4 ms·
I recently saw a "3% cost of living" charge at a restaurant (in California). This same restaurant provided suggested tips of 18, 20, and (I think) 25%. At a ce
by eslaught 4y ago
I recently saw a "3% cost of living" charge at a restaurant (in California). This same restaurant provided suggested tips of 18, 20, and (I think) 25%.
At a certain level I think this is just dishonesty. They want to raise prices, but they know some people will stop coming, so they try to hide it in extra fees instead. I don't mind tipping per se, but the hidden fees and tip inflation make me think that if this keeps going, we may need to pass some price transparency laws.
- PaulDavisThe1st 4y agoIt's an extra fee, sure, but the salient quality is that it's an optional fee, which a price increase is not. I'm not condoning it, just clarifying what strikes me as the central point.
- rhplus 4y agoOP states that it was a non-optional fee, a hidden surcharge.
- PaulDavisThe1st 4y agoOP discussed an apparently mandatory "cost of living fee" and tipping, which is optional. The overall discussion based on TFA is about tipping.
- simonebrunozzi 4y agoGive them a 10% tip. Write why. It will make them think.
- loeg 4y agoZero. Don't reward it.
- bbarn 4y agoJust ate at a place in CA with an 18% automatic gratuity added, and a second line for "additional gratuity". Reminds me why I do all the cooking in my house.
- screamingninja 4y agoWent to this Mexican restaurant yesterday. On the payment handheld device, default selection for tip was 22% with buttons for 20% and 25% and a tiny "custom" button. Making a selection under pressure with the waitress staring at the handheld device was an uncomfortable interaction.
- deathanatos 4y agoSF restaurants, when I last lived in CA, were rife with these hidden fees. (The restaurants were upset about a local mandate. I … don't care about your politics? I just want a burger. Be straight about how much that will cost me…)
- doktorhladnjak 4y agoSF restaurants are the worst about this of anywhere I’ve been. What’s next? A high rent surcharge? Toilet facilities fee? A business income tax reclamation charge?
- wetpaws 4y agoI routinely tip 0% at places that practice this
- CraigRo 4y agoI deduct 2x the added charges from the usual and customary tip and leave a note on the receipt. The goal is to incentivize the servers to agitate against the restaurant. I particularly detest sneaky 'charges' that are not embedded in the prices.