Service charges in restaurants

Specialun · 25-05-2014 06:21PM #1

Just took tne OH for an early evening meal..when bill came there was a service charge of 12.5%...roughly 7 quid ish i think...

I dont get this..do the waiters/waitress expect a tip on top of tne service charge..whats the reasoning behind a service charge? Is a service charge for a table of two acceptable

P.s nooooo this isnt my first time for a service charge..just hungover and curious

Fr_Dougal · 25-05-2014 06:23PM

Restaurant? Well la dee da! No recession here!

fearrua · 25-05-2014 06:23PM

Sounds a bit rough, I understood charges for big parties, but surely for two people it should be just a tip at the customer's discretion?

martinsvi · 25-05-2014 06:24PM

I don't tip if the service charge is added

Specialun · 25-05-2014 06:25PM

TheZohan wrote: »

Restaurant? Well la dee da! No recession here!

Trying to get the roide later ya see

Aongus Von Bismarck · 25-05-2014 06:26PM

It's unusual for a service charge to be added for a table of 2. No tip is expected once a service charge is added (though I usually would add to it, as I usually tip in the region of 20-25%).

If you're unhappy with the level of service you can always complain and the charge will normally be waived.

A Greedy Algorithm · 25-05-2014 06:27PM

If the service is poor, can you haggle on the service charge?

Pwindedd · 25-05-2014 06:31PM

I don't mind if service charge is added - as long this is made clear. E.g. In the menu they could state this. If service charge is added, then I don't tip. I'm not paying twice for something. We have minimum wage rules in Ireland, so no one working in a restaurant should be reliant on tips. If they are that's for another thread.

I tip about 10% if there's no service charge. A bit more if the service was exceptional.

25-05-2014 06:34PM

I don't get the point of service charges. Surely the more people eating means more money spent?

I'd really appreciate if someone would explain their purpose as I haven't the foggiest.

Arthur Beesley · 25-05-2014 06:37PM

OP, better off staying away from the sort of place that has a service charge.

A Dub in Glasgo · 25-05-2014 06:37PM

Was the service charge optional?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 25-05-2014 06:39PM

I too don't get the point of a fixed service charge. Just add it to the price on the menu and say that service is included, if they must. It is wrong to say that its not usual to apply a service charge for a table of 2. Most restaurants that have a service charge apply but across the board regardless of the number of customers. If a service charge is applied then it is not expected that you leave a tip. If service is unacceptable you can of course reduce the service charge due.

Specialun · 25-05-2014 06:39PM

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Was the service charge optional?

Nope..appeared on the bill when i was paying

suicide_circus · 25-05-2014 06:41PM

Service charge for table of two is weird, name the establishment!

Specialun · 25-05-2014 06:41PM

But what is a service charge for..surely the waiters job is to serve the food..they already get an hourly rate...

The Backwards Man · 25-05-2014 06:42PM

If it wasn't on the menu I wouldn't pay it on the bill.

A Dub in Glasgo · 25-05-2014 06:42PM

I presume the menu stated it would be added? I often find restaurants put an optional service charge on the bill and leave it to the customer to remove it, ie the old Ryanair approach

ratmouse · 25-05-2014 06:45PM

Definitely wouldn't tip in addition to a service charge.

A Dub in Glasgo · 25-05-2014 06:49PM

Mr.S wrote: »

Why do we tip for anything in Ireland? Same principal.

Tipping is optional, sounds like this service charge is not

No Pants · 25-05-2014 06:54PM

I'd only tip if the service was of note. If the order was taken and delivered, that's my minimum expectation met and there's no tip.

Reformed Character · 25-05-2014 07:15PM

No Pants wrote: »

I'd only tip if the service was of note. If the order was taken and delivered, that's my minimum expectation met and there's no tip.

I couldn't be that miserable.:)

25-05-2014 07:19PM

I think if you argue it in tgi they'll take it off, or so I've heard

Aongus Von Bismarck · 25-05-2014 07:19PM

I frequent the same establishments very often in the area I live in.

I find because I have tipped the wait staff well in the past, the level of service I receive is well above what your average penny pinching punter receives.

Now, that said, its what I expect for the gratuity I pay. I have on more than one occasion sent food that I feel enough effort wasn't put into the preparation. I also expect the waiter to have an excellent knowledge of the wine menu and be able to give good recommendations on food and wine pairings.

Sky King · 25-05-2014 07:19PM

I normally tell them I'll just get the food from the kitchen myself.

No Pants · 25-05-2014 07:22PM

upyores wrote: »

I couldn't be that miserable.:)

I frequently tip. All a waiter has to do is take my order promptly, don't make me wait for anything and check back once only that everything is okay.

lertsnim · 25-05-2014 07:25PM

Specialun wrote: »

Trying to get the roide later ya see

A prostitute would have been cheaper.

mad m · 25-05-2014 07:28PM

Avoca has this on their menu at end. Not sure if it's 12.5% but it's close to it.

Crooked Jack · 25-05-2014 07:34PM

upyores wrote: »

I couldn't be that miserable.:)

You receive a service. You pay in full for that service. You are now "miserable."

Ilyana 2.0 · 25-05-2014 07:37PM

Where I work there is no service charge, which is stated in the menu. Tipping is still hit and miss though; if we had a service charge I'd say we'd hardly ever make tips (which is fair enough). I don't agree with service charges anyway; there's no guarantee that a waiter who bent over backwards for a customer would ever get the benefit of it anyway.

y0ssar1an22 · 25-05-2014 07:38PM

This is something that has always confused me. Why do we tip at all, or why is their an expectation of tipping?

You dont tip a dentist for servicing your teeth, you dont tip the postman for delivering your mail, you dont tip the person that makes a roll/sandwich at the deli counter.

The principle is a good one, a little reward for doing that bit extra. Its just that the principle seems to only apply to service in a restaurant.

mikemac1 · 25-05-2014 07:40PM

fearrua wrote: »

I understood charges for big parties,

I don't understand it

Any other business would give you a discount when you spend a lot of money.

In a restaurant they gouge you for more

y0ssar1an22 wrote: »

you dont tip the postman for delivering your mail

Yes you do

In good times it was a card and 20 euro at Christmas. Now a tin of roses at Christmas will do

But this is out rural. In a city you might have different postmen throughout the year. If you don't know your postman then tipping doesn't apply to you.

Service charges in restaurants

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