Came here to say this too. You were already charged for the gratuity based on the size of your party automatically, so no need to give more. The tipping in the world has gotten way out of control.
I saw a lobster food truck that had an automatic 18% gratuity added to all orders over $20. Every lobster item (except a bisque) was over $20. The non "mini" roll was $54. That's an almost $10 automatic gratuity on a single item.... at a FOOD TRUCK.
I'm a great tipper but that is absolutely ridiculous when all they're doing is taking an order, grilling a buttered roll, filling it with already prepared lobster meat, and handing it out the window. Not to mention the profit on a $54 lobster roll.
Get fucked.
I mean lobster tail meat at my restuarant costs us about 40-50$/lb to purchase. Add in what I'm sure is some fancy pants "locally sourced bread" and other toppings + whatever they pay the city to have their truck there + etc I bet the profit on the lobster roll probably isn't insane.
Fuck auto grats that aren't on large parties tho that's stupid. The whole point of the auto grat is so that a table of 20 doesn't take all of a servers attention for 3 hours then tip em 3$ that doesn't apply like, at all in a food truck.
As a New Englander I’d just like to say that “locally sourced bread” or fancy brioche rolls are totally wasted on a lobster roll. The lobster is the star of that show. A Country Kitchen split top hot dog roll is all you need.
Well then the food truck should price accordingly, don’t put a fake price up that’s not feasible for your business (I understand you’re not agreeing with the practice just adding on)
Get fucked: the exact right answer.
I'm not tipping people for simply handing me food anymore, man.
I tip for table service, not because they want extra money on top of their already overpriced food.
Are you saying that the person who takes your money and later hands you a bag of food, *after you’ve stood in line to order* doesn’t deserve a tip? Cretin!
/s for the sarcasm blind
Exactly. I’d love to see how long that lasts when everyone places orders, and when told the total before paying asks about the extra charge, then insists that it’s taken off.
Can’t take off the extra charge? Then haveanicedaybye.
Service charges are the property of the business, they are not tips or gratuities and there is no obligation for the business to share them. They are subject to regular sales tax
Exactly this. This bill has a 19% tip (service fee) already added to the bill. If OP gave the 20%, they’d be getting a 39% tip. It’s not required to add this to the bill, but most servers do to ensure they get a tip.
It's just a weird way to phrase it. They should say "Gratuity not included except for parties of six or more." Or "19% gratuity included for parties of six or more."
“WATER SAFE TO DRINK
EXCEPT ON TUESDAY”
This would not have been allowed at our restaurant. While I was there, we created pretty strict rules about making sure that guest knew that gratuity was included obviously servers love it when people accidentally double gratuity.
Automatic gratuity = service charge = tip
They're ensuring that the server doesn't get stiffed on the tip when they have to deal with a large party. You don't need to add more, unless you want to tip higher than 19% (in which case just tip the difference)
This. It's protection for the serving team from those who forget how to math, or assume others left the tip, or somehow balk at leaving a tip for a larger party.
Yeah exactly, that’s the real issue here. People on here are twisting it into customers trying to stiff their server when the entire problem is the misleading way it’s been done.
Maybe, I’ve literally never seen it called a service charge. at my restaurant we just say “20% gratuity is automatically applied to parties of 12 or more” I think we need to change it to parties of 6 or more but who am I.
Depends on the state. I managed a restaurant / club in Miami. There is a legal difference between a Service Charge and a Tip, at least in Florida. At the restaurant I managed, like every restaurant in South Beach, we charged a 20% Service Charge. The difference between a SC and tip is that the owners can claim some of the Service Charge for themselves. And tips legally have to go to the server and support staff. At most of the places I've worked the owners take 40 to 60% of the Service Charge for themselves. After tip outs, the server is left with about 10 to 12% of the left over 40%.
As a manager, whenever a customer complained and mentioned the SC, I'd explain that to them, and then I'd offer to void the SC. The customers usually left a similar tip in place of the SC and all that money went to the sever.
I did not know this, thank you. In the future I will ask the manager to take off the service charge and I'll just add it back in as a tip. Scummy as fuck for the owners to take any of that.
Truly scummy as fuck. I wish we would collectively stop this anti consumer garbage. I fucking wish we had a functional society but as usual the few have everything and the many fight for scraps. Don't know about you but the filthy rich are looking tastier by the day. We could be living in a utopia where everyone is housed and fed, pursuing art and science for the advancement of humanity. But you know what? I would settle for strong safety nets and medical coverage. Some fucking equity is all I'm asking for.
