5 ms·
We have this new trend over the past couple of years in Seattle restaurants to charge a flat 20% “service fee”. The fine print says “service fee” actually goes
by erentz 7y ago
We have this new trend over the past couple of years in Seattle restaurants to charge a flat 20% “service fee”. The fine print says “service fee” actually goes to business, not the staff. But the claim is they pay the staff a proper wage (and provide 401ks, etc.). Which sounds good to me, how it should be everywhere. But in that case they should just increase the prices 20% and remove the tipping option. This middle of the road thing labeled a “service fee” feels like a trick.
- chapium 7y agoits certainly a trick to show the wrong price when you are deciding on the menu.
- Pfhreak 7y agoHow serendipitous! I was just complaining about this exact issue in Seattle (literally in the next tab over.) The 20% charge seems to be engineered to reduce tips while providing no actual information about the treatment of the employees. I went to an amazing vegan restaurant and there was a note on their menu saying they add 20% to the cost and they take care of their employees. I had no idea whether to tip or not (decided to tip), and what 'retained by the owner' but 'paid out to staff as benefits and a fair wage' meant. I'd MUCH rather have the menu say, "Our prices reflect paying our workers a strong wage, we encourage you not to tip." (See Molly Moons, a local ice cream shop that eliminated tipping: https://www.mollymoon.com/tipfree https://www.mollymoon.com/tipfree) To the point that I'm unlikely to return to businesses that pull this 'service fee' shenanigans.
- orangecat 7y agoI'd MUCH rather have the menu say, "Our prices reflect paying our workers a strong wage, we encourage you not to tip." Yes, and I'd go even further because all phrases like "tipping is optional" are now firmly established as lies that you're expected to recognize as such. Just say "we do not accept tips" and eliminate the tip line.
- darkpuma 7y agoHow are you going to "remove the tipping option"? Are you going to chase me down the sidewalk to return the cash I leave on the table for your employee? You'll look awfully foolish doing that, and I don't think your employee will thank you.
- erentz 7y agoTips are still accepted at these restaurants but they note that they’re not expected or required because there’s an automatic “service fee”.
- GrapeFriedNiggr 7y agoMost people pay with credit card, so just removing the tipping option from the machine would work.
- nugget 7y agoI had dinner in Seattle last week and the waiter did not mention the 20% service fee. The way the bill was delivered in a suspiciously folded manner, one would have had to dig through to find where it was printed. I tipped 20% on top of what I thought was the dinner bill and didn't connect the dots until the next day. I called the restaurant and addressed it privately but I do wonder how many people are blindly taken advantage of by what could be considered an analog dark pattern and never catch it.
- pkaye 7y agoI went to a local "mom and pop" type of restaurant and the food was subpar yet expensive. I look at the bill and they had a 20% surcharge plus a line for tip. Its a family business so they should not need for a surcharge or a tip. Just roll everything into the menu price. I could have let it slide if not for the food being crap.