Ate at Jimbo's tonight and our bill included a 15% gratuity charge plus an additional 5% tax. When we questioned the tax charge, we were told it was a government tax that everyone pays and that other restaurant included it in their menu prices. But at Jimbo's they don't want to include it in their menu prices because they have to pay 6% of sales to their landlord and they don't want to pay their landlord 6% on the government tax. I'm curious if this is true. We nornally leave a 20% tip so money isn't my concern, it is just the way additional charges get added.

Its the ttol tax that is illegal to charge sepretivly. Jimbos does it anyway and doesn't care.

I'd say they are double dipping....

They've been doing that for a long time...one of the reasons we don't go there.

Yep. He then only has to pay the tax on the actual menu price that way. He comes ahead and your paying for it.

There is no ttol tax! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Do you mean the turn over tax (tot) which is 5%?

It may be the TTOL tax. If he sees you posting something negative here you get the added 'tax'. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

gary

Not negative Gary, just factual, so no tax involved! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Sorry. I meant tot not ttol. Brain fart.

If I'm not mistaken, Pineapple Pete's also includes a 5% on their bill.

I thought Pineapple Pete's just had 15% service charge added. IIRC, its always listed on the tax line on the receipt.

If there is one, SOMEONE owes us a LOT of money!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

My understanding is that the TOT is not supposed to be carried over to the consumer.

With regard to auto gratuity, Bajatzu has now joined that unfortunate ranks..

The odd thing about a restaurant adding the TOT to the check, is that it would seem to increase the amount of TOT that they owe, as it's based on total receipts, as I understand it.

Article of news

Laws and enforcement. Two different things.

Now you just have to look and I mean "look" at the check before you do anything else. Evidently that is the way it is now, so look at the check before doing anything. Did not have to do it in the past, but now we all need to do it.

We are now even catching it in the states at times..... and that.... will not go there. So no matter where we look at the ticket/charge slip before we pay any bill now. This should not be rocket science, but now it seems to be, and just more than SXM. You would not believe the charge that we had at MIA on the way down............ airport prices are one thing, but 18% on top that was automatically added.... if you did not pay attention, then..... but we got the charge and we both said, what... then the 18% was there. Nothing left in addition-- scratched out the tip line on the check and made sure it was to the penny on the charge -- zero extra! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Just to make sure in the US anyway, if they ever put in an automatic 18% -- then either we put in a blank line or specifically put in Zero and make it big on purpose! And we do it with lines on each side of the zero, as I WANT THEM TO KNOW that I am not giving a dime of additional tip on top of their automatic!

May even start putting that on the receipt that zero is included because you did the automatic and you did not get more because of that.

Discussed in this forum 50 times..there is NO 5% tax on the the Dutch side that the consumer/patron is responsible for..Don't pay it..Cheri's does it also..didn't go there this year..

Jimbos lost our business on the first day in the marina. I asked to refill my soft drink, which was not completely empty and got charged another $2.50. I would understand if it were cans or bottles, but this was dispensed from a soda gun. In addition, the food was OK at best.

We have never paid the extra 5 % at Pineapple Pete's. Only 15 % is charged on their bill.

You want another drink you have to pay for it. Doesn't seem unreasonable to me. You think because it comes from a fountain, it's free? Even Burger King charges for refills.

I own a restaurant. Refills are the norm in the states, if we did not refill, we probably would be out of business. A fountain beverage net cost is about .20, a can of coke is not. We saw many places that do not have fountain service. I understand the charge for a second can or bottle. Do you pay for coffee refills?

Not a Burger King in the US.

Pretty sure your not supposed to go for refills, but aren't stopped. Not many places, east coast, offer bottomless sodas. Coffee yes, ice tea yes, but not soda

That's not true here in North Carolina. I've yet to be in a restaurant, either sit-down or fast food, that doesn't offer free refills on sodas.

Really? Huh.. I kind of thought it was free refills at BK. Is there a sign? that says no free refills??

Blatantly jimbos charging the tot when he knows its illegal is arrogant and greedy. To bad he's getting away with it.

Other than chain restaurants - Pizza Hut or maybe Denny's I don't know of one restaurant that offers free refills.

I guess things are different up there. All of the nicer restaurants here offer free refills, without even asking.

Pretty much the same here with fountain drinks. Many will even offer a "go cup" also. I have seen some places that serve very large fountain drinks limit the refills to only one.

If I could only get free refills on my beer ! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

I don't think I would assume I am getting much for free on SXM, and the cost also includes the transportation and handling to get it to the island.

I have said a few times, a tip such as 15% added to the bill I have zero issue with and understand why they would as long as it is not deceptive in the way they do it.

TOT, have only run into that a couple times, did not sweat it. Oh well, I just keep that in mind if I choose to return.

Sure wish I was on island having to deal with these issues!
156 days and counting.

Cheers,
Todd

Every chain in our area, that gives you the cup to fill yourself has free refills. They were in TX when I visited last week also. Most restaurants in the Albany area give free refills on soft drinks. CT must be an anomaly.

I guess the problem is I don't go to chain restaurants. And the pizza shops that I frequent flat out say "no refills please".

I think in SXM its not that uncommon to have some restaurant's charge the tot to the bill. They either have to collect it in the price of the meal or add it as tax but since the Island I thought was so called a "free island" that's is were maybe the gov has a problem with it being added as tax and many add the tip in also. Most have their own way of getting more out us. Not long ago I was at Toppers and asked for tap water and they refuse to serve to me but they would sell me a $7.00 bottle of water. That was my last visit there. I like Jimbo's setting, so so tex mex and the tax thing I don't think is that big of deal to me as long as they tell you what they are charging us for.

I go to a lot of restaurants of all strata. While I don't drink soda, my wife does. On occasion I do drink Iced Tea. It's very very rare that I've been charged for refills of either anywhere in the northeast. Now in SXM, that seems to be the norm.

Thanks for all your input regarding the TOT tax that Jimbo's charges. I'm not sure how we could have declined paying the tax if the owner wouldn't remove the charge when we questioned it. But what I do know for sure is that they lost our business along with several friends and family members that join us here every year in SXM. FYI, we ate at Pineapple Pete's tonight and there was only the 15% gratuity added (we gave additional). That place is well run and never disappoints us.

I would have just paid the bill with exact cash (or as close as I could) minus the 5% added TOT. What would they do, call the cops? What they are doing is illegal anyways.

Point #1: That would be AWESOME! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Point #2: Agree...but when they add that 15% it makes it my total tip. If it was my choice then they would get 20%

I've never seen the 5% added so not sure what my response would be....probably pay it and scratch the establishment off my return list.

Unless other businesses other than those that operate like Jimbo's are stupid, You are still paying the tot. They just add it to the basic price of the meal or what ever they are selling and no one is the wiser and they do not risk breaking the law. By the way, Jack, when he took over Peg Leg from Neil Rooney put the then 3% tot on his checks thinking that it was a sales tax and wondered why Neil didn't do so.