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New on Your Dinner Tab: a Labor Surcharge: Rather than jack up menu prices [tr]
Wall Street Journal ^ | March 9, 2017 | Julie Jargon

Posted on 03/09/2017 12:25:34 PM PST by C19fan

Restaurant diners are footing the bill for rising minimum wages.

In lieu of steep menu price increases, many independent and regional chain restaurants in states including Arizona, California, Colorado and New York are adding surcharges of 3% to 4% to help offset rising labor costs. Industry analysts expect the practice to become widespread as more cities and states increase minimum wages.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS: restaurants; wages
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Surcharges are tricks to get people inside.
1 posted on 03/09/2017 12:25:35 PM PST by C19fan
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To: C19fan

If I ever saw that, it would be reflected in my tip, if I even hung around.


2 posted on 03/09/2017 12:27:06 PM PST by cyclotic (Republicans Are without excuse. Flood the Resolute Desk with sane legislation.)
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To: cyclotic

I would see it as the tip.

We very rarely eat out any more so this is really a non-issue for us.


3 posted on 03/09/2017 12:28:08 PM PST by Mr. Douglas (Best. Election. EVER!)
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To: cyclotic

That’s the point. Since minimum wage is increased my tips will be smaller.


4 posted on 03/09/2017 12:28:39 PM PST by McGavin999
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To: cyclotic

Been here in LA for a couple of years.

Reduce your tip accordingly.


5 posted on 03/09/2017 12:28:51 PM PST by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS!!!)
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I was using orbitz or a similiar site to look for hotels at a popular destination. I thought I saw a nice deal at a quality place. The hotel adds on an extra $25 a night “resort fee” adding another 20%-30% to the per night rate. I hit the go back button on the browser.


6 posted on 03/09/2017 12:29:07 PM PST by C19fan
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To: C19fan

Won’t bother me a bit, I have a kitchen with all I need in it to prepare good meals, have done for neighbors, friends and Church People...

Why spend all that money on something that doesn’t taste as good, is over priced to begin with and you really don’t know what all goes on in preparing it, but you do in your own kitchen, and it costs less to cook from scratch than to buy a meal from a place that raises it’s prices...


7 posted on 03/09/2017 12:30:22 PM PST by HarleyLady27 ('THE FORCE AWAKENS!!!' Trump/Pence: MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!)
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To: cyclotic

I would say, this would shoot the hell out of the practice of tipping. Many restaurants already put a charge of 18% on the bills for large parties, so it is something of a vexing problem.

Eating out is going to become one of those quaint customs abandoned by the culture as a whole sometime early in the 21st Century, much like opening doors for comely ladies was abandoned in the latter part of the 20th Century. Nobody wanted to observe it any more.


8 posted on 03/09/2017 12:32:25 PM PST by alloysteel (John Galt has chosen to take the job. This time, Atlas did NOT shrug.)
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To: Mr. Douglas; cyclotic

>>I would see it as the tip.<<

That is how 90% of patrons will see it.

The remaining 10% will be 1/2 guys with hot waitresses hoping to get luck and the other 1/2 will be expense-account toting politicians and business executives.

Net result to the worker: lower income.

Forcing the hand of free enterprise NEVER works for those it was designed to help.


9 posted on 03/09/2017 12:32:35 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Not tired of winning yet!)
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To: C19fan

Labor Charges:

Carrying dishes to table - $2.00

Carrying silverware to table - $1.00

Carrying glass to table - $1.00

For Clean dishes or utensils, double the labor.

Or just leave the last person’s dishes.

You can get your own set for extra.

OR NOT!


10 posted on 03/09/2017 12:33:38 PM PST by Scrambler Bob (Brought to you from Turtle Island, otherwise known as 'So-Called North America')
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To: C19fan

I join the other posts. When they increased the minimum wage in Oregon, I reduced my tip.


