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chrisv

Beach Fanatic
Nov 15, 2004
630
75
Freeport, Florida
kids its a $7 burrito in Seaside...no one cares about 15%.

Thanks for putting it into perspective:clap:

And Dave, as usual, thanks for your excellent and very reasoned reply!
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,644
1,773
kids its a $7 burrito in Seaside...no one cares about 15%.
Judging by the line of 20-30 people deep at 2pm during the season, at Pickles, I'd guess that a $7 burrito is in line in regards to pricing. Lunch at Pickles is an easy $10.
 

Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,862
9,670
Just curious, what is different between an auto gratuity on a party of six or more, vs a party of one? Both are done so that the server doesn't get screwed. Why is one accepted and the other is not?

The general reason for an auto gratuity for parties of 6 or more is because the more in the party the more work for the waiter. Generally while keeping the same number of tables. I have worked in many establishments where the waiters (myself included) would often have a mini-meeting in the server station to get a second opinion about auto-grating a table. Certain large groups will always get auto-grated by any good waiter because it is just known that you will get screwed if you don't. These include, but are not limited to; highschoolers, any club that requires a colored hat, and I hate to say, but foreigners. Generally the reason for foreigners is that most European countries just pay there waiters a flat liveable wage.

This might gross some people out, but there are resources on the web:

www.waiterrant.com
www.bitterwaitress.com
www.stainedapron.com
 
Last edited:

NotDeadYet

Beach Fanatic
Jul 7, 2007
1,416
489
I don't have a problem with the 15%. I am a little unsure how I feel though about having the bill rounded up to the next even dollar so I get less change. Is this some new practice :dunno: Happened twice, so I assume it is standard procedure there?
 
Aug 30, 2007
323
0
3rd Rock from the sun
Thanks so much for the input and good comments; I really appreciate it BH 25.

Basically my bartenders were making very few tips when we opened in April because of the walk up format. When folks sat at the bar they were getting tips but if they sat at the outdoor tables, very few tipped. Our food runners and bartenders were getting stiffed about 85% of the time.

I had seen in Miami and many, many establishments in Europe that had an auto gratuity. Also one of my managers had done an auto gratuity at a beach bar and it worked very well with a very small complaint percentage.

I am proud of my managers efforts to hire exceptional employees and always hope they perform excellent service but as in every human endeavor mistakes are made from time to time. I agree that if anyone is not happy with the service or just have an issue of the principal of the policy at the Taco Bar they may have it removed by the Manager. I do respect your opinion on the matter.

I made the percentage 15% because customarily folks tip 10% to 15% for normal service and 20% and up for exceptional service. I believe our servers are striving for the extra 5% or more. The notion the staff will be complacent with an auto 15% just doesn't fly with me.

I hope you will return for I believe we provide a quality product with great service in a fun atmosphere. Either way, the auto gratuity is here to stay. Thanks again for your input.

Dave
Dave,

Man I almost choked on my coffee when I realized that you were the owner? of The Taco Bar. Thats in a good way :rotfl:. Thank you for responding to the thread, it has taken a life of its own. The young man that served us yesterday would have most likely gotten a $5.00 tip anyway. It was not his service that I questioned nor the food, Just the way it was setup for what I would call counter service. Dave you provide Great food and super service at Bud and Allies. Now I understand why the Taco Bar has the same. Congrats on the job you and your folks do! It just makes it that much better for us here in Sowal!:clap:
 

30A Skunkape

Skunky
Jan 18, 2006
10,329
2,355
55
Backatown Seagrove
How does everyone feel about an automatic 15% being added and then having a line for yet more tippage there for filling in on credit/debit reciept? I feel like a dirtbag when I draw a line through it, but if they do more for me I leave a few extra dollars in cash (cash tips rule!)
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,644
1,773
I've worked in the industry for numerous years. I disagree with your point that waiting on a party of six requires more work for the server. Perhaps, if you are comparing it to taking care on one party of one. However, let's keep only apples in this basket. Taking care of one party of six is much less work than taking care of six parties of one. Six trips to the table to take an order, six trips to the kitchen to get drinks, six trips for giving specials, six tickets to enter into the POS, etc. Time and effort is much less when you have only one party of six vs six parties of one.


The general reason for an auto gratuity for parties of 6 or more is because the more in the party the more work for the waiter. Generally while keeping the same number of tables. I have worked in many establishments where the waiters (myself included) would often have a mini-meeting in the server station to get a second opinion about auto-grating a table. Certain large groups will always get auto-grated by any good waiter because it is just known that you will get screwed if you don't. These include, but are not limited to; highschoolers, any club that requires a colored hat, and I hate to say, but foreigners. Generally the reason for foreigners is that most European countries just pay there waiters a flat liveable wage.

This might gross some people out, but there are resources on the web:

www.waiterrant.com
www.bitterwaitress.com
www.stainedapron.com
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,644
1,773
How does everyone feel about an automatic 15% being added and then having a line for yet more tippage there for filling in on credit/debit reciept? I feel like a dirtbag when I draw a line through it, but if they do more for me I leave a few extra dollars in cash (cash tips rule!)
As long as you are tipping decently via the 15% auto tip, servers aren't upset with your line through the tip line. If you feel an extra gratuity is needed, add it to the line. No biggy. It's easier to print the line for the poeple who use it, rather than not print it and have people wanting to add one.
 

Dave Rauschkolb

Beach Fanatic
Jul 13, 2005
1,004
791
Santa Rosa Beach
Dave,

Man I almost choked on my coffee when I realized that you were the owner? of The Taco Bar. Thats in a good way :rotfl:. Thank you for responding to the thread, it has taken a life of its own. The young man that served us yesterday would have most likely gotten a $5.00 tip anyway. It was not his service that I questioned nor the food, Just the way it was setup for what I would call counter service. Dave you provide Great food and super service at Bud and Allies. Now I understand why the Taco Bar has the same. Congrats on the job you and your folks do! It just makes it that much better for us here in Sowal!:clap:


Thanks so much BH 25, I almost choked on my coffee finding someone who actually did not know what I do. After 23 years in business, it is refreshing to still sometimes be anonymous in SoWal for me.

Dave
 
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