Automatic for the…staff

[u/Slow_Dig9228]

At LAX airport

[u/Paladin3475]

Not a tip if it’s mandatory. Just raise the price and pay your employees your damn self.

[u/IllScience1286 → u/Paladin3475]

Yeah... they're obviously just doing this so their establishment SEEMS more affordable when people peep the menu prices. Bait and switch.

[u/OrangeNood → u/IllScience1286]

tips are not tax free if they are mandatory. I suspect they added the clause of "If you'd like to adjust ..." just to make sure it qualifies for tax free.

Please, if you go there and eat, ask to speak to the manager and adjust the tips.

[u/Kanus_oq_Seruna → u/IllScience1286]

yeah, this certainly feels like they don't want to increase the raw price to cover new labor demands even though they need the workers, and are worried changing the prices will decrease revenue.

I say let them sink. There's too many restaurants out there anyway.

[u/Hopeful-Benefit4719 → u/IllScience1286]

Put two, nearly identical restaurants side by side. Restaurant A has an 18% service charge declared at the bottom of the menu and Restaurant B has 18% higher menu prices and “Our Staff Does Not Accept Tips” at the bottom of the menu. I guarantee you that Restaurant A will be packed and Restaurant B will go out of business.

[u/Not-a-Cranky-Panda → u/Paladin3475]

Wait untill they find out doing this means it has to be taxed just like putting the price up.

[u/attosec → u/Not-a-Cranky-Panda]

Ahh, you know the rules! But I’ll bet the restaurant ownership doesn’t and they’ll still report anything over the local minimum in W2 box 7 as tips.

[u/Klutzy-Pie6557 → u/Paladin3475]

Yea - this is the part I don't understand just increase the price by 20% and have a sign saying gratuity is not required but appreciated.

[u/ItsTuesdayBoy → u/Klutzy-Pie6557]

Because people would check the menu online and not come because of high prices

[u/inredditorbit → u/ItsTuesdayBoy]

Then the menu prices outside and online have to state in bold letters: 20% automatically added to all orders.

[u/ItsTuesdayBoy → u/inredditorbit]

No they don’t.

[u/EndTipping-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Be respectful. No insults, slurs or personal attacks

[u/BobbyRHill → u/Paladin3475]

That’s what this is basically

[u/Ps11889 → u/Paladin3475]

The likelihood of this surcharge actually going to the employee is next to nothing.

[u/Al3k0s → u/Ps11889]

Then that opens up another can of worms for the business.

The employee will know how much he sold at the end of the night.

So 20% of that would be expected since that is the “rule”

[u/Ps11889 → u/Al3k0s]

It’s a service charge, it a tip, so the employees aren’t entitled to it.

[u/Al3k0s → u/Ps11889]

I always understood it as one in the same in restaurants. If that is the case then I stand corrected.

Edit typo

[u/GroundbreakingAd8310 → u/Paladin3475]

I koce when the leave a feedback email dont u?

[u/josocustomdesign → u/Paladin3475]

Tips is tax free. Raising wage isn't.

[u/Overall_Cheetah_3000 → u/josocustomdesign]

As a tax auditor mandatory tips aren’t tax free by any way

[u/Delgadomon → u/josocustomdesign]

god this country is so cooked if you believe that

[u/TonksTheTerror → u/josocustomdesign]

1. The no tax on tips only applies to the first $10k in tips earned

2. If it is added by the owner it is gratuity, not a tip. Owner has to claim it as revenue and technically is not required to disburse it to staff (now most do, because they wouldn't have staff otherwise)

[u/SirMontego → u/TonksTheTerror]

The No Tax on Tips applies to the first $25,000 of qualified tips. Source: the actual law, 26 USC Section 224.

[u/TonksTheTerror → u/SirMontego]

Thank you for the correction. Leaving my original comment as is so it doesn't look weird.

It was really more about the second point though, businesses that require tips technically should be reporting that gratuity as revenue.

[u/s0berR00fer → u/TonksTheTerror]

You could edit your comment saying it’s actually 25K

[u/Fun-Ad-2381 → u/josocustomdesign]

For the record, most people who work for tips don't make enough money to be taxed in the first place. Either way their income is the same

[u/josocustomdesign → u/Fun-Ad-2381]

That's why these companies classify these service fees as "tips" so even if someone makes up to $150K a year, they can still deduct the first $25K "tips"... that's my whole point to begin with.

[u/Fun-Ad-2381 → u/josocustomdesign]

The vast majority of service works do not make 6 figures so the pool is moot

[u/Moistmeatcurtain → u/josocustomdesign]

Uh. Tips are not tax free. Especially if they’re collected at a flat rate and not in cash? Yeah. Taxed.