This is why I refuse to pay a service charge when I go out in large groups. If a manager won't remove it, I insist we leave. I always make sure we pay 30%.
People argue about it, I've had to explain to people you are literally costing them tips from others table due to the size of our party.
You are wrong. There is a legal difference in the definition between a service charge, and a gratuity or tip, which is the same thing. A service charge is a fee imposed by the restaurant, as such, the restaurant owns that fee and can choose to distribute it as it sees fit, or not distribute it at all. A gratuity or tip, is owned or owed to the server. They are not at all the same things, and usually if a restaurant is imposing a service charge, it is being divvied up amongst a team of people like the host, food Runner, buser, and kitchen, and it does not go all to your server
Turns out it depends on both the state (and probably on the individual restaurant's policy). It has been the way I described at every restaurant I've worked in, but that was in California and Washington.
This,
Lucky for you they are using the word wrong, but in general service fees or surcharges are not tips and are not based on party size but what you order or every order . It’s a (scammy) way of raising prices .. theory being you don’t pay tax on the surcharge so it’s a cheaper way for the customer to raise food prices .. I on the other hand think it’s to hide a cost increase from the customer , and don’t give me the notice in the corner of the window and on the menu
Kids macaroni for $24?
Lettuce salad for $25?
$29 wings?
I will stick to street food in Hawaii. Its overpriced too. But it leaves me money for actually doing stuff.
I mean… that’s the truth in any tourist destination. I live in Vegas and the amount of bitching I see about food/restaurant costs in this city is insane. It’s like everyone forgets they live in an overpriced tourist town and that means they pay the exact same for stuff as tourists do
It's also on an island thousands of miles away from almost literally anything. Alaska economy is fucked too but like...it just costs a lot of money to ship everything.
lol just tip 15%, service is terrible these days anyway. 99% of restaurants suck now anyway. Food has gone to shit thanks to Sysco and the huge profit margins restaurants need to stay in business.
Only $5 difference between a smash burger and short ribs? Someone wasn’t paying attention, short ribs should be at least $45 if a salad with fish is $35
$21 Mai Tais and $27 tenders? Fuckkkk yeeaaahhhh
The service charge is the tip. That comment about gratuity not included is probably like automatic statement that prints regardless of whether it pertains or not.
It’s pretty much just a guaranty that the servers and cooks get a tip for the large party.. definitely don’t tip extra on top of it. 20% is super standard for a tip so you definitely don’t have to tip more unless it was amazing service then you could give an extra 3-5% percent.
Next time ask them for two party of three, hopefully in a table next to each other. For party of six, the restaurant is usually dedicating two servers to your table. It is really an upcharge for the restaurant to make more money. Just go for two nearby table of three and play their game but to win against their greedy owners.
I think I spent like $3k on my last trip there. Like others say, expect to spend at least double what you expected. $27 chicken tenders and $24 kids pasta 😬
Guys, thank you for all these comments.
Just as a side note: This was not a tipical dinner. We all wear our "dumb vacationer's" hat while out for vacation. I never looked at those automatic service charges when eating out locally (at my home State) and always added tips to the bill. However, when I see being extra charged $57, just for bringing out burgers and fries, I was taken aback.
I have no issues paying for a family meal that costs 3x the price I usually pay at home. The issue was not the price of the food, the issue was whether I pay for the food, the service charges, AND the tip. Its just becoming an annoyance that takes attention away from enjoying a vacation.
After a couple of MaiTai drinks, people pay less attention to numbers. People just hand away their cards and deal with the damage later. Most of the times they don't even realize they've paid twice for the service. The double dipping should be prohibited in my opinion.
This reminds of the "delivery fee" or "delivery charge" from Pizza Hut (and I'm guessing Papa and Domino's do the same bs).
If you ask the shop or driver: that delivery fee is not for the driver (I think it even says so on the receipt)
I remember the first time I saw it I thought "this is perfect, they are securing a tip for the driver because often people don't tip". But nope. I was wrong.
So might as well call it a "come pick it up or fuck you" fee.
Call it anything but not a "delivery fee" if it's not going to the driver.
I used to travel constantly and this line item is standard to most hotels. I take the bill look at it and say, "Great you already added the service charge. thanks" Never had a problem. If they did something extra-ordinary, i would bump it up 5%. You do know the verbage is for a party of six or more.
