Should I contact restaurant (overtipping with automatic gratuity)?

[GoingSince1990]

Annoying, but I would feel too guilty about snatching a tip back from the workers, especially in these times. Probably most of us have made this mistake in the past; I certainly have, and ever since I keep a sharp eye out for automatic gratuities on checks. So think of it as a life lesson and a little extra bonus for some low-paid workers.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Annoying, but I would feel too guilty about snatching a tip back from the workers, especially in these times. Probably most of us have made this mistake in the past; I certainly have, and ever since I keep a sharp eye out for automatic gratuities on checks. So think of it as a life lesson and a little extra bonus for some low-paid workers.

Agreed. A somewhat inexpensive lesson learned. It probably won't happen to you again!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I echo others to contact the restaurant just to understand why. If you want to go back you want to at least be informed and while you can ask the next time you're there if the reason for the 20% service charge isn't one you agree with charging you would want to know prior to going back.

It's a restaurant's job to explain fees that they charge, whatever the fees are for. It's possible that it's higher than what other restaurants would charge if it's more covid related or health insurance for employees related because it's a small restaurant and their profit margin much smaller than others but they still owe it to customers to be up front about it. And if for whatever reason it's affecting their business (as in people are noticing and just not coming back due to the charge) it could be beneficial for it to be clearly displayed and stated so people don't go away upset because they didn't know the reason.

If you happen to find out what the charge is for update this thread if you can

 

[dez1978]

You had a large bill and failed to pay attention before signing the check. That's on you, not the restaurant or the server. Also if service was excellent and you spent that much pre tip you should tip more than 20% anyway.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Also if service was excellent and you spent that much pre tip you should tip more than 20% anyway.

In this case they tipped 40% I don't think the OP's situation needs to be used as a "tip better if you liked the service" situation

 

[ronandannette]

You had a large bill and failed to pay attention before signing the check. That's on you, not the restaurant or the server. Also if service was excellent and you spent that much pre tip you should tip more than 20% anyway.

Ummm, why? How much is enough? 50%? 75%, 100%? More than the entire total of the bill? An extremely expensive dish takes no more work to serve than a modestly priced one. This goes from the ridiculous to the sublime.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'd find out what the service charge is for and if it's a tip, I'd then say I made a mistake and double tipped and I'm coming back to work it out. Most people would understand that a full 40% total tip amount on as big a bill as you (the op) had is a mistake. Now if this is a full week later, that's too late. But that evening or the next morning certainly. If they won't work it out, I wouldn't argue or make a scene. I'd simply not do business with them again. Then again I'm also someone that if a mistake is made in my favor, I also go back and work it out.

In this case they tipped 40% I don't think the OP's situation needs to be used as a "tip better if you liked the service" situation

Exactly. Nowhere have I ever seen the following.
Suggested Tip
Average service 20%.
Excellent service 40%.

Ummm, why? How much is enough? 50%? 75%, 100%? More than the entire total of the bill? An extremely expensive dish takes no more work to serve than a modestly priced one. This goes from the ridiculous to the sublime.

This is true too. How much extra actual work did the guy that served me a hundred dollar check at the fancier place do than the girl that served me a $10 check at the coffee shop? Oh for most people maybe some bar drinks or wine at the $100 place, But did they do 10 times the work? Absolutely not. So I probably end up paying a bigger percentage on the smaller amounts though still a lot less in absolute amount. I'll much more readily go beyond 20% at the coffee shop because well it's still not all that much.

 

[Skippy918]

I would call to inquire about the service charge but I would not ask for my money back. Who knows, if they are hoping for you to come back, maybe they’ll give you a coupon or something.

 

[Boopuff]

We ate a place not too long ago that gave us a bill with the phrase "additional tip" Lucky my DH caught that, because what the clever devils did was added the 20% to the bill already! We were shocked. DH put a big X by additional tip and signed the bill. We thought is was a very slimy move by this joint. Probably won't go back (it was just 2 of us at dinner so not a "party of 6" add on charge.)

 

[dez1978]

In this case they tipped 40% I don't think the OP's situation needs to be used as a "tip better if you liked the service" situation

I'd find out what the service charge is for and if it's a tip, I'd then say I made a mistake and double tipped and I'm coming back to work it out. Most people would understand that a full 40% total tip amount on as big a bill as you (the op) had is a mistake. Now if this is a full week later, that's too late. But that evening or the next morning certainly. If they won't work it out, I wouldn't argue or make a scene. I'd simply not do business with them again. Then again I'm also someone that if a mistake is made in my favor, I also go back and work it out.


Exactly. Nowhere have I ever seen the following.
Suggested Tip
Average service 20%.
Excellent service 40%.


