Bump
Kidnapping is a forcible felony. That had been me someone would have ended up with a gun in their face.
Not a lot of detail here on which to judge this story.
Some restaurants clearly state that parties of x number of people will automatically be charged whatever percentage gratuity.
Is that the case here? If so, they sat and ate a a meal with full knowledge they would be charged, and I have no sympathy for them.
If not, well, shortly they may own that restaurant.
How often do you get bad service? I can’t remember the last time we got bad service, twenty years ago perhaps. Except at places where you don’t tip, like McDonald’s.
We used to eat at tipping places maybe six times a year, now it’s probably about twice.
I truly think customers will stiff the waiters far more often than the waiters give bad service. When the tip is automatically included, and the service is bad, you ought to speak to the manager before the meal is over, and ask for another waiter to be assigned to you.
I typically tip 10% for adequate service and 20% or more for excellent service, and I get excellent service more often than not. If I’m tipping at least 20%, I also talk to the manager to praise the service I received. Terrible service? I still tip - anything from a penny to a quarter left on the table to clarify that I didn’t “forget” to tip - but bad service is rare. I’ve never had the restaurant try to lock me in to protest my tip.
Note: If the restaurant adds the tip to my bill in accordance with a posted policy, I pay the amount added (and don’t return if the service didn’t justify the tip), but I don’t tip more even if the service would have rated a bigger tip.
The store policy clearly stated on the menu that a 17% gratuity will be added to parties of five or more (which this was). It was part of their bill. They could have chosen not to eat there. Even the BBB guy interviewed agrees.
In the end, they paid the tip.
The cost of the meal is clearly printed on the menu. This cost includes the meal preparation and delivery to my table.
A “Gratuity” is a gift that a patron of the resturant may, or may not, give the waiter for exemplary service, attention to the diner’s needs, suggestions and services rendered. A “Gratuity” is not required, the only payment required is the cost of the meal and applicable taxes - again, clearly printed on the menu.
I’d call this Kidnapping - being held hostage, against your will, for money is generally considered kidnapping.
An automatic 17% added to your bill? No way! I will tip generously, but only if the service is decent.
If the tip is mandatory, which is how it is usually in most restaurants for groups over a certain size, and its posted, you pretty much have to pay it, and not knowing this case don’t know if this was a big group or just a few folks. I suspect it was a large group where the mandatory tip applies.
As to locking them up, not sure if that falls into false imprisonment or not, most states do allow a business to detain a person if they believe that person has engaged in theft.. and not paying a bill in its entirety and trying to leave certainly would be considered theft.
I am sure someone is more familar with this states laws than I am.. but I wouldn’t jump to assumption the restaraunt violated the law by detaining them.
Those customers must subscribe to the “Mr. Pink” school of tipping!
Must have been Brits.
I guess they would rather the five people sit at five different tables using the time of five different waiters and not tipping a penny.
Good thinking.
In Houston, why would anyone eat seafood at la fisherman when you have Papas’s seafood all over town, best service, largest portions and best seafood ever for the price. And a killer strawberry Mojito.
Several times I’ve shown up with a party of more than eight where the policy was an automatic gratuity. We simply occupied two separate tables but next to each other. No extra “service charge”
Apparently the tip policy for this restaurant was posted. If patrons don’t agree with posted policies, they should eat elsewhere.
If you can’t afford to tip graciously, you can’t afford to eat out.
Of course, you are not obliged to reward poor service, but please be sure that you are not punishing the wrong party. Busboys, waiters, dishwashers, cooks, hosts, and managers all have their own responsibilities and problems; sometimes it’s hard to figure out who fell down on the job. It’s a good idea to put yourself in their shoes, too, and remember that even the best of us occasionally has an “off” day. Forgive a little and tip generously, especially if you plan to eat there again.
> I am against gratuity tips! It is my option to tip or not to tip. Lousy service does not warrant a tip!
Unfortunately the labor laws have a very low wage for waitresses and waiters. Frequently they only get a couple of bucks per hour, so not tipping really cutsinto their earnings.
They forgot that whole “the customer is always right” thingy. I wonder how much business they will lose over this one gratuity. Stupid (on both sides).