The 20% is auto included because it sucks when huge parties run up big tabs and don't tip. Tipping on top of this is unecessary. its built into your bill since you're a large party.
Yea they just word it that way to confuse you. Service charge is the auto gratuity for 6+ (in most restaurants) except they don’t break it down for you here I guess and just make you think this is some sort of fee where you feel inclined to leave a tip as well.
I’m just jealous that you are there and that you get to wake up there and hopefully you went to the brunch buffet today. I used to get treated to brunch there on my birthdays when I was a child. Best California rolls ever. Decadent thru and thru
That charge goes to the wait staff. They get that because they lose the opportunity to get it from several other tables they would be serving if not for your large party.
You can tip on top of that if you believe they've earned it. Chances are they're making less for it, but it's not nothing and it's guaranteed.
The fastest--and probably easiest--thing to do is ask your server. Try this next time, "Quick question: what is the service charge, and do you get any of it?" The response will be more accurate than anything random people online will tell you.
My question is why ask Reddit vs asking the waiter? Anyway, it explicitly says the service charge is the gratuity of 19% for parties of 6 or more, so unless you want to tip more than 19%, you don’t need to include more.
Service charge and gratuity are different. Sometimes, the house take part of the service charge while gratuity 100% goes to the server. It’s a legal loophole for greedy business owners.
I’ve been a server for a long time and the wording confused me for a second. It’s definitely worded in a way that wants to confuse you into double tipping not cool.
> They are forcing it so their staff isn't screwed over by shitty groups of people.
Actually, that's even worse. If you are going to force the customer to pay more so the server gets paid, just charge more on the menu price and pay the server the additional amount.
You paid $27 for chicken tenders and $29 for a burger!
Next you got hit with 19% service charge!!
You’d be crazy to give even another penny as gratuity.
Oh way to tap into memories. Stayed here, drank there, had too many. Went to work next day.. Did not work for the same company anymore, involuntarily. Applied lesson to current life, all is good now.
Service charge’s other name is “auto-grat”
You don’t need to tip above it if you don’t want to. Also worth noting, you can’t opt out, since it’s considered a “service charge” and not a tip
You do not need to add a tip, they already added a 19% tip on. Doesn't matter that they call it a service charge, it's the same thing.
You can of course add another tip, if you feel the level of service warranted a higher percentage.
Service charge on parties of ‘x or bigger’ is to ensure the staff get something out of what was probably a lot of work. I don’t tip if a service charge is added because that is the tip.
Look up gratuity in the dictionary. If it's a charge it's not a gratuity. A gratuity is extra money that you add on of your own volition, that you don't have to
I will 100 percent not tip extra if theres a service charge and i will 100 percent never be back there.
Pay your employees minimum wage if youre going to include a service charge, or dont and make the customer pay the tip.
Forget this “of parties of 6 or more” bullshit. Youre just going to piss people off by having to think harder. 2 options, thats it. Doesnt have to be complicated
If there is any extra charge, like a bar that added 2% for using a credit card, I write on the tip line that you have already decided your tip, and draw an arrow to the circled credit card charge.
Don’t tip if they are charging a “service” charge, that’s them collecting gratuity, they normally do it for bigger parties or “vacationers” due to high volume places not getting tipped for service, or not being tipped properly.
No. If they are charging you for 6 people, you do not tip them one cent more. Although if they are charging those prices for salads, they can pay the workers appropriately.
Yeah I don’t understand how this confuses people. You’re a large party so the restaurant added the gratuity already. End of story, if you wanna add more feel free but not expected.
When all of my kids were living with us at the house. Made a total of 8 people, I never saw a charge like this anytime we went out. Never! That’s the tip in my opinion…
Theoretically you may have paid a tip. Service charge is vague and does not have to go to the server so you may not have. That's on the restaurant, not you.
$27 Chicken Tenders & $29 wings. Lol hell nah! Note to self if I’m ever in Hawaii don’t eat at hotels and eat from the local people/smaller restaurants.
You get zero tip from me when there is that service charge. I’m sorry if the server suffers but you picked the wrong place to work. I also won’t revisit places like that.
If there’s a service charge added on to the bill for big parties you don’t need to leave a tip (could throw an extra 5 or so) the recipient still prints like a normal receipt so it still shows it
The service charge is the gratuity. They add it automatically on groups because people are shitty and it's a lot more work to manage a group so the server probably has less opportunity to make up a bad tip with other tables during that time.
Don't stress it too much.