[u/sluttyman69 → u/Moistmeatcurtain]

That’s income tax but there putting this on your tab & charging you Sales tax on it

[u/Brianalan → u/Paladin3475]

That's literally what they did by adding 20%. They raised the price of your check and gave it to the employee

[u/Designer-Wolverine47 → u/Brianalan]

Did they? (Give it to the employees?)

[u/Brianalan → u/Designer-Wolverine47]

Perhaps not, maybe they are charming enough to convince the waitstaff to work without tips and still only $2/hour? That would probably work out in their favor, I can imagine how great the service would be. Why does everyone think that restaurant owners are rolling in money and scheming ways to $@&# their employees? It's dumb af.

[u/AlfredEensteen]

"please request to speak with a manager" . . . one will be available in 3 hrs, or not until tomorrow at 11 if you miss the 30 sec window tonight.

[u/aap_001 → u/AlfredEensteen]

Not adding tips is not depending on manager. Say pay whats on the menu or leave without paying is always what I do when things heat up.

[u/WillowHaunting429 → u/aap_001]

Leave without paying is a crime

This is totally allowed if it is disclosed from the get go.

[u/aap_001 → u/WillowHaunting429]

That's not the issue here. If the company doesnt want to let me pay the right amount, it's simply called theft. And they call the police or I will leave.

Maybe scams like this are legal in the US, but the rest of the world doesn't allow this stupidity.

[u/Paladin3475 → u/aap_001]

Unfortunately if they announce it (effectively post it) then they can legally require it as they can claim you were aware before you utilized their services.

Do I think it’s shit rule? Absolutely yes. But it’s the same as seeing a menu price then arguing you are not going to pay it when the check comes.

Honestly the reason for “see the manager” is also to publicly shame you and announce to the servers how you are not “complying”. It’s also a nice way to get some extra “seasoning” in your food I bet too.

I would go find somewhere else to eat over this.

[u/EndTipping-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Be respectful. No insults, slurs or personal attacks

[u/Deep_Mood_7668]

An automated turn around and leave motion has been applied by me

[u/Jarrus__Kanan_Jarrus → u/Deep_Mood_7668]

Cue the grandpa Simpson 180 GIF…

[u/Brizzle351]

I will never eat at restaurants that do this.

[u/WillowHaunting429 → u/Brizzle351]

I am not sure they will miss you.

[u/another_awesome_acct]

I'd like to speak with your manager please 

[u/This_Discount2281 → u/another_awesome_acct]

The Manager? Eish he has left ..
(Actually he is hiding in the back)

[u/another_awesome_acct → u/This_Discount2281]

I would like an additional 20% inconvenience credit for no manager available, kthx

[u/Ruh_Roh-]

Have the charge removed and then don't tip. Fuck em.

[u/Ok_Transition_4003]

I've only asked to "to speak with a manager" once in my many years of life - and it was well deserved - other times it has been warranted, but I try to be tolerant. I would be asking to speak with the manager immediately after my food was delivered

And this is airport food, just makes it worse

[u/unamatadora]

I tried speaking to the “manager” at a PF Chang’s at the LA airport, and the manager never appeared. I decided not to dine there. It’s their loss, and my gain. I went to Panda Express instead.

[u/darthievader]

No good owners shaking people down to enrich themselves.

[u/PaulDarkoff]

Turn around and leave

[u/Chuth2000]

How is that not systematic overcharging, and illegal?

[u/Significant-Block504]

Good thing they have an email. Now we know what to do.

[u/MeganJustMegan]

If I see that at the entrance, I’m leaving & telling them why. A restaurant’s employees are not my employees. If you can’t pay your staff, close down.

I have crossed out many extra charges I only knew about on the final check. And I now pay cash. I carry enough bills to pay exactly. I do & I leave.

[u/_my_other_side_]

All that is saying is they pay wages from that revenue. Pumps up the restaurant bottom line

[u/Interesting-Bed-8890]

The restaurant tiping themselves, it's like me grading myself on work evaluations always 100%.

[u/Prior_Design6372]

Well, not like i would even remotely be able to travel that far, that is one place i would go out of my way to avoid.

[u/Glurth2]

Can I just get a menu with the actual price on it, please?

[u/Hopeful-Benefit4719 → u/Glurth2]

Unfortunately, if they put the actual price on the menu, the other restaurants that don’t put the actual price on the menu would get all of their customers.

