Went to a restaurant in LA today and when I got the check I noticed that it was a bit higher than it should be. Then I noticed this 18% service charge. So… We, as customers, need to help pay for their servers instead of the owners paying their servers a living wage. And on top of that they have suggested tip. I called bs on this. I will bet you that the servers do not see a dime of this 18% service charge. [deleted a word so it wasn’t a grammatical horror to read]
I’m gonna get lambasted for this, but I don’t see the issue.
If the restaurant paid them more in wages, the customer would pay for that too in the form of higher on-menu prices. That’s just how paying for goods and services works.
Unless this is some mega-restaurant where the owners are making so much money that they could take a pay cut and meaningfully increase everyone’s wages?
Sure, but I would be much happier with higher prices printed on the menu than a secret hidden fee at the end of the meal
Right, while deciding what to eat or whether to dine there at all, you can’t know that this service fee will be added.
You’re missing that they’re still asking for tips. Yes what you’re saying makes sense and a lot of restaurants do just that … But then they genuinely don’t accept tips still because they’re not needed anymore. You don’t get the cake and eat it too, you either have tips or you have the fee.
I fully agree, but looking at those prices, this is likely a greedy mega-restaurant…
You’re right and people are just dumb. This is no different than just raising prices but people see service charge and a percentage as a line item and lose their minds.
Then just raise the fucking prices. Try bending over less for this bullshit.
Except that when a business raises prices, the menu shows the increased price. You can decide whether you want to pay before you eat.
This is no different than walking into Walmart, filling up your shopping cart with $100 worth of groceries, and then seeing that they charged you $18 ‘to pay the checkers and baggers’ as you walk out the door.