I saw on a menu for a Grand Case restaurant that "TGCA not included", or similar words in French. What is that?

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/45632.html

The TGCA is a tax applicable on the entire territory of the Community of St. Martin in the French West Indies since August 1, 2010. It is due to local economic operations , including sales and services. Are involved all stakeholders in the economy of the island, businesses, commerce and the professions. The amount of 4% on sales is donated to the Community in order to enable it to increase the budget and finances. It is always charged . Are exempt import of goods , sales of prescription drugs, bread, water supply, and the goods when exported from the island except on the Dutch side that remains taxable.

TGCA is a “General Turnover Tax” that is only in French St. Martin and is pegged at 4%. This is similar to the VAT on the mainland of France. It is applied to retail goods and services.

Huh. I have never seen it on a menu before, as not being included in the price. Maybe I just never paid attention to it before? Or restaurants are now not including it, when they used to before?

Has nothing to due with the SC.

It is and has been normally included in the pricing. Businesses that are now showing it as a separate line item are trying to bump up their pricing while blaming it on outside forces. They are trying to bump their bottom line by the 4% and not get blamed for that change. Be careful, some might even list as higher than 4%.

I sometimes grow weary of the trickery that some businesses employ to increase their bottom line profits. My personal response to this type of tactic is to stop doing business with them and spread the word on sites like TTOL. When others are better informed they can make better choices.
IMHO there are lots of creative ways to generate additional sales without resorting to unethical actions.
Sorry for the sermon but after spending all of my career in sales and marketing I still remember the difference between right and wrong, without the questionable "spin".

I remember the conversation we had regarding people saying that in restaurants on the French side they add 15% service charge. Well I have never seen this but started noticing that it applies more to the Dutch side as twice eaten where it’s been added....

From a post on TTOL in 2015:



For the entire thread, see: 2015 post

I hope this helps.

bdeely--thanks. I didn't remember it being a separate item on the bill before..