The money grab is out of control. I, who used to be ashamed because of the “black folks don’t tip guilt” I’d over tip. That shit is gone now, between the “do you want to round up” bullshit, to the “do you want to donate to kittens with cancer” or "homeless children being trafficked, to this 18% service fee shit. I proudly say “fuck no” when asked if I am willing to give to any of these things. To which one employee said “fuck no?” to which I said “fuck them cats.” I LOVE CATS. But, it’s not for them to know. I’ve gone from being ashamed to embracing the black people don’t tip. At least they won’t be disappointed, they knew it was coming. I don’t tip at takeouts. Of course at sit down restaurants where the service was good that’s another story.
It’s also interesting how since society is going cashless and we see more “begging.” I wonder if there is a psychological correlation.
At the bottom of customers’ checks, it now reads: “The service charge is not a tip or gratuity, and is an added fee controlled by the restaurant that helps facilitate a higher living base wage for all of our employees. Please scan the QR Code at the top of the receipt for additional information, or speak with a manager.”
Over the weekend, servers received a message from management about the change.
“We have decided to further update the guest check and QR Code summary page regarding the service charge,” the message read. “Although we have always been very clear with our guests and our staff that the service charge is not a tip or gratuity, unfortunately the recent LA Times article has created confusion and we don’t want that to affect our staff or our customers’ experience. We believe in this team, the experience, and our ability to come together to preserve what’s so special about Jon & Vinny’s.”
(Emphasis added.)
Last two paragraphs:
“It certainly doesn’t solve the problem, because people are still pissed about the 18% and where it goes,” the server said. “And it clearly didn’t make them tip more last night.”
Sunday night, the server said, diners left fewer tips than usual for him. He said customers left “a lot of zeroes” in tips or wrote “included” in the tip line.
Under the guise of BOH equity, a worthy goal, they’ve created a new revenue stream they can disburse however they see fit, including into their pockets.
They’re being honest in the same way a bank or a used car dealer is being honest with their small print.
Or like spectrum who told me my cable would be $75 a month. And then i get the bill and they added a $20 “broadcast channel service fee”.
I mean next the car dealership will advertise the car is $10,000 and then when you go to sign for your loan it’ll be a $30,000 additional fees. Of course they’re used to cover the cost of employees and keeping the lights on.
All Hi Ho, et al, is doing is being honest about their dishonesty.
To be fair… I should’ve put a screenshot of the entire browser window. When you click the link to order, the pop-up window w/ the 6% pops up immediately (b/f you can even select menu items) and is actually quite big. So it is upfront, and it is impossible to miss. Not sure if people ordering in-person get quite the same intensity of the notice.
What raised my eyebrow (more from curiosity than anything else) was the legalese about it not being segmented or designated and that it is taxed. I haven’t been following most of the conversation on this thread, so I wasn’t sure why the restaurant thought it necessary (or important) to clarify all that.
I suppose the 6% fee means that you still get to avoid the increase in city tax (had the menu prices just been all increased by 6%), I guess.
I think HiHo still has a strong enough QPR that I will con’t to order from there.
I participate in a car leasing forum, and there is indeed a ton of fine print in that kind of deal. So the HiHo still feels more honest than that. The dealers and brokers there make no bones about a horrific (from the buyer’s perspective) deal funding their yacht (or, TBH, their Rolex or pool remodel) purchase…
I still think it’s dishonest. I think that they should be adding 6% to the menu prices.
I don’t think people should have to sit there and calculate while ordering “oh wait, I have to remember they’re gonna add 6% to this.” And 6% may seem negligible. Until they make it 10%, 15%, or 20%.
I’m sure that’s true. But obviously the actual price is more than 995 for the burger.
it just seems like such a bait and switch.
I mean with rising costs eventually that cheeseburger that’s $9.95 will have to have a 15% or 20% or 30% surcharge, right? The cost of business is never going to go down it’s only gonna get higher.
It’s out of control, and every industry is starting to do this.
I know, I’m sorry, that I keep going on and on about this. I’ll shut up now lol
At the Indian-American sports bar Pijja Palace in Los Angeles, there’s a note written by owner Avish Naran on the menu right beneath a selection of chicken wings: This is a reminder that we have 19% SERVICE CHARGE. I put this under the wings section, so you can fly your ass out of here if you don’t like it.
So it is upfront, and it is impossible to miss. Not sure if people ordering in-person get quite the same intensity of the notice. 