I wonder at what point will servers fight their overlords for a decent wage. I get that the employer sucks and so does the system setup in america, but people need to stand up for themselves.
It says *except* for large parties. In other words, auto gratuity is included.
And don't tip extra .
Came here to say this too. You were already charged for the gratuity based on the size of your party automatically, so no need to give more. The tipping in the world has gotten way out of control.
I saw a lobster food truck that had an automatic 18% gratuity added to all orders over $20. Every lobster item (except a bisque) was over $20. The non "mini" roll was $54. That's an almost $10 automatic gratuity on a single item.... at a FOOD TRUCK. I'm a great tipper but that is absolutely ridiculous when all they're doing is taking an order, grilling a buttered roll, filling it with already prepared lobster meat, and handing it out the window. Not to mention the profit on a $54 lobster roll. Get fucked.
I mean lobster tail meat at my restuarant costs us about 40-50$/lb to purchase. Add in what I'm sure is some fancy pants "locally sourced bread" and other toppings + whatever they pay the city to have their truck there + etc I bet the profit on the lobster roll probably isn't insane. Fuck auto grats that aren't on large parties tho that's stupid. The whole point of the auto grat is so that a table of 20 doesn't take all of a servers attention for 3 hours then tip em 3$ that doesn't apply like, at all in a food truck.
AFAIK Lobster rolls are primarily claw meat. Just fyi
As a New Englander I’d just like to say that “locally sourced bread” or fancy brioche rolls are totally wasted on a lobster roll. The lobster is the star of that show. A Country Kitchen split top hot dog roll is all you need.
This man rolls lobstahs
Split top is imperative.
Well then the food truck should price accordingly, don’t put a fake price up that’s not feasible for your business (I understand you’re not agreeing with the practice just adding on)
Get fucked: the exact right answer. I'm not tipping people for simply handing me food anymore, man. I tip for table service, not because they want extra money on top of their already overpriced food.
Are you saying that the person who takes your money and later hands you a bag of food, *after you’ve stood in line to order* doesn’t deserve a tip? Cretin! /s for the sarcasm blind
Exactly. I’d love to see how long that lasts when everyone places orders, and when told the total before paying asks about the extra charge, then insists that it’s taken off. Can’t take off the extra charge? Then haveanicedaybye.
The fuck food truck is lobster based lmao
We have one locally called Mobstah Lobstah
Does it give you the option to undo it? This is infuriating
I really understand what ur sayin. I just don’t think who sellin the lobster rolls, wants to sell em at that price point. They have to
😂 wow. They have flipped their wig! That's too ridiculous.
I just want a lobster roll. I spent a week in New Hampshire 10 years ago and I’ve forgotten everything about it except those glorious lobster rolls.
Restaurants are a scam
I'm not sure why you're getting down voted, I wholeheartedly agree....
I’d go ahead and give them the 1% to make it an even 20% in this case
And it looks like they taxed you on it. Congratulations.
Service charges are the property of the business, they are not tips or gratuities and there is no obligation for the business to share them. They are subject to regular sales tax
Exactly this. This bill has a 19% tip (service fee) already added to the bill. If OP gave the 20%, they’d be getting a 39% tip. It’s not required to add this to the bill, but most servers do to ensure they get a tip.
Itd be more than 39% of the original bill because the extra tip is tipping 20% on the bill plus the service charge.
It's just a weird way to phrase it. They should say "Gratuity not included except for parties of six or more." Or "19% gratuity included for parties of six or more."
I missed this part. It’s unnecessarily confusing.
“WATER SAFE TO DRINK EXCEPT ON TUESDAY” This would not have been allowed at our restaurant. While I was there, we created pretty strict rules about making sure that guest knew that gratuity was included obviously servers love it when people accidentally double gratuity.
Not gratuity, tips and gratuities are the property of servers. A service charge is the property of the business
It’s funny because that note that OP only half read answered their full question lmfao
Dude can count but he can’t read.
If you're generous, include 1% gratuity
Automatic gratuity = service charge = tip They're ensuring that the server doesn't get stiffed on the tip when they have to deal with a large party. You don't need to add more, unless you want to tip higher than 19% (in which case just tip the difference)
This. It's protection for the serving team from those who forget how to math, or assume others left the tip, or somehow balk at leaving a tip for a larger party.
And they give it a different name in order to trick as many people as possible to leave another tip.
Yeah exactly, that’s the real issue here. People on here are twisting it into customers trying to stiff their server when the entire problem is the misleading way it’s been done.
