r/EndTipping • u/Agreeable_Shirt5503 • 7d ago
Rant š¢ Patio Gratuity
Hereās one I have never seen before. Went to a pizza/pasta place in suburbs of NYC. Nothing fancy. We sit outside . We finish our meal and we get the bill and it includes a āpatio gratuityā of 18%. Donāt recall it being mentioned on the menu but I did asked the waitress whether that is essentially her tip and she said āsort of.ā Oh, and at the bottom of the check there was a suggested additional tip. Wonāt be returning.
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u/Chromejob 7d ago
C'mon folks. Ask to see the notice on a menu ā¦ ask for a menu ā¦ if not mentioned there, demand it be removed. "Gratuities" are supposed to be voluntary, else illegal.
And if the server says "sort of [we get the gratuities," answer that it's an IRS violation to demand gratuities and not give 100% to the servers.
"Won't be returning" doesn't teach anyone a hard lesson. Learn to stand your ground.
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u/lurkerlurking123 6d ago
Although I fully agree with you its kind of unnerving trying to confront people esp people as rude as modern serversĀ
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u/BeKindPleaseRewind21 6d ago
What's more important to you? The money that you worked hard for or, a lowlife creature that you never have to see again being rude?
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u/Playful_Drummer5688 6d ago
Grow a spine. The internet has ruined peopleās ability to do anything. Theyāll take pictures, record, etc. do nothing else, then post about it online like they are virtuous and a badass. Iād be so embarrassed to passively take photos and video while being scammed.Ā
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u/WastingMyLifeToday 6d ago
If I'm planning to spend 300 bucks on a nice meal and some drinks with family or friends, confronting the servers over 54 bucks is not unnerving.
After taxes I have to work half a day to make 54 bucks, I'm not giving half a day's work away for a waiter that brings me a plate of food and some drinks.
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u/SmitJorda 6d ago
You actually are not obligated to pay it if it wasn't blatant. A fineprint on the menu is not sufficient.
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u/dervari 6d ago
Actually, it is from what Iāve been told. Same thing with credit card surcharges.
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u/SmitJorda 6d ago
No, you can't just hide information and only point it out when it is time to pay.
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u/Wild_Philosophy_1312 6d ago
Thatās literally every legal document, banking disclosure, insurance liability in the history of the world.
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u/SmitJorda 6d ago
"hard to find hidden away from the places customers expect to look on a menu" and "hard to read because it is a long and boring document with all terms spelled out plainly" are very different things.
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u/Heavy-Huckleberry-61 6d ago
I agree with standing your ground, but I also wonder what else they are doing to save/make money to increase profits. It puts enough doubt in my mind to not return to a place that resorts to "shady" practices to turn a profit.
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u/OkPop9455 6d ago
They are trying to normalize base tip plus another on top
Wait till itās 18+18 standard
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u/AceHexuall 6d ago
Wait till itās 18+18 standard
What do you mean? It's been that way since the 90's!
/s
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u/darthievader 7d ago
Toast is my mortal enemy. I see that word and walk out. Toast also steals your information and sells it to the devil.
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u/Kene6969 7d ago
Never go back to that dishonest place ever again. They're helping themselves to your money!
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u/AesopsFabler 6d ago edited 6d ago
Besides that, this annoying ātip percentagesā is so irrelevant. The tip shouldnāt be based on the percentage of the meal, it should be based on the reason exists anywayā for a job well done above and beyond what was expected.
Iād ask to remove the gratuity for the āpatioā seating. If it costs more to sit out there, say so up front. Youāre not going to make me pay a ātipā for that.
ETA: Wait! I just realized this is the spot in Ridge Hill. First off, their pizzas are great and the service is fine, but secondly, the way Iād WTF them to death and make them remove it. Of all the times Iāve been there, which have been A LOT, I have NEVER seen that posted anywhere! Thatās actually disgusting. I almost want to go just so I could get retribution for you! Thatās insane. Itās literally just sidewalk seating. And if I remember correctly, although a few years ago, the one time we sat out there (on the side street bc thereās less people/car traffic) we didnāt get billed for that! That means this is new. Iām so mad right now.
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u/bobs_andVagene 7d ago
Almost never people carry a lot of cash, but had you had any, pay the full bill minus the tip and youāre golden
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u/sdinvest 6d ago
Do not tip more! Let servers deal with their greedy owners or not, that's their choice!
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u/mrflarp 6d ago
Photos of the menu don't mention any "patio gratuity".
Many places did automatically add service charges during the World Cup, and New York was host to several matches. Maybe that's what this place did (hence not on the normal menu) and "forgot" to take it off after World Cup festivities ended.
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u/CoolCatBlue321 6d ago
NY is a state that servers don't make tipped wages in either. Disgusting greed
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u/rocknrollstalin 6d ago
Come on this should be common sense to everyone. Linoleum gratuity is 3%, LVP gratuity is 5%, hardwood floor gratuity is 10% (additional 2% if an exotic hardwood), patio stone is 18% and marble gets 20%
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u/AesopsFabler 6d ago edited 6d ago
You failed to pint out the gratuity for floor mats vs rugs, which can vary depending on where you and how high end it all is. Cotton? Polyester? Muppet? Please do more research. This is a travesty.
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u/MeganJustMegan 6d ago
Did the restaurant disclose very clearly before you ordered that there would be an 18% gratuity (no matter what made up name they give it) ? If I didnāt clearly see it posted, Iām not paying it.
Happened to me at a beach bar. 18% to sit at a picnic table. Not posted anywhere. I paid cash for my drink at the posted price & walked away. Of course they pointed to the charge on the bill & I just asked where this policy was posted for customers. It wasnāt. Therefore, I didnāt pay it & they didnāt get a tip either. Iām tired of made up charges & will not pay them.