>Dog3 wrote:
>>
>>"Peter Aitken" wrote:
>> But call it a service charge or something like that - a tip or
>> gratutity is, by definition, voluntary.
>
>The problem with service charge is; Some patrons will not notice it and tip
>on top of it. At least in the US. I've been out with large parties before,
>where the waiter was terribly dishonest. The menu stated 18% added to
>parties of 5 or more. When the credit card slip arrived, nothing on the
>slip indicated a tip. So, the host of our party wound up double tipping.

A service charge is not a gratuity. Restaurants add a service charge for
larger partys because larger groups tend to dawdle, they tend to occupy
valuable table space way past their welcome. Smart restauranteers will after
dinner lure the party to the bar, with the offering of a free round... knowing
full well that the majority of the group intended to toss back a few anyway,
but at least now the table can be used for others. Unless it actually says
"gratuity" then it is not, and the server does not get any portion thereof.
When dining at an establishment that adds a service charge (or any restaurant
for that matter) the wise diner slips the server their gratuity discreetly,
right into their hand.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
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