This is true too. How much extra actual work did the guy that served me a hundred dollar check at the fancier place do than the girl that served me a $10 check at the coffee shop? Oh for most people maybe some bar drinks or wine at the $100 place, But did they do 10 times the work? Absolutely not. So I probably end up paying a bigger percentage on the smaller amounts though still a lot less in absolute amount. I'll much more readily go beyond 20% at the coffee shop because well it's still not all that much.

Tipping more when service has been excellent has always been a thing. I've always thought of 20% as the standard for normal service. But if your server was on point and did all the things and was excellent, you should tip more. 40% is prob a bit much. But I stand by my statement that it is the customers responsibility to look at their bill prior to paying it and know what they are paying for. If you don't and you add an additional tip on top thats on you.

As far as tipping more when you spend more. It is absolutely harder to provide fine dining service than it is coffee shop service. I've worked at both levels and it is a lot more work. Also your barista doesn't in turn have to tip out 5 other employees. Lots of places your server does not keep all of their tips. They often tip out the bus person, the hostess, the food runners (if they have them) etc based on a percentage of their sales. so when you tip 20% they likely keep 12-15% of that.

 

[DLgal]

I'd find out what the service charge is for and if it's a tip, I'd then say I made a mistake and double tipped and I'm coming back to work it out. Most people would understand that a full 40% total tip amount on as big a bill as you (the op) had is a mistake. Now if this is a full week later, that's too late. But that evening or the next morning certainly. If they won't work it out, I wouldn't argue or make a scene. I'd simply not do business with them again. Then again I'm also someone that if a mistake is made in my favor, I also go back and work it out.


Exactly. Nowhere have I ever seen the following.
Suggested Tip
Average service 20%.
Excellent service 40%.


This is true too. How much extra actual work did the guy that served me a hundred dollar check at the fancier place do than the girl that served me a $10 check at the coffee shop? Oh for most people maybe some bar drinks or wine at the $100 place, But did they do 10 times the work? Absolutely not. So I probably end up paying a bigger percentage on the smaller amounts though still a lot less in absolute amount. I'll much more readily go beyond 20% at the coffee shop because well it's still not all that much.

Just to point out that tips in restaurants are usually pooled and shared with the busboy, the bartender, the sommelier (if there were wine pairings, there was probably one of these) and the rest of the kitchen staff. The server doesn't pocket the full tip amount.

 

[Keli]

I would probably call them and ask what the service charge was for just so you'll know. If it was for the serving staff's tip then you'll know that for next time but if it was some sort of fee the restaurant charges that doesn't go to the serving staff then you'll want to know that for next time as well.

My husband and I are both pretty good tippers, my husband is just a generous man and he's rubbed off on me over the years. So we'd really want to know where that service fee was going because if it's to the servers then we'll add on whatever over 20% we want to give but if it's going into the restaurant's pocket then we need to add a full tip on to the bill, not just some additional total for great service.

 

[FigmentSpark]

To be fair though, running credit cards and paying the fees is just the cost of doing business. Usually the merchant agreement prevents sellers from charging extra to cover that - I know it's a sticky issue for many though.

There's also a cost to handling cash, so while it may not wash out as equal, it's not as high a difference as merchants would have you believe.

 

[VandVsmama]

Good Morning all, I have a question on the proper etiquette to handle this, or if I should just let it go. Tuesday was my birthday, and myself, DH and friends had a fabulous meal at a very trendy restaurant in our area. We all had the chef's tasting menu, which the reaturant is known for, with beverage pairings and pre-dinner drinks. As we were finishing dinner, the restaurant got much busier, and our server was handling admirably, and quickly dropped off our tab. Since we were ready to go and she was very busy, we just gave her our cards to pay and split the bill, as we approximately knew how much it would be. Needless to say, it was rather large. I am signed and looked at the charge receipt, and added the tip under add'l gratuity, which I thought was strange, but did not think much of it. Looking closer the next morning, a 20% service charge had been automatically added, and we ended up tipping another 20%, making a total of 40% on a not insubstantial bill . I know, our fault for not looking closely at the bill, but I feel our server should have said something when she brought us the tab, stating gratuity was already included. Should I send an email to the restaurant requesting they notify diners in advance, or state something on the menu? There was nothing indicating automnatic service charge, except on the itemized bill. I know many places automatically add for six people or more, but this was four, and we are not in a touristy area. I am not looking for reimbursement, as we should have looked closer and made the mistake, but I think they should let others know, so they do not make the same mistake we did. Thoughts?

Let it go. You should have paid better attention to what was on the bill and asked the server for clarification of anything that was confusing.

