DDE Automatic 18% tip!

[fla4fun]

We're way off the beaten path here folks. The Topic is how this change to the DDE program .. affects customers.

Knox

I don't really see how it affects customers all that much, other than taking away their ability to be really cheap tippers.

It shouldn't affect service, because you don't have to even let them know you have DDE until the meal is over (at least, I never have). It's not like DDP, where the server needs to know up front so they know what you're entitled to. It's a discount card, period.

It's not reducing the discount. You are still getting 20% off of your meal.

The only thing it is doing is taking away the choice of giving a bad server a lower tip. I'm sure, if there are any real service issues, most people will be addressing them during the meal. I know I do. If it takes me 30-45 minutes before someone takes my drink order or brings back my check, someone is going to hear about it. That's the way it should be - if you aren't happy then management needs to know so they can fix it while you are still there. Sometimes things can really be turned from negative to positive if you bring up the issue when it happens.

I'm amazed at the number of people who are saying that they used to tip 20-25%, but now that there's a mandatory 18%, they aren't going to give more than that. I'll probably still continue paying the original amount, before the discount and new grat are added, which means the CM will still get their 20%. And I'll still continue to address bad service as it happens with the appropriate people. I don't see any big changes for me with this issue.

 

[jberry5]

When the employee's pay increases, the payroll taxes that are solely the responsibility of the employer also increase. So if you increase the price of the steak 18% and pass that on to the server, the employer pays its share of social security, and FUTA, and likely other taxes, on the increased earnings. So now the 18% increase may actually be 25%.

But those employees are no longer going to receive wages in the form of tips. Wages whether paid by the employer or received through tips are subject to the same payroll taxes: FICA-SS, FICA-Medicare, FUTA, and SUTA. If the 18% increase in food costs is being passed on to the servers, as a replacement for the tips they no longer will receive, payroll taxes will not be affected. If we're saying that 18% increase instead of tips will increase the servers' wages, then yes, the increase would need to more likely be in the 23-26% range to offset additional costs.

 

[jberry5]

Back to the original topic. My issue with a mandatory tip is that it doesn't allow me to decide how much my service was worth and brings about an atmosphere of entitlement, IMO. As I said earlier, I would consider myself a decent tipper on average, although that has gone down somewhat at times, now that we have 2 children. I haven't had a lowering of service at WDW since my two sons have come along, but I definitely have at other restaurants.

Perhaps I'll be blasted for this, but reading through this thread, I am having difficulty understanding one issue in particular. People are mentioning the busy server, one with numerous tables. If such a server is taking care of so many tables, one of which is mine vs. a server who only has my table and another. I would think I'm likely to tip less to the busy server if my service is not excellent, even though I see they are busy. I'm not sure how it is the costumer's issue that a server is perhaps overwhelmed? Does the busy server with say 8 tables deserve just as much of a tip as the 2-table server, even if 8-table server provides lesser service? Now, if it is due to my or my party's orders/requests that cause the server to be busier than they need be, than, no that will no affect a tip in a negative way.

 

[Bill From PA]

I'm amazed at the number of people who are saying that they used to tip 20-25%, but now that there's a mandatory 18%, they aren't going to give more than that. I'll probably still continue paying the original amount, before the discount and new grat are added, which means the CM will still get their 20%.

As I mentioned in a prior post, I tip the usual 20% and more for all TS meals and the server would probably have to spit in my plate in my presence for me to leave less. When I'm buying a beer for my wife and I, I'll leave a buck plus the loose change as a tip for every round, there is a difference between hustling my grub and drinks to my table while we sit there and enjoy, and someone pulling a tap an handing me two full glasses which I take to our table.

That said, a theme running through this thread is the annoyance that what was once a choice regarding a tip is now dictated to the public. If they dictate an amount, that's what they're getting from me, period. Our DDE card is good through our March 2008 trip so we'll use it at TS meals and let them be satisfied with the figure they've decided to take, 'Them' being the collective Disney community, not just the servers. At the Rose & Crown and other such places, we'll skip the card and its automatic 18%, pay the full amount, and leave the same tip amount we always have. When our DDE card dies, it will not be revived.

Bill From PA

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....I am having difficulty understanding one issue....

Me too. Why is this thread on this board and not the restaurant board, LOL?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Bill -- I think you'll find that for service at bars (when you're not eating) the auto-grat does not apply. I know there is still confusion on this and I'm frustrated as all heck that a clear policy hasn't been delineated.

Calling the DDE line .. or WDW DINE isn't going to get the right answer. Those people are as badly informed (if not worse) than the rest of us right now.

I've read in multiple places that this is for 'table service only'. If you're at a bar, you're not getting table service. That's my take on it. Be very interesting to see Disney say otherwise.

Me too. Why is this thread on this board and not the restaurant board, LOL?

And that's the best question of all, here's the correct thread for all further discussion. This really isn't a Theme Parks topic...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1633420

Thanks!

Knox