the same as taxes. The cover price is less than what you pay at the register. You entered a contract to pay list price plus 17%. Don't like it, you walk out and eat somewhere else. Feel like you got fucked? Then you don't go back. It's a simple concept you autistic twats can't seem to understand.

 

[MotionMan]

Stupid restaurant.

I agree (except for the part where they were right in most respects).

MotionMan

 

[Veliko]

No dude. In America food price is subsidized with tips. It doesn't matter what the fuck you call it, you're getting food cheaper with the tip system. It's the same as taxes. The cover price is less than what you pay at the register. You entered a contract to pay list price plus 17%. Don't like it, you walk out and eat somewhere else. Feel like you got fucked? Then you don't go back. It's a simple concept you autistic twats can't seem to understand.

You don't seem to quite understand what autism is.

How very autistic of you.

 

[surfsatwerk]

No dude. In America food price is subsidized with tips. It doesn't matter what the fuck you call it, you're getting food cheaper with the tip system. It's the same as taxes. The cover price is less than what you pay at the register. You entered a contract to pay list price plus 17%. Don't like it, you walk out and eat somewhere else. Feel like you got fucked? Then you don't go back. It's a simple concept you autistic twats can't seem to understand.

 

[Texashiker]

And lose.

MotionMan

What law allows a restaurant to add a fee to the bill?

The people entered into an agreement with the restaurant when they saw the signs about the added fee.

However, the restaurant should be required to provide quality service under said agreement.

Its like bringing your car to the repair shop to have something fixed, and the mechanic handing you a $10,000 bill to replace the spark plugs.

There is this thing called "reasonable and customary".

 

[Ketchup]

Now that the story is out, that manager should be looking for a new job. The restaurant is owner not going to be happy with the bad publicity, no matter if he was right or not.

 

[SunnyD]

The pedantry is strong in this thread. Who cares if it uses contradictory English? Everyone knows exactly what it means, and its reason for existing. I don't have a problem with extra charges for large tables, and I don't care what it's called. It's there to protect the staff from getting screwed by douchebags, and is a commonly known practice. Don't like it? Go to McDonalds instead. You can even refill your drink cup to stick it to the man :^S

Conversely, the customer therefore has no protections against potential douchebag service staff, except in their potential tip. Hence if the waitstaff doesn't like it then THEY should go work at McDonald's instead.

Out of curiosity, how much of that mandatory 17% do you think is going to go to the servers, considering it's added as a line item on the customer's check and the check itself will still likely have a line for an additional "tip"?

And if I may ask, (MotionMan may actually chime in on this) - if a binding contract used language that is contradictory or ambiguous, are those still terms legally binding?

 

[DrunkenSano]

What law allows a restaurant to add a fee to the bill?

The people entered into an agreement with the restaurant when they saw the signs about the added fee.

However, the restaurant should be required to provide quality service under said agreement.

Its like bringing your car to the repair shop to have something fixed, and the mechanic handing you a $10,000 bill to replace the spark plugs.

There is this thing called "reasonable and customary".

And where is there evidence that quality service was not given?

 

[Ketchup]

I don't know why the two parties couldn't have come to a compromise. And if they received bad service, they should have complained during the meal, not waiting till the end when they were paying. Makes it sound less legit.

 

[Veliko]

And where is there evidence that quality service was not given?

It's right there in the original article.

 

[Ketchup]

Tipping has gotten out of control in this country, and short of federal law, we are the only ones who can stop it. Simply going to the restaurant and giving my business by paying for my meal are how I 'tip' the restaurant. Gratuity is how I 'tip' the waiter. I never stiff a waiter, but my tips do vary based on service, as I believe that's how it is designed to work. But mandatory tips of 15 - 20, $2 beverages, and charging for water are just some of the ways restaurants are taking advantage of people, simply because it has become so commonplace.

 

[sigurros81]

That's one thing I find fucked up about the tipping system in America. Tipping should be reserved to the customer's judgement, otherwise it defeats the purpose and definition of what tipping is suppose to be about.

Don't get me wrong, our system is completely screwing over the people that work in hospitality, and I have a great respect for all that work in the industry, and I tip on average 25-30% when I go out to eat, but I think making tipping mandatory is such BS. I think tipping should be about rewarding someone that is going "above and beyond the call of duty". Why should I tip someone who just does his required duty/job, except for one simple reason that they are getting screwed over by their own restaurant.

 

[lxskllr]

Conversely, the customer therefore has no protections against potential douchebag service staff, except in their potential tip. Hence if the waitstaff doesn't like it then THEY should go work at McDonald's instead.

The customer doesn't always get protections when eating out. Sometimes things just suck, and you have to deal with it. If they didn't want the mandatory charge, they could have split the party, and sat at different tables. Sometimes freedom isn't easy or convenient, regardless of what self-entitled Americans have been taught.

Out of curiosity, how much of that mandatory 17% do you think is going to go to the servers, considering it's added as a line item on the customer's check and the check itself will still likely have a line for an additional "tip"?

That's between the server, the dept of labor, and the restaurant owner, and none of my business.

 

[Veliko]

The customer doesn't always get protections when eating out. Sometimes things just suck, and you have to deal with it. If they didn't want the mandatory charge, they could have split the party, and sat at different tables. Sometimes freedom isn't easy or convenient, regardless of what self-entitled Americans have been taught.

So wanting to eat as a family and not be forced to pay for crap service is 'self entitlement' now...?

So be it.

 

[mnewsham]

I see the situation as everything went fine, nothing was wrong, once the bill came and they realized how much money they spent they figured they would try and nitpick every little detail to try and not have to pay the gratuity at least to cut down on the bill a little. Nothing pisses me off more then going to a table asking if everything is okay, and if the food is correct, everyone says yes no one says anything. Then later they complain the food wasn't cooked right and it took too long and the manager gives them % off.

 

[bfdd]

I hate forced "gratuity". If it's mandatory, factor it into the cost of menu items instead of adding it to bills.

Right? It's no longer gratiuity or a tip at that point, it's a fucking fee. Call it what it is.

 

[rh71]

gra·tu·i·ty   [gruh-too-i-tee, -tyoo-] Show IPA
noun, plural gra·tu·i·ties.
1.
a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.
2.
something given without claim or demand.

FUCK THE IDEALS OF WHAT TIPPING HAS BECOME. Call it a surcharge if you have to and mention no gratuity is required.

BUT NOOOOOOOOOO, that would scare away people. Guess what, required tipping should already have done that.