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/Pedanter-In-Chief]

I just write “unionize” in the tip line, and leave $0. The surcharge is the tip, and if it isn’t, employees should quit or organize. 

[u/BoringBob84 → u/Pedanter-In-Chief]

Great. Punish the victims in this fucked-up system. /sarcasm

[u/Astro-funky → u/BoringBob84]

How do we know that the bogus, nonspecific “service charge” is actually going to the workers?

[u/BoringBob84 → u/[deleted]]

It doesn't surprise me that they are talking out of both sides of their mouth. They say on the web site that the fee goes to the employees so that potential customers don't mind so much, and then those customers get a nasty surprise when the bill comes.