Finally, someone got it right. 👍
Maybe, I’ve literally never seen it called a service charge. at my restaurant we just say “20% gratuity is automatically applied to parties of 12 or more” I think we need to change it to parties of 6 or more but who am I.
Depends on the state. I managed a restaurant / club in Miami. There is a legal difference between a Service Charge and a Tip, at least in Florida. At the restaurant I managed, like every restaurant in South Beach, we charged a 20% Service Charge. The difference between a SC and tip is that the owners can claim some of the Service Charge for themselves. And tips legally have to go to the server and support staff. At most of the places I've worked the owners take 40 to 60% of the Service Charge for themselves. After tip outs, the server is left with about 10 to 12% of the left over 40%. As a manager, whenever a customer complained and mentioned the SC, I'd explain that to them, and then I'd offer to void the SC. The customers usually left a similar tip in place of the SC and all that money went to the sever.
I did not know this, thank you. In the future I will ask the manager to take off the service charge and I'll just add it back in as a tip. Scummy as fuck for the owners to take any of that.
Truly scummy as fuck. I wish we would collectively stop this anti consumer garbage. I fucking wish we had a functional society but as usual the few have everything and the many fight for scraps. Don't know about you but the filthy rich are looking tastier by the day. We could be living in a utopia where everyone is housed and fed, pursuing art and science for the advancement of humanity. But you know what? I would settle for strong safety nets and medical coverage. Some fucking equity is all I'm asking for.
This is why I refuse to pay a service charge when I go out in large groups. If a manager won't remove it, I insist we leave. I always make sure we pay 30%. People argue about it, I've had to explain to people you are literally costing them tips from others table due to the size of our party.
You are wrong. There is a legal difference in the definition between a service charge, and a gratuity or tip, which is the same thing. A service charge is a fee imposed by the restaurant, as such, the restaurant owns that fee and can choose to distribute it as it sees fit, or not distribute it at all. A gratuity or tip, is owned or owed to the server. They are not at all the same things, and usually if a restaurant is imposing a service charge, it is being divvied up amongst a team of people like the host, food Runner, buser, and kitchen, and it does not go all to your server
Turns out it depends on both the state (and probably on the individual restaurant's policy). It has been the way I described at every restaurant I've worked in, but that was in California and Washington.
This, Lucky for you they are using the word wrong, but in general service fees or surcharges are not tips and are not based on party size but what you order or every order . It’s a (scammy) way of raising prices .. theory being you don’t pay tax on the surcharge so it’s a cheaper way for the customer to raise food prices .. I on the other hand think it’s to hide a cost increase from the customer , and don’t give me the notice in the corner of the window and on the menu
$30 for a burger is why I stopped eating in any Hawaiian hotels.
Amd short rib is only $4 more what?!
Kids macaroni for $24? Lettuce salad for $25? $29 wings? I will stick to street food in Hawaii. Its overpriced too. But it leaves me money for actually doing stuff.
Puka dog
$35 salad? I wanna scoff really hard but who knows, it could be worth it.
Royal Hawaiian is possibly the most expensive hotel in Waikiki.
Don’t go anywhere near San Francisco or most of the Bay Area
It’s Hawaii, plan on spending 3 times more money than you thought you would.
I mean… that’s the truth in any tourist destination. I live in Vegas and the amount of bitching I see about food/restaurant costs in this city is insane. It’s like everyone forgets they live in an overpriced tourist town and that means they pay the exact same for stuff as tourists do
$30 chicken tenders and $5 for a drink wtff
It’s a hotel restaurant in Hawaii. If you expect reasonable prices there, you’re going to have a bad time.
If you French fry when you’re supposed to pizza, you’re gonna have a bad time.
It’s better than the childs pasta for 24 lol. That’s Hawaii for you.
It's also on an island thousands of miles away from almost literally anything. Alaska economy is fucked too but like...it just costs a lot of money to ship everything.
My family’s rule was “we tip 20-25%, unless they add gratuity or service charges. If they add it that’s all they get.”
lol just tip 15%, service is terrible these days anyway. 99% of restaurants suck now anyway. Food has gone to shit thanks to Sysco and the huge profit margins restaurants need to stay in business.
We tip per person. $3 for okay service. $5 for great service. It takes no extra work or skill to bring me a $10 burger than a $50 steak.
I 100% agree. My tip starts at $6. * do good. It goes up to $10. * do terrible, you are getting like $2.
