What do you think about a restaurant that automatically charges gratuity on your bill?

Question

without you knowing prior to receiving it?

I was recently at a "chain" restaurant with 9 people...The server was slow and forgot many things during the course of the meal....Got the bill and a 18% gratuity was added in....ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Should we be forced to pay this even though the service was maybe worth 5%?

OK, I have no choice but to reveal the restaurant because I want you people to examine the menu and look for any words that say that they will charge 18% gratuity for large parties.....Have a look,,this is exact menu we had ...

http://www.cheesecakefactory.com/menu.htm

Answer 1

They can add a service charge but not a gratuity. The distinction is a lame legal one, but they can get away with it.

What I do about it is vote with my feet and never go back there. I make sure to speak to the manager and tell him so. Even if he offers to refund the charge, that's not enough, because he was enough of a weasel to add it unannounced in the first place.

Answer 2

As a former waitress, I would say that if your party is larger than 12, I would add an additional 10-20% on top of the gratuity if the restaurant was busy. The waitress has other tables, and while a good waitress will do her best to wait each table fairly, priority is usually given to the larger tables. And keep in mind that many restaurants require waitstaff to pool all the tips for the shift, and evenly split them with the busing staff, and even the dishwashers and cooks. But don't add any extra if your service was not adequate. Most restaurants only charge gratuity to the bill for parties of 8 or more, or for separate checks. Edit- [HALLS] For a party of 15, you figure about $14 per person. 15% tip would be 2.10 and an additional tip of 10-20% would be at most another 2.80 -So that is within the range of the extra $2 YOU suggested. That's a $5 tip, which isn't abnormal for good service. But please understand, I'm talking about an extra tip IF the restaurant is really busy or your table keeps the waitress really busy!

Answer 3

I think that it was probably printed on the menu someplace that a gratuity is added for parties of 6 or more.

If you've ever waited table, you know how hard it is to serve a large group, and how poor the tips are from such groups. That's why so many chain restaurants now put the tip on your bill.

However, if you feel your service was poor, take the bill to the manager and explain why. I would think any competent manager would return all or most of the gratuity amount in order to have your future business. (He's also have a talk with your server.)

Answer 4

I used to work as a waitress and I would have loved if we could have added gratuity on for big parties. You don't understand how many times I was unfairly tipped by larger parties (mostly teenagers). But I do agree with you that if the service was bad then you shouldn't have to pay the gratuity. And actually u don't have to pay it. If you were given poor service, then they deserve a poor tip. It is not a law that you have to tip people. But if they did a good, even a decent job it is only right to tip people 18-20%, because that is how servers make their money.

Answer 5

Any restaurant that automatically charges a gratuity, especially without my prior knowledge, doesn't get my repeat business. Also, I would think that this would be illegal not to give some clear notification of the charge beforehand. Otherwise, why stop at 18%?
Another note: when figuring how much to tip and the service seems not to have been adequate, I try to factor in how much of an effort the person appears to be making. If the restaurant appears to be understaffed, for example, and the server appears to be doing the best he or she can, then I don't see how it's fair to punish the server for something (the making of the schedule, for example) that is beyond his or her control.

Answer 6

That is so unethical. It's one thing to state on the menu that there is an added gratuity (which also ticks me off), but to try to sneak it in is unconscionable. I would definitely say something to the manager about the lousy service and ask that the extra charge be removed from the bill. If I was refused I would tell the manger that I will never be back, and that I will inform everyone I know about his unfair policies, and I would leave no tip. As far as I am concerned they got their tip already. In either case I would never go back there.

Answer 7

Every restaurant charges an automatic gratuity for parties of 6 or more. While you have to pay it no one was stopping you from calling over the manager and complaining. They would most likely have reduced the fee or given you a free cheesecake or something.

Answer 8

First, was your party very specific? It is a general common practice that establishments charge for usually 6 to 8 guests and more. With a place like CCF, I think 18% is excessive. I would have paid it, but right away talked to the manager and discuss my dissatisfaction. If he was concerned and compensated something, great, if he did nothing, I would not return, but not due to poor service (everyone has a bad day), but due to the management.

Answer 9

I agree with Dharmanator's answer except that I would take it one step further (providing I'd spoken with the manager and got no result)....I'd take it to small claims court and put an end to it permanently. Just walking away does not solve the problem at large. What if you really liked that particular restaurant and wanted to go back excluding the so called gratuity? Walking away is just another passing the buck situation.....but still, Dharmanator did give a good answer as to information....just don't agree with the resolution.

Answer 10

was it printed on the bottom of the menu, cause most places print it on the menu for party's that are so large that it will be added on because so many people stiff the wait staff when they come in in large groups. and if the service sucked then you should have complained then and there. any good wait person depends on their tips for wages and will bust their humps to make sure that you get it.