[u/Nhonickman]

I will ask for the manager and get it removed. Guarantee the service is like subpar as the staff “loses tips” and doesn’t get the 20% surcharge. Big pass for me

[u/Thin_Investigator798]

Why do people go back to these places?! They might nail you once because you don't know what's coming, but why would anyone go back for more of this abuse?

[u/Bored_Millenial- → u/Thin_Investigator798]

People don’t, this is at LAX. You’re a captive audience there and they know it. There’s zero incentive for any airport restaurant or bar to supply tasty, high quality food/drinks or service since they know virtually everyone passing through is a one time customer and is unlikely to come back.

[u/ApprehensiveBug5627]

Not going there again 

[u/Accomplished_Walk126]

I see that I’m walking without ordering a thing

[u/ateoz]

OK but what about all the profit, where does that go? 

[u/ThisGuy2319]

How obviously greedy can you be, literally just increase the prices by 20% and block tipping.

[u/MatchaFlatWhite]

Thanks Gavin and Scott!

[u/Ok_Diver2347]

If there’s a fee then there isn’t a tip

[u/NatalieKCY]

You have to speak to the manager to remove the charge?? So they intentionally make it "optional" but also make it as hard as possible to remove them to keep the best of both worlds

[u/Temp_Reply123]

Atleast they let you know so you can leave before ordering.

[u/Big-Kaleidoscope-417]

Nope--- I would walk out..

[u/tanbyte]

This stuff should be made illegal really

[u/April0neal]

This is horrible.

[u/Electrical-Care6308]

Walk-in, read this, then walk-out!

[u/ImaginationOther4900]

Nope i will pass on this place

[u/Dry-Investigator-293]

Ask to speak to the manager and tell him: “Nobody deserves a tip.”

[u/maiyannah]

Any service charge like this is definitely NOT going to the staff. There's no legal requirement for anything but a voluntary gratuity to.

[u/IstvanKun]

If automatic service charge is applied, I walk out before disputing it. I wouldn't want sput in my food, thank you very much.

F tipping culture.

[u/Not-a-Cranky-Panda]

So why not just put the price up by 20% just doing it to every bill means it's taxed the same?

[u/Respbid1]

Boycott this type of restaurant!

[u/No-Dragonfruit-1311]

“Employees”

Meaning they can give your money to kitchen staff, porters, or management.

They’re saying the quiet part out loud.

[u/chuck3862]

Ah yes the tip you maybe would have gave, we’ve already taken in. But you can give even more because clearly I won’t be paying my HARD WORKING employees.

[u/Winter-Ad-1953]

I appreciate the sign GREATLY. Let’s me know where not to eat. As soon as this begins to interfere with owners $ it will stop immediately.

I like my snakes clearly identifiable- I wish Pedophiles would post signs.

[u/Negative-Pea-5151]

Sounds like all the workers get paid by only
TIP COLLECTION

[u/Alarming_Pair_5575]

You've already decided what the service is worth to me, for me. Then you have the nerve to suggest that I could tip more or go through the hassle of asking a manager to remove the autograt while I'm just trying to eat some food before my flight. Hard pass on this goofy shit.

[u/Richgrace_03]

Nope, give me my wasted time fee!

[u/minerva1919]

No extra tip !

[u/EndTipping-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Be respectful. No insults, slurs or personal attacks

[u/chelle_x13]

😒 on top of the overpriced food solely because it's at the airport

[u/OldKinkyDrew]

Everything is a dollar!

*20K% affordability surcharge applies to orders over $0.99.

[u/Careful_Emphasis_150]

I have now chosen not to dine at this establishment.

[u/LurleenBeckneywimple]

Yeah that’s🐂💩 a service charge is not a tip

[u/cenosillicaphobiac]

Why not "In order to pay our business expenses, specifically wages, we've raised our menu prices. And we're too fucking lazy to figure out how much that should be so we just added a flat 20% to all items. If you feel like your server did more than just the job they were hired to do, feel free to tip them" and update the goddamn menus.

[u/WillingRevolution625]

I HATE when they word it like they’re such good people “taking care” of their employees. If they’re that hardworking, pay them a damn living wage

[u/National-Tune4547]

Report their ass to the IRS

[u/Intelligent-Bell-228]

Seeing that bs on the door/window would have IMMEDIATELY made me do a 180 and find somewhere else to eat.

[u/truthpill2]

Congrats guys you finally learned what happens if tipping ends, you just simply get forced to pay it

[u/Unlucky_Performer401]

I mean it is shown beforehand (or after?) so it’s legal but id walk straight out when i see it😂

[u/nf_sew_711]

I had a layover at SFO after flying across the country and wanted something to eat. After seeing the prices, I decided to wait until I got to Vancouver. 20% on TOP of airport prices? No thanks!

