Ruling on Restaurant Service Charges
 

Article in Daily Sun today regarding Court Ruling in Miami that restaurant service charges are not Tips. Tips ruled to be added monies determined by customer.

My question is what are service charges? Article states that they are largely for providing larger wages for employees.

I have not seen restaurant bills in The Villages that have included Service charges as a line item. I don't like the concept. I have seen this overseas and in most countries I have seen them, tipping seems to be much less.

If that comes to The Villages many will consider it the tip or adjust the tip accordingly. Many restaurants did this during the pandemic to cover additional costs for masks, silicon gloves. Can we be sure the adjustment is actually being given in increased wages?

Just another way of charging more, rather than re-printing the menus.

In Europe, "Servis Compris" means the tip is already added to the menu price. You can leave more if you'd like. There are pros and cons to both (Europe vs. US).

I would think that the servers in Miami would be totally against any "service charge" since the customer would think it's the tip. It really wouldn't last very long.

Skip

Las Vegas places charge a concession fee. Berkeley charges you a fee for employee benefits Just another way to extract money from you.

Your spot on! :thumbup:

i always take off the tax amount before calculating the tip amount @20%

this will be something else that I'll take off before calculating the tip amount

Some restaurants when serving large parties will add service charge and that to me is the tip.

Service charges & Tipping
 

Can’t say much about Miami, but I was recently told by a waitress at Cody’s, that she made $6.85/hr.

If that’s the case, and considering that quite a bit of the the time that food and drinks at Codys is discounted, are we tipping enough?

If we tip for one drink when it’s two-for-one, is that enough?

Added gratuity is service charge?
 

They are adding gratuity to our total at the Poke in Brownwood. You won't notice it unless you ask for your receipt. I don't have a problem tipping as long as I know I am doing it.

poke
 

Thanks really good to know about a new start up. I wont be going there anytime soon...:boom:

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a gratuity, and/or tip is:

"Something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service".

Obviously, the court was correct that a mandatory restaurant service charge is not a tip.

Good point. I don't go out a lot, but when I do I'm very generous with tipping.

Service fee for using credit card
 

Just recently I ordered takeout from a restaurant not in TV. When I got home, I noticed on the receipt, I was charged a service fee. Being curious, I called the restaurant and questioned it. I was told they are now charging a service fee for using a credit card whether dining in or taking out. So an eggplant hero which was $10, cost me in the end $15 after the CC service fee and a jar tip. Always ask for a receipt, and question any extra charges they don't tell you about....

It was the second post...........please read and relax.
:coolsmiley:

Masks/gloves for businesses s/b covered with PPP Government forgiveable loans, as well as their employees wages. The businesses ‘don’t talk about that part…’