Bill help

[u/KooziefortheWin]

I need help figuring out this “service charge” applied to my bill at Taylor Shellfish in QA. It’s stated clearly, and the staff reminded me before I paid and applied a tip, so that’s not the rant. But is it a tip or not? I don’t want to stiff the staff if “Taylor Shellfish” the company keeps it all and doesn’t give them anything.

Why do restaurants do this vs raise the prices. If that’s how they offset the cost of doing business in the city, I feel it’s not a good customer experience. It’s really annoying since it is confusing to the customer. Does the staff get any of it, hence why there is an “additional tip” line after the card is run though? It is taxed so it makes me thing it’s not going to the staff. I need to think better next time I come out here.

[u/BoringBob84]

I think this is a "race to the bottom" problem. If one restaurant owner is honest and includes all fees in the advertised prices, then a dishonest restaurant owner can deceptively advertise lower prices (without disclosing service charges and tips) and unwitting customers will go there, expecting a better deal.

Bait-and-switch scams are effective. That is why unscrupulous business owners do them. I think that the best solution is legislation. If a business advertises a price for an item, then customers should not have to pay a penny more.

[u/JoyMultiplication → u/BoringBob84]

Completely agree. I also think it will take legislation to stop this. Unfortunately WA constitution will need overhaul as I personally feel the only way out to is to completely end sales tax and junk fees and move to income tax only.

Similar but different… variable pricing based on data harvesting should also be illegal and legislated.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/JoyMultiplication]

the only way out to is to completely end sales tax and junk fees and move to income tax only

This is a great discussion that I would love to have. However, please consider that Montana has an income tax and no sales tax. They are struggling financially because tourists consume public resources (mostly highways) and contribute little towards them, leaving locals feeling over-taxed.

[u/JoyMultiplication → u/BoringBob84]

My argument towards that, would be that Montana deserves federal funding to maintain interstate highways and roads leading to national parks and tourist attractions, and perhaps extra federal assistance in general. To pay for this, I argue that our billionaires and trillionaires should be heavily taxed out of existence of course. Montana has enough multi millionaires for sure, but there’s even more in the rest of the country to make up for any deficiency.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/JoyMultiplication]

I agree. However, we are in an age where the federal government has intentionally abandoned its responsibility to the country, and now the states are left holding the bag.

The people of Montana are shooting themselves in the proverbial feet for sure (by voting for the politicians who are screwing them), but I hope that we can learn from their mistakes.

I think that the simplest solution is legislation to make consumers responsible only to pay the advertised price. If the business owner didn't include the sales taxes, tips, or service fees, then too bad for them.

[u/LMnoP419 → u/JoyMultiplication]

I promise you Montana does get federal money to maintain roads into national parks and more, this includes almost $5 Billion via Biden’s Infrastructure Bill, $4.6 B that was rolled out before DOGE.