On a related note, I find this whole auto-tip business to be annoying. A tip is a good will gesture on the part of the customer. It's based on receiving good service and shouldn't be automatically applied to the bill. Doing so makes it a "fee", not a tip.
And 18%? Since when? I was always taught that 15% is a proper tip when the service has been good. On some occasions, I've given up to 20% for exemplary service.
For years I've gone out to lunch weekly with a group of 8 to 10 ladies. Lately we've been asking for separate checks and 99% of the time the waitress has no problem with that, as us splitting the check wasn't working out. Once a waitress objected and since there wasn't an automatic tip added to the group check, we reflected our displeasure with the tip amount, and never returned there. I don't see why an automatic tip should be added for a group. It makes no sense to me.
The thing with large groups is that the single waitress for one full hour could wind up only with that table for service. That is why a forced tip will occur at least at applebees.
If she serves say 10 plates to one table, she's saving herself time and steps opposed to serving several tables. The norm around here is 20% for good to average service so she's lost out at 18% tacked onto the check. I think most people find the automatic "tip" offensive.
Party of 8 and the bill came to just $34? What did they have? Just coffee? I would have rounded it off to $40 for taking up the table space.
Right or wrong, adding an automatic service charge to a large party's bill is fairly common. You are told up front and have an opportunity to object at that time.
The pastor was embarrassed by her actions, not the waitress'. If she hadn't written a smart ass comment, this never happened.
I agree. If she was going to be embarrassed by her actions, she shouldn't have written it. It's true that the server shouldn't have posted it, but since the picture doesn't contain any personal info from the card, I think a formal write up should have sufficed.
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It had the pastor's signature, which is how this came to light in the first place ...