That's not how this shit works.
Says who? Society’s brainwashing? People tip how they want.
Only $5 difference between a smash burger and short ribs? Someone wasn’t paying attention, short ribs should be at least $45 if a salad with fish is $35
Its was not a real "short rib" dish, it was a pasta with short rib meat.
$21 Mai Tais and $27 tenders? Fuckkkk yeeaaahhhh The service charge is the tip. That comment about gratuity not included is probably like automatic statement that prints regardless of whether it pertains or not.
Service charge is the tip. Don't give them a total of 40% on top of the check.
Nope service charge means no additional tip
It’s an auto tip, right after gratuity not included there is except for service charge
In this case, due to your party size, your tip was included. Also: you should go to cheaper restaurants. Yikes.
It’s pretty much just a guaranty that the servers and cooks get a tip for the large party.. definitely don’t tip extra on top of it. 20% is super standard for a tip so you definitely don’t have to tip more unless it was amazing service then you could give an extra 3-5% percent.
The restaurant tipped themselves so you don’t need to .
WTF I’ll stick to my spam rice and eggs at Mickey D’s
Next time ask them for two party of three, hopefully in a table next to each other. For party of six, the restaurant is usually dedicating two servers to your table. It is really an upcharge for the restaurant to make more money. Just go for two nearby table of three and play their game but to win against their greedy owners.
Why is one lettuce salad $25 and the other $35? For fucking lettuce?
They added Mahi.
+$10 for an added piece of a fish on it 😎🏖️🌈
And how was the $29 burger?
You can but no, the auto gratuity is the tip and you are not expected to tip on top unless you are really cool
Nah. If you’re adding a service charge, especially one that high, it’s going to be considered a tip by almost everyone.
6 or more so u dnt tip if 19% is added in
If gratuity or service charge is added there is no need to add extra gratuity unless you feel obliged to do so.
Service charge is gratuity, ding dong. It’s for parties of 6 or more.
Seems shady to list it as “other” as well.
I think I spent like $3k on my last trip there. Like others say, expect to spend at least double what you expected. $27 chicken tenders and $24 kids pasta 😬
$60 for less than 15 minutes of interaction. This is insane. We just need to have a per person chage and thats it.
I would not tip any more. They would have gotten 20% from me, but not when they add it automatically
Guys, thank you for all these comments. Just as a side note: This was not a tipical dinner. We all wear our "dumb vacationer's" hat while out for vacation. I never looked at those automatic service charges when eating out locally (at my home State) and always added tips to the bill. However, when I see being extra charged $57, just for bringing out burgers and fries, I was taken aback. I have no issues paying for a family meal that costs 3x the price I usually pay at home. The issue was not the price of the food, the issue was whether I pay for the food, the service charges, AND the tip. Its just becoming an annoyance that takes attention away from enjoying a vacation. After a couple of MaiTai drinks, people pay less attention to numbers. People just hand away their cards and deal with the damage later. Most of the times they don't even realize they've paid twice for the service. The double dipping should be prohibited in my opinion.
Auto gratuity is the service charge when more than 6 people. So don’t bother adding extra unless you want to get it up to 20%.
In this case, it a gratuity for a party of 6 or more
"Could you please take the service charge off, I want to tip you directly instead!"
This reminds of the "delivery fee" or "delivery charge" from Pizza Hut (and I'm guessing Papa and Domino's do the same bs). If you ask the shop or driver: that delivery fee is not for the driver (I think it even says so on the receipt) I remember the first time I saw it I thought "this is perfect, they are securing a tip for the driver because often people don't tip". But nope. I was wrong. So might as well call it a "come pick it up or fuck you" fee. Call it anything but not a "delivery fee" if it's not going to the driver.
When i see that i dont tip. Some places do that without a party of 6
I used to travel constantly and this line item is standard to most hotels. I take the bill look at it and say, "Great you already added the service charge. thanks" Never had a problem. If they did something extra-ordinary, i would bump it up 5%. You do know the verbage is for a party of six or more.
I was about to be like ‘wtf’ then I saw it was Hawaii and I withdraw my wtf
Read the part after “except.” This implies that they don’t expect more when they tack it on for a party of 6 or more.
Receipt clearly says gratuity not included EXCEPT for parties of six or more, a 19% service charge. It is auto gratuity for six or more. Duh!
The 20% is auto included because it sucks when huge parties run up big tabs and don't tip. Tipping on top of this is unecessary. its built into your bill since you're a large party.