11 posted on 03/09/2017 12:34:21 PM PST by Retain Mike
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To: C19fan

OR:

Buy dough, sauce, cheese, some seasonings.

Make my own pizza and pasta.

#### you.


12 posted on 03/09/2017 12:34:27 PM PST by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: BunnySlippers

Been here in LA for a couple of years.

Reduce your tip accordingly.


Yeah.

Always tip well because servers are poorly paid and really live off of tips. A good server can make a heck of a lot of money on tips - several hundred bucks a night or more if they are good.

With new high minimum wage, pay is way better so tips are reduced.

High minimum wages are the bitter enemy of the good server in the hospitality industry because they reduce traffic into restaurants and bars due to higher prices and reduce tips on the lower volume - a double whammy to the pocket book.

Be careful what you ask for - you might just get it


13 posted on 03/09/2017 12:36:09 PM PST by rdcbn (.... when Poets buy guns, tourist season is over ...)
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To: BunnySlippers

I also have to look closer at the bill. I usually only look at the total, less tax and base my tip off that.

But if restaurants are going to start expecting me to pay all their labor costs, guess again.


14 posted on 03/09/2017 12:40:00 PM PST by cyclotic (Republicans Are without excuse. Flood the Resolute Desk with sane legislation.)
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To: C19fan

I quit eating out when the salt levels broke the 25%-by-weight mark. I have no interest in over-paying for food designed to murder me.


15 posted on 03/09/2017 12:42:13 PM PST by samtheman (ObamaGate = Watergate Squared)
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To: HarleyLady27

If I can add to your post(I do the same thing as far as cooking/dining out.) In my area we have a Caswell’s outlet that liquidates what all the regional supermarket chains can’t sell within certain time frames and also close outs ...I have gotten meats in bulk for 1-2 dollars a pound that would normally retail for 3-9 dollars per Lb. I then take an evening and make a beautiful meal while portioning the rest and freezing...My better half laughs when i constantly point out that our meal cost’s say $1.83.247 cents per serving! Don’t get me wrong when we do go out (rarely) I am appreciative of having a pleasant proficient server and tip accordingly as I as a youth worked in restaurants and know how some of the public can be. But I’m all about doing it myself and being frugal and grateful for the abundance of great food!


16 posted on 03/09/2017 12:43:55 PM PST by mythenjoseph
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To: C19fan

No tip?


17 posted on 03/09/2017 12:44:12 PM PST by nikos1121 (We are about to see The Golden Age of Pericles in the new Trump Administration.)
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To: C19fan

HEY! Did you guys hear about the $.99 cent 1/3lb angus burger at Texas Roadhouse??

My check listed below:

* 1/3lb Angus burger...........$0.99
* Bun .........................$0.50
* Sesame Seeds ................$0.02
* Lettuce ....................$0.10
* Ketchup ....................$0.15
* Heating Costs for burger ....$0.45
* Table and Chair rental ......$2.00
* hostess Fee .................$1.00
* server fee ..................$1.00
* Premium dish rental .........$2.50
* Dish washing and shining ....$1.50
* Free Peanuts ................$2.00
* Labor Tax....................$5.00
* Clean Air tax ...............$1.00
* Carbon tax 1/3Lb meat @5/lb..$1.67
* Mandatory Gratuity...........$1.00
* Voluntary Gratuity ..........$2.00
* Restroom Fee 2@1.99/guest....$3.98
* Tax @9%......................$2.32

**** TOTAL ....................$25.50


18 posted on 03/09/2017 12:44:22 PM PST by No_More_Harkin
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To: Scrambler Bob

ahh, you beat me to it. :)


19 posted on 03/09/2017 12:45:49 PM PST by No_More_Harkin
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To: Mr. Douglas

Same here- BTW- WHEN do I get a ‘Surcharge’on MY paycheck?


20 posted on 03/09/2017 12:47:44 PM PST by SMARTY ("Nearly all men can stand adversity...to test a man's character, give him power." A. Lincoln)
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