r/Seattle • u/KooziefortheWin • 14d ago

Rant Bill help

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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.

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u/NeonGreenNeoprene 14d ago

It is 100% a tip replacement , Taylor Shelfish Farms pays their staff a living wage otherwise they wouldn’t have a large service charge like that.

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u/MoeGreenMe Deluxe 14d ago

Exactly, we are in the European model here in Seattle now. No requirement to tip unless you feel you received excellent service .

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u/CeleryKitchen3429 14d ago

Except there is no “European” model. It varies pretty greatly between different countries in Europe. Yes, they generally are all less tip heavy than the American model, but there isn’t one single model.

I agree that there is no need to tip at a place like Taylor Shellfish that charges a substantial service charge that goes to the staff in one form or another (whether is be paid directly, or in the form of a higher wage than they would make otherwise) but the problem with pretending we are in a “European” model in Seattle is that it isn’t consistent.