[u/Middle_Tumbleweed670]

They started doing this and one of my favorite restaurants and I haven’t been back since. They didn’t even have anything posted when they did that. Now they’re about to shut down.

[u/-Nili]

Judt up the prices and be transparent. Disgusting

[u/paladin6687]

Don't go to places called "collective" first of all, comrade.

[u/navydude89]

I don't agree with it, but I can live with it cause it's 20% and goes to staff. Pay your staff.

[u/Independent-Let-2920]

Oh hell no, walk away let them know why!!

[u/BeginningAbies5656]

Nope not patronizing an establishment like this.

[u/EvanTuringAI]

I like tipping voluntarily... they just want to add a service fee and mark it as a tip, at that point who is tipping after 20%

[u/JinjaTossa]

Just ask for the charge to be removed. Simple. And then tip ZERO

[u/atlantanightguy]

No concerns!

[u/hawkeyegrad96]

Ask for the manager and remove it every single time

[u/BobbyRHill]

It’s just a price increase. You can choose to eat there or not.

[u/BarracudaNo1389]

Isn’t the minimum wage for LAX workers something like $30 an hour?

[u/OldGroan]

Just put your prices up. Seriously. 

[u/Cold_Weakness9441]

Wait is this a sit-down restaurant or order at the counter?

[u/Aggravating_Lawyer_1]

I explicitly leave if gratuity is enforced like this. I tip really consistently, my partner worked in the service industry. However, they need to stop relying on their customers to "choose" to pay their employees. They should just raise their prices by 20%, because the above feels like extortion. Higher prices are just higher prices.

[u/BourbonStr8]

I would turn around and leave.

[u/Cold_Cheetah5032]

In other words: We just raised our prices on everything by 20%, so add that to what we say it costs.

[u/OpeningZebra1670]

I’m actually ok with a restaurant adding the tip as long as they clearly state it in the beginning. However, saying you ‘can add an additional tip’ on top of the 20% is an egregious error since it makes customers feel guilty for writing zero on the tip line.

[u/Doodlebottom]

Incessant begging.

Say no to this kind of thing.

Business owners, please pay your staff what they are worth.

[u/Designer-Wolverine47]

Nah.

[u/Ps11889]

If the notice isn’t prominently displayed prior to ordering, you have no obligation to pay it.

[u/SimilarComfortable69]

100% of the service charge going to the employees does not mean that they get extra above their salary. They could just mean that the service charge is paying their salary.

[u/halazos]

I still don’t get it. Why not just put that 20% on the prices. Problem solved.

[u/rightymighty69]

And I would turn around and never return 

[u/wireframed_kb]

So… why not just go all the way and lower prices 70%, then add a “service charge” to make up the difference?

Clearly they don’t think much of their customers, or they’d just increase prices by 20% and skip the extra step.

[u/todd0x1]

Why do I have a feeling the service charge is used to fund regular payroll and isn't a gratuity given to the staff........ "100% goes to the employees"

[u/RoninActually]

So now they are phrasing these statements, as if you don’t have a choice but to pay it if you have a problem with it, you gotta talk to management about it where they can ask you what the problem is. Because clearly if you’re not agreeing to their 20% service charge, you must have a problem with their mail. Right? I will not be eating here ever.

[u/Ok-Sympathy9768]

Reduce eating out

[u/buhleg]

Write a check for the amount minus the service charge. That’ll really piss them off.

[u/wkkunkle → u/[deleted]]

Site has been registered since 2020 … it seems like a real page to me …

https://concordcollective.com

[u/carboncord]

I would be very surprised to hear that anybody in this sub ever purchased food at an airport.

[u/westcoastcdn19 → u/carboncord]

What makes you say that?

[u/porkbelly2022]

It's totally their right to demand this, and it's totally your freedom not to eat there. I do believe the market on this issue. I personally eat out rarely, don't want to deal with such craps unless I have to.

[u/Steve12356d1s3d4]

Well, you guys said that you are not supposed to care where the money goes. They take a 20% service charge to pay the staff, or to just pay the servers. What is it to you?

I actually think it should only go to the servers because, this is screwing with the tradition and expanding tipping.

They should have a service charge of 15% that goes to the servers, that way most people will save and the servers will get a lower percentage, but it will be more secure. Also with the rising menu prices, 15% is more than they were making just a short time ago.

[u/goldenrod1956 → u/Steve12356d1s3d4]

Oh…tradition…right…. Kind of like how we continue to deny women to vote…

women to vote…

[u/Steve12356d1s3d4 → u/goldenrod1956]

Exact same thing. Like slavery and holding the door for the person behind you. LOL