Adding gratuity to your bill
Just want some input from fellow CHs. I've noticed many restuarants are now adding gratuity to our bill these day. Personally I don't believe it's fair. Especially if it doesn't state their "policy" on their menu, website or in the restaurant. I can understand if it's a huge group and they were told at the time of booking, however, these days even if you have a party of more than 4, it's added to your bill. Seriously, why should I have to pay it if the service and food is crappy. Does anyone know if it's mandatory to pay? I've tried contacting the consumer information website by the Government of Canada but it doesn't have any information. They directed me to their website which doesn't help. Just want to see what your feedback is and the normal practice in your province.
Thanks for your help!
gourmet wife
Sep 03, 2008 01:25PM
I was on the Kelowna website yesterday, looking for some tourist information (going up there next week) and found this blog on their website:
"Gratuities & Tipping
Providing a tip or gratuity for service has become a standard practice in Canada. The amount is not calculated on your bill, so it is suggested that you add 10% - 15% to the amount before taxes. However, the amount should vary and be dependant upon the quality of service you received"
Here's the Link:
http://www.tourismkelowna.com/visitor...
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My policies are what matter to me.
1. Groups in excess of a certain number, where the number and gratuity % are stated on a menu, the servers forehead, wherever, get paid. If the service is crappy, then I complain like Hell and never go again, and spread the word unless something is done to soothe me.
2. If nothing is stated, then I pay what I want for a gratuity. Don't get bullied, you can't be arrested. If you get hassled, explain yourself, and, once again expect to be soothed, or never go again and spread the word.
3. Simply don't go to places that add a gratuity no matter what the number of patrons. This practise is nothing other than getting a patron to subsidize low wages and possibly accept compromised food and service quality.
Ignorant restauranteurs need to be put out of business. (as long as it is the restauranteur who is ignorant and not the patron)
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IF the practice is stated on the menu, I don't see any issues. The vast majority of the time I have ever seen this, a 15% tip is assumed, which is the minimum standard tip for reasonably good service according to practices that most people in N. American society currently accept.
The fact is that large tables (say 6 or more) do have an added element of complexity in timing all the food to come out at once and providing good service. Furthermore, larger groups may have the tendency for everybody to "throw in some money" towards the bill, which can result in little to no tip when all the dust settles.
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Who and where are they doing this?...I've seen this for groups of 8 or more, pretty standard.
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Thanks for all your replies!
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I don't think it is even legal. I usually tip what I feel like.
Were the restaurants anywhere close to the tourist areas? I was at Rosie's at the Rosedale Hotel. At the bottom of the bill, they printed "guides" for gratuities, at 15%, 18% and 20% :) I asked the server about it and she said a lot of tourists do not tip (not in their custom to). It is a subtle way of saying "Please tip".
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I feel it is an insulting practice to add a service charge or automatic gratuity to your bill. It feels like they are saying that they think the majority of us are cheap. You can't do much if the restaurant has that charge, but it if you get awful service demand to speak to the manager before paying and let them know that you don't feel your server deserves that tip.
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Its exactly what they're saying (the majority of people are cheap) and they're generally right. Folks on Chowhound aren't a good cross section of society, by and large. People here, almost by definition (literally), value food more than others and value good restaurant experiences more than others. We're willing to pay more when appropriate (sometimes paying more for great chow isn't necessary) and tip more when appropriate (more often than paying more for the food itself). Many people are not. Large groups compound most of the risk involved in gratuities for the restaurant and staff. The staff will spend longer on the table, the table will likely be there longer (the larger the group the longer they normally take for a meal) meaning less change to turn the table and the fewer additional tables a server can handle. The bills for those larger tables are also, of course, larger and many people who may not be "cheap" will still get wide eyes when that large number appears at the bottom of their check. They may well decide to skimp on the tip as a way to keep the grand total for their night down. Then that server who spent most of the shift on one table really gets hammered for the night. Setting an included gratuity for parties 6 or more is fairly regular here in Charlottesville, VA and was pretty normal in San Francisco, CA when we lived there for the past 3 years.
So long as its on the menu as a policy and the % is within reason (I've seen 15% to 18% and I have no problem with that range) I'm fine with it. If its higher, I may well choose to take my group elsewhere and if the service isn't at least good, I have no problem saying something to the manager (though I'm also the sort to go find the manager as soon as I get to the point in the meal where I think its going to be necessary to say something).
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If the service experience added to or enhanced the dining experience, then by all means I have no problems giving them a tip in the 15-20% range...possibly more on some occasions. If service is terrible, I have no qualms with leaving nothing.
I've heard that Montreal is the absolute WORST place for dining & dealing with gratuities. A friend of mine once told me that they went to a decent restaurant, and the waitress berated them when they paid and basically tried to tell them that it was illegal to not tip at least 20%....lol
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fmanning, it's unfortunate your friend had a bad experience in Montreal but don't judge a whole city based on that, it's really not true.
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Definately not, unless the policy is stated on the menu, and if they add it, I ask to have it removed.
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My take: If it's not on the menu it's not mandatory to pay. If it is, but is listed as a "gratuity", it's not mandatory. If it listed as a "service charge, it is mandatory.
What really burns my hide is when the server doesn't tell you, which -- especially with a big party - winds up with some people tipping on the amount *with the "service charge"!
I was a server for many years, and believe me, I completely understand why it's added for larger parties. I simply would point it out to whomever I gave the check. I was never told not to do this, although I imagine some places do tell the servers not to say anything. I found that most of the customers seemed grateful. Either that or it was my charming personality...
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