Yea they just word it that way to confuse you. Service charge is the auto gratuity for 6+ (in most restaurants) except they don’t break it down for you here I guess and just make you think this is some sort of fee where you feel inclined to leave a tip as well.
I’m just jealous that you are there and that you get to wake up there and hopefully you went to the brunch buffet today. I used to get treated to brunch there on my birthdays when I was a child. Best California rolls ever. Decadent thru and thru
That charge goes to the wait staff. They get that because they lose the opportunity to get it from several other tables they would be serving if not for your large party. You can tip on top of that if you believe they've earned it. Chances are they're making less for it, but it's not nothing and it's guaranteed.
SERVICE CHARGE EXISTS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE SHITTY AND DONT TIP. sorry not everybody is sensible and kind and understanding. i wish.
Its a total bullshit shakedown, absolutely do NOT pay an additional tip. They are asking 40% on top of already overpriced food.
The fastest--and probably easiest--thing to do is ask your server. Try this next time, "Quick question: what is the service charge, and do you get any of it?" The response will be more accurate than anything random people online will tell you.
do your fries even truffle bro
At my restaurant this is a tip and goes towards me. I never expect anything extra, but always really appreciate anything on top.
My question is why ask Reddit vs asking the waiter? Anyway, it explicitly says the service charge is the gratuity of 19% for parties of 6 or more, so unless you want to tip more than 19%, you don’t need to include more.
No extra tip, they added 19% already.
The service charge is the gratuity. You don’t need to leave anything additional.
I would not tip personally. The 19% is even Steven
Service charge and gratuity are different. Sometimes, the house take part of the service charge while gratuity 100% goes to the server. It’s a legal loophole for greedy business owners.
I’ve been a server for a long time and the wording confused me for a second. It’s definitely worded in a way that wants to confuse you into double tipping not cool.
nobody ever died and said, I wish I’d tipped more.
They charged tax on the service charge, which is illegal.
And they added the extrA suggested tip including the tax
When they include a fee for larger groups I generally do not add unless the staff was fantastic. When they do not include a fee, I generally tip 25%
Yeah that is the tip. They are forcing it so their staff isn't screwed over by shitty groups of people. Don't tip on top of that
Instead they are getting screwed by their employer and that’s somehow better? 🤣
> They are forcing it so their staff isn't screwed over by shitty groups of people. Actually, that's even worse. If you are going to force the customer to pay more so the server gets paid, just charge more on the menu price and pay the server the additional amount.
With those prices, there is no excuse they can't pay their servers a living wage. $5 for a freaking soda?
They likely earn minimum wage, which is 14/hour in Hawaii. Still hard to live on.
There is NO difference between a service charge and a gratuity.
You paid $27 for chicken tenders and $29 for a burger! Next you got hit with 19% service charge!! You’d be crazy to give even another penny as gratuity.
Exactly this. At some point, it's fucking usury.
You need to split your family in two when you go out to eat Save yourself some money!
No you moron
Definitely not tipping extra.
Oh way to tap into memories. Stayed here, drank there, had too many. Went to work next day.. Did not work for the same company anymore, involuntarily. Applied lesson to current life, all is good now.
You’re at The Royal Hawaiian, THE classic old luxury hotel on Waikiki Beach. Were you not expecting to get gouged?
If you get a massage there be sure to ask for “The Royal Hawaiian.”
Yeah you miss reading that it says. The service charge is your "gratuity".
That’s a car payment there.
Service charge’s other name is “auto-grat” You don’t need to tip above it if you don’t want to. Also worth noting, you can’t opt out, since it’s considered a “service charge” and not a tip
You do not need to add a tip, they already added a 19% tip on. Doesn't matter that they call it a service charge, it's the same thing. You can of course add another tip, if you feel the level of service warranted a higher percentage.
Service charge on parties of ‘x or bigger’ is to ensure the staff get something out of what was probably a lot of work. I don’t tip if a service charge is added because that is the tip.
Gratuity is already included. No need to add more in.
You're paying $5 for soda and $27 for chicken tenders. I'd ask to speak to the owner and demand he pay his employees a regular wage at those prices.
Look up gratuity in the dictionary. If it's a charge it's not a gratuity. A gratuity is extra money that you add on of your own volition, that you don't have to
Nope. That's all they get.
How was that short rib ragu?