 

[ronandannette]

Tipping more when service has been excellent has always been a thing. I've always thought of 20% as the standard for normal service. But if your server was on point and did all the things and was excellent, you should tip more. 40% is prob a bit much. But I stand by my statement that it is the customers responsibility to look at their bill prior to paying it and know what they are paying for. If you don't and you add an additional tip on top thats on you.

As far as tipping more when you spend more. It is absolutely harder to provide fine dining service than it is coffee shop service. I've worked at both levels and it is a lot more work. Also your barista doesn't in turn have to tip out 5 other employees. Lots of places your server does not keep all of their tips. They often tip out the bus person, the hostess, the food runners (if they have them) etc based on a percentage of their sales. so when you tip 20% they likely keep 12-15% of that.

I wasn't talking about that, although admittedly I didn't clarify. I'm referring specifically to the OP's situation. They had a special "Chef's Table" meal which was more expensive than they likely would have paid just ordering off the restaurant's regular menu and being served by the exact same person. Of course a tip based on percentage of the bill will increase as the price increases but to then be expected to add to it because the bill was extraordinarily large, to me seems ridiculous.

 

[soccerdad72]

I wasn't talking about that, although admittedly I didn't clarify. I'm referring specifically to the OP's situation. They had a special "Chef's Table" meal which was more expensive than they likely would have paid just ordering off the restaurant's regular menu and being served by the exact same person. Of course a tip based on percentage of the bill will increase as the price increases but to then be expected to add to it because the bill was extraordinarily large, to me seems ridiculous.

A Chef's Table tasting meal would likely involve a lot more work by the servers than a standard sit down meal. Assuming it's a number of courses (possibly with wine pairings as well), that's a lot of attention needed by the servers to continually clear the table and bring each course.

 

[dez1978]

A Chef's Table tasting meal would likely involve a lot more work by the servers than a standard sit down meal. Assuming it's a number of courses (possibly with wine pairings as well), that's a lot of attention needed by the servers to continually clear the table and bring each course.

Excellent point. And that extra time and attention takes away from the serves ability to serve as many other tables as they would be able to otherwise

Just to point out that tips in restaurants are usually pooled and shared with the busboy, the bartender, the sommelier (if there were wine pairings, there was probably one of these) and the rest of the kitchen staff. The server doesn't pocket the full tip amount.

I think that is something a lot of people don't realize. I've work places where I tipped out 8% of my sales. So if everyone only tipped me 20% of their ticket, I only got 12% of that. I'm not complaining about that at all, just pointing out that servers don't keep 100% of their tips.

 

[ShayBells]

It’s possible you made that server’s day with such a great tip. Look at that as a positive. But I agree with others. As long as you are not rude about it I think most places would welcome constructive feedback. It doesn’t hurt anyone to make a call, and give your opinion.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Tipping more when service has been excellent has always been a thing. I've always thought of 20% as the standard for normal service. But if your server was on point and did all the things and was excellent, you should tip more. 40% is prob a bit much. But I stand by my statement that it is the customers responsibility to look at their bill prior to paying it and know what they are paying for. If you don't and you add an additional tip on top thats on you.

As far as tipping more when you spend more. It is absolutely harder to provide fine dining service than it is coffee shop service. I've worked at both levels and it is a lot more work. Also your barista doesn't in turn have to tip out 5 other employees. Lots of places your server does not keep all of their tips. They often tip out the bus person, the hostess, the food runners (if they have them) etc based on a percentage of their sales. so when you tip 20% they likely keep 12-15% of that.

By coffee shop, I'm referring to what other areas of the country might call a diner or a greasy spoon, not a Starbucks. Nor do I tip over the counter workers regardless of how Starbucks chooses to describe them to try and convince me they're something they are not. But I also don't order drinks with 20 hidden menu items and make their lives miserable on the very few times I go into a Starbucks either. If I did, yeah, I'd give em a tip.
Yes, the expensive restaurant has bus boys, food runners, and the like. So in fact the waiter himself is actually doing less work than the girl at the coffee shop who in many cases is doing all of those things herself. But the work done for me, is about the same whether it is done by one person or by three in total. There may be drinks or an extra course at the expensive place. But again it isn't 10 times the work. And regardless of how it is split, the waiter himself is going to end up with more total out of that than the waitress at the greasy spoon. And a little extra goes a longer way with her. So yeah. I'll go to much higher percentages above 20 much more readily at the cheap end.

 

[Magical2017]

I am not sure how many were in the party, but it standard for parties of 5 to 6 people or more that a tip is added, and then you can add on more if you like. If it was 4 or less, that is not necessarily standard but I would not call after the fact.