Friday, 20 November, 2009

1. By Haffy. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @09:16am:

   Gratuity = "A gift or present (usually of money), often in return for favours or services, the amount depending on the inclination of the giver" (Oxford English Dictionary) So it can't be mandatory. The moral of this story would appear to be "don't go to Bethlehem, PA".
2. By Shel-tone. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @10:37am:

   Is there really a law that you have to tip? Wow. 99% of the time I'm a good tipper (20% or more) even when I probably should be, but there have been times when no tip was warranted. I would probably tip before going to jail though, but not before I had made my point.
3. By . Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @10:40am:

   I wonder if there is a legal definition of "gratuity" and "service charge".
   
   I believe that a gratuity is voluntary, and as such can be adjusted by the customer. A service charge, once accepted, cannot be declined, as it is now part of the contract for service.
   
   If it's labeled a gratuity, the customers should be able to adjust it. It is, after all, a completely voluntary reward for services rendered, and therefore at the customer's discretion.
4. By . Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @10:54am:

   They should have paid $1.00 of the gratuity charge instead of nothing.
   
   Anybody who has worked in the food service industry can tell you that a very small tip is more insulting than no tip at all. No tip often means that the customer forgot about it. An extremely small tip (like a dime or a quarter) means "I thought about the service and really I didn't think much of it".
5. By Broccoli. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @11:20am:

   if it's mandatory, include it in the bill. If you don't include it in the bill, it means that it's an "option".
6. By Phos..... Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @11:28am:

   Here's what I wanna know:
   
   Why does ANY restaurant mandate a built-in tip when the party numbers ≥ a certain number of people?
   
   Seems to me it would be easier to serve 8 people at one table than 8 people at 2-4 tables.
   
   If things are being run properly, a waitron should be managing close to the same number of people, whether they are grouped together as larger parties, or whether they're spread out across several tables. A good dining room manager will be sure to set up stations as evenly as possible, and should divvy up the incoming patrons among available wait staff.
   
   And I also remember that during my days of waiting tables (30 years ago) I was always happy for the big parties. I almost always seemed to make a pile of money from them.
7. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @11:29am:

   I think many people are missing the point. Many places have a "Mandatory Gratuity" policy, often printed on the menu, for parties of six or more. This place apparently did. They included it on the bill. The customers did not pay the bill.
8. By Phos..... Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @11:42am:

   I'd simply take it up with the manager before dumping the whole issue on the crappy waitron. This is a case where honey is a better palliative than gasoline.
   
   But then again, amicably settling things with the manager wouldn't have whipped up the current storm. Teh intarnets is working itself into quite a lather over this, and it just may cause restaurants to rethink their stand on the oxymoronic "mandatory gratuity" policy.
9. By Bob Mcgee. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @01:12pm:

   I think robert in SF has it right
   
   I dont think ive seen a "mandatory gratuity" added to a bill, I believe its a service charge and it is part of the bill. If they had a problem they should of taken it straight to the manager and asked for a comp or discount. You cant just buy a product or service then pay what you think its worth after receiving the bill without negotiating it first... simple as that. Seems to be a case of pretty clear cut theft. One of them was an only child I would guess.
10. By Bob Mcgee. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @01:20pm:

    Phos "Why does ANY restaurant mandate a built-in tip when the party numbers ≥ a certain number of people? Seems to me it would be easier to serve 8 people at one table than 8 people at 2-4 tables."
    
    Party of 8 = 1 bill = $0 = Putting all your eggs in one basket can go bad if paid by stingy a**hole
    
    Party of 2 x 4 tables = 4 bills = Better odds of getting a fair average tip.
11. By . Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @02:42pm:

    I concur completely with Steve Buscemi's rant in the intro scene of Reservoir Dogs.
    
    <url>http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Reservoir-Dogs.html#tip</url>
12. By . Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @02:45pm:

    Oh I used carrots not brackets. D'oh!
    
    In any case, requiring gratuity for any reason should be the criminal act here, not refusing to pay extra for #### service.
13. By Fred. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @03:47pm:

    $16 after eating at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pa.
    
    I think that there is a real good possibility that the Lehigh Pub will wish that it had given the customers the $16 dollars after they pay the lawyers and the possible hefty lawsuit that will be the outcome of this. Not to mention the loss of customers in the future when the word gets out.
14. By . Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @04:59pm:

    Fred,
    
    The word is out. It's a big story on the Philly TV news.
    
    They'll be sorry when the Bethlehem Musikfest comes around in early August. It's the busiest ten days of the year for Bethlehem merchants as lots of people come in from Philadelphia and other out of town places to hear music and party.
15. By Bob Mcgee. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @05:25pm:

    "In any case, requiring gratuity for any reason should be the criminal act here, not refusing to pay extra for #### service"
    
    Next time you go to the auto shop and they make you wait longer than u feel like just pay for parts and skip the labor or when you buy a car and you dont agree with all the fees plop down what you think is fair then drive off, im sure the judge will feel for you and punish those bastards that ruined your day lol.
16. By Bob Mcgee. Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @05:27pm:

    If that place was in my town I would be eating there tonight :) Ill bet that place is packed
17. By . Comment posted 20-Nov-2009 @06:16pm:

    My middle daughter used to be a waitress, and including the tip was standard (and printed on the menu) for parties of 6 or more. As a few people pointed out, a large party can be a big hit in the pay for servers. Servers have to share their tips with the rest of the staff, and also have to pay income tax withholding on 8% of their orders, so if they don't receive a tip, they're paying tax without receiving any money. High school kids going to a big dance are notorious for not tipping, as are some other groups.
18. By jigawatt. Comment posted 21-Nov-2009 @06:35am:

    Just imagine if Ticketmaster ran a restaurant.
    
    Come to think of it, it looks like the manager of this restaurant has taken some business lessons from the music industry - call the cops on your customers, cause such an uproar that people boycott your business, stuff like that.

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