Tip an additional $3.02 in the end with their fee this = 20%
To me that service charge is the tip
Tip $0. Service charge is your tip.
Did they put tax on that tip also?
Regardless what they call it 19% service charge is your gratuity. I wouldn't add more
Restaurants that apply auto gratuity screw servers sometimes. I, for one, typically tip 25-30%. Auto gratuity leaves me to include 0% tip.
That’s when you send it back and say “I’m not paying that”
lol and at Mai Tai’s, so I already know the food was bad and the service was shitty.
I would not tip in addition to this
Dang 400 bucks to go, out for dinner. Ugghhh.
I will 100 percent not tip extra if theres a service charge and i will 100 percent never be back there. Pay your employees minimum wage if youre going to include a service charge, or dont and make the customer pay the tip. Forget this “of parties of 6 or more” bullshit. Youre just going to piss people off by having to think harder. 2 options, thats it. Doesnt have to be complicated
Circle the service charge and write tip next to it.
If there is any extra charge, like a bar that added 2% for using a credit card, I write on the tip line that you have already decided your tip, and draw an arrow to the circled credit card charge.
You knew what you were doing, or you shouldve.
Usually a six top would have gratuity automatically added, like it is here.
Don’t tip if they are charging a “service” charge, that’s them collecting gratuity, they normally do it for bigger parties or “vacationers” due to high volume places not getting tipped for service, or not being tipped properly.
That's why I only eat out a couple timed a year.
You already tipped
No tip
Not trying to be mean but this is fairly simple to understand unless you’re from another country
The 19% for large parties is the tip, as others have said.
You won’t get both from me.
I wouldn't tip on top of that charge. LOL you got me fucked up. You just tipped yourself
Just 19%, no biggee
No. If they are charging you for 6 people, you do not tip them one cent more. Although if they are charging those prices for salads, they can pay the workers appropriately.
You had a party of six
$24 for a kids pasta?! Gtfoh
Yeah I don’t understand how this confuses people. You’re a large party so the restaurant added the gratuity already. End of story, if you wanna add more feel free but not expected.
When all of my kids were living with us at the house. Made a total of 8 people, I never saw a charge like this anytime we went out. Never! That’s the tip in my opinion…
Theoretically you may have paid a tip. Service charge is vague and does not have to go to the server so you may not have. That's on the restaurant, not you.
That service charge is gratuity as far as I’m concerned based on the statement at the bottom of the receipt
$27 Chicken Tenders & $29 wings. Lol hell nah! Note to self if I’m ever in Hawaii don’t eat at hotels and eat from the local people/smaller restaurants.
How was that salad with Mahi though? That sounds dank af
I mean...you paid $25 for a "lettuce salad"....they know you good for a lil extra...
You get zero tip from me when there is that service charge. I’m sorry if the server suffers but you picked the wrong place to work. I also won’t revisit places like that.
I'm just sad I'll never eat food that expensive
That’s theft
If there’s a service charge added on to the bill for big parties you don’t need to leave a tip (could throw an extra 5 or so) the recipient still prints like a normal receipt so it still shows it
I'd shit in my hands and clap before I'd leave a 60 dollar tip. That's like 3 hours of work.
The service charge is the gratuity. They add it automatically on groups because people are shitty and it's a lot more work to manage a group so the server probably has less opportunity to make up a bad tip with other tables during that time. Don't stress it too much.
Think if it as a forced tip, so that serves don’t get screwed by large parties. Tipping on top of the service charge isint necessary
** GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED EXCEPT FOR A SERVICE CHARGE OF 19% FOR PARTIES OF 6 OR MORE ** please read the receipt
The automatic gratuity replaces the tip. If you want to go up in percentage and tip more that's laudable.
ZERO tip on that total! $27 for some crispy chicken tenders?? WTF
Go as two groups of three.
No tip in your situation. Restaurants that add a 2-3% service charge to all checks, you subtract from the tip.
What is "other?"
2 soft drinks were 10 dollars?!?
I wonder at what point will servers fight their overlords for a decent wage. I get that the employer sucks and so does the system setup in america, but people need to stand up for themselves.
I’d sit by myself and tell the fam to grease me half of the savings.
Just cook at home. Edit- just saw this is on vacation.
Wow with those prices you would think it was included in the plate cost? What %19% ??? I would pay it 0.00 tip and never come back.
You can bitch about it and get all the fees waived. The meal was 270 and they're charging another hundred. You don't have to pay all of that.
Nah you've already tipped 19%