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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: zippy]
#41913
02/26/2015 10:47 AM
02/26/2015 10:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 993 Pittsburgh PA
plequerre
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 993
Pittsburgh PA
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I hear you and I agree with you. It is very unpleasant and I hate being gouged by businesses.
I was born and raised in France so I know the Law there and I don't buy the BS given to me by some restaurants in SXM, Sol & Luna being one of them.
It is a shame because the food and service at Sol & Luna was excellent but this behavior left a very bad taste in our mouth. Consequently, this year, we didn't return, although there's a new owner, and we went to Ocean 82 instead.
I posted a couple of weeks ago that early February, Pineapple Pete told me, after I asked specifically the question, that service was included in their bill although they are on the Dutch side. Is it because I spoke in French with the manager who is from Quebec?Apparently other people who went to Pineapple Pete were told something different. It don't understand why it is so difficult for these businesses to have a very clear policy regarding service/gratuity and apply it consistently with all customers. They should know that nowadays, it is very easy for people to post stuff on social medias, and it doesn't take long to seriously damage a reputation. Oh well, it's their problem, not mine.
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: plequerre]
#41914
02/26/2015 10:56 AM
02/26/2015 10:56 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,432 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,432
Brookfield, CT.
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Heaven knows this topic has been about beaten to death but I'm not sure why, on the Dutch side at PPs or anywhere else, would you NOT know the charge has been added to a check.
Generally speaking, if a s/c or whatever is added, it's usually so noted on the menus but if not, and I'm presented with my bill and noted a charge on it I couldn't identify, I'd ask to have the charge clarified.
At that point, if they tell me it's a tax, tip, gratuity, service charge or any other name they want to give it beyond something we actually consumed in the course of our meal, its a tip to me and I'm done. Am I over-simplifying this? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: arink]
#41916
02/26/2015 01:37 PM
02/26/2015 01:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 192 Columbia, SC, USA
DandM29212
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 192
Columbia, SC, USA
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This topic always gets lots of views and emotions when it's posted. I would suggest this is one issue that could be factually summarized and saved as an FAQ which would save a lot of frustration.
For us, after a couple bad experiences, we rarely eat on the French side now because of the uncertainty of proper tipping practice and etiquette as well as questionable restaurant ethics as mentioned above. As we all know, there's some great food to enjoy and that's what I want to do, rather than spending time figuring out what each restaurant's practices really are so I can tip properly and not be taken advantage of.
Last edited by DandM29212; 02/26/2015 01:55 PM.
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: DandM29212]
#41917
02/26/2015 01:52 PM
02/26/2015 01:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 81,042 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 81,042
Central Florida!
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As I think I've said before, if someone would like to draft some answers to some FAQ's we can look at them, but the answers need to be agreed upon and up to date. I personally just don't have the time to write and revise them. If someone wants to volunteer to write them, we can take a look at it.
Carol Hill
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: DandM29212]
#41919
02/26/2015 02:25 PM
02/26/2015 02:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 81,042 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 81,042
Central Florida!
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Honestly, you know we had this discussion before, and so far no one has expressed any interest in doing it, to me.
Carol Hill
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: RonDon]
#41921
02/26/2015 02:43 PM
02/26/2015 02:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 81,042 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 81,042
Central Florida!
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Posts that are older than a year, except for trip reports, are automatically purged and deleted by the system.
Carol Hill
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#41922
02/26/2015 04:03 PM
02/26/2015 04:03 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 459 Decatur Illinois
astropilot
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 459
Decatur Illinois
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Well said, and I wholeheartedly agree. If there is a 15% add on -- that's their tip plain and simple.
Dave & Diana
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: SXMWendell]
#41925
02/26/2015 05:55 PM
02/26/2015 05:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 993 Pittsburgh PA
plequerre
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 993
Pittsburgh PA
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SXMWendell said: The problem is: What if the service is bad? SXM??? Wendell What if the service was great but something else was bad? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: SXMWendell]
#41929
02/26/2015 09:54 PM
02/26/2015 09:54 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 17,829 Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 17,829
Auburn, WA
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SXMWendell said: The problem is: What if the service is bad?
SXM??? Wendell Just pay in cash and don't pay the added SC. What can they do? You won't want to go back anyway. Leave the money and walk out. If confronted by the waiter let them know why you didn't pay the SC. Maybe the server will get it.
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#41931
02/26/2015 11:01 PM
02/26/2015 11:01 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,145 Louisiana
o2bnsxm
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,145
Louisiana
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SXMScubaman said: But what if the server had prior knowledge that the food the customer ordered has been bad and didn't tell the patron? Serving the food was done in an acceptable manor but an injustice to not warn the customer results in a not so enjoyable meal. What then? How could you possibly know what the server knows, unless they confess to you "Yes, I knew the meat was putrid, but I served it to you anyway, so don't leave me a tip". <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#41934
02/26/2015 11:35 PM
02/26/2015 11:35 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,145 Louisiana
o2bnsxm
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,145
Louisiana
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SXMScubaman said: Pardon me but I speak from experience. I have had waitstaff tell me after the fact that the meal I was served and sent back was indeed not the best. That the cook was new and there were prior complaints the same night for the same meal. A double duh to you. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> Well, double duh, did you leave them a tip or did you walk out?
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: mscottc]
#41935
02/27/2015 01:46 AM
02/27/2015 01:46 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837 Florida
wilsonck
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
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mscottc said: I've never seen my credit card add 20%. They hold the original posted amount, then finalize based on the tip added, assuming one is added. It's common practice for the pre-authorization to include an amount for the tip. Normally, you just don't see it on your end.
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: plequerre]
#41940
02/27/2015 08:51 AM
02/27/2015 08:51 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,246 Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,246
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
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The reason it's done is that the check is given to the customer for the amount of the meal, not including the tip. That's when the authorization is obtained; before the tip is added. Once the check comes back to you, you add the tip, if appropriate, and that's when YOU agree to the amount of the charge (sign the slip). It's possible, although I agree it's unlikely, that the amount of the meal might be within the card limit, but once the tip is added it could exceed the limit. That is why some banks have that policy with restaurants.
That explanation certainly doesn't explain you experience, which I agree is completely wrong.
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Re: Service charges at restaurants. Please clarify?
[Re: mscottc]
#41941
02/27/2015 08:53 AM
02/27/2015 08:53 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,246 Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,246
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
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mscottc said: Actually, I see all my charges come through right after they are posted by the store, restaurant or vendor. 'Tis the beauty of current online banking. In SXM, that does presume I'm in a wi-fi zone. All transactions over a certain value are pushed to my phone the moment they are created. I have the same service with my credit card, but believe me, the transaction you see is a pending transaction, and not until it's finalized at the bank is the actual amount determined, which usually takes at least a day or two.
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