Was it a tip they demanded (when did it not become voluntary [this was a family of four, not a party, and the bill was under $50])? I mean I've taken large groups to restaurants, or when bills have orbited above $100, I've seen the 10%-20% gratuity on the bill (and menu), but it's always clear as day and always said GRATUITY on the receipt.
I had happened to be using a gift certificate on this occasion, and I'm wondering if they consider this a fee for using the Gift Certificate (equally outrageous)?
Of course the line for a Tip: was still added onto the receipt (not shown) which further confused me.
Isn't the point of tips to reward good service?
I ended up adding a tip to the bill, though quite upset, I was prepared to write a raving review of the establishment prior to the check. I've since emailed customer service with the gift certificate company, and await a response. I'm not sure what's going on here- I mean, what's wrong with America. You sell crap at a set price, and I buy it at a set price- I don't expect surcharges on my bill, especially at the neighborhood bar!
What it did do was turn me off to returning to this restaurant, though I did feel the food was pretty good. There's no point in taking a gift certificate worth $25, and only receiving $15 of it, because the owners have chosen to do business in this matter.
If it was a tip, then let me decide the amount. I actually quite hate the idea of tipping, but continue to be a good tipper at traditional restaurants. However this new trend to put a tip box at Subway, or Ice Cream shops, gas stations, etc... is enough to blow my mind. Do I really need to tip you to do your job now? Do I really need to question the quality of food I receive from a fast-food because you may or may not have liked my tips the last time I visited?
Really? Just do your bloody job, shove the tip jar where the sun don't shine, and if I think your deserving: I'll slip something in your pocket... otherwise stop your complaining and enjoy your minimum wage (waitress/waiter wages not included). Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?
So somehow in America we went from tipping service style jobs (waiting, pumping gas, etc.) to tipping EVERYWHERE, and now we're moving on to mandatory tipping. God Bless America.
