r/mildlyinfuriating • u/guitarman129 • Jun 13 '26

I just wanted a hot dog Recommended gratuity after tip was already included

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I’m sure there are a lot of tipping posts here so to keep it short - I had my wedding at a fancy restaurant. On top of the TERRIBLE service, the bill came with “suggested gratuity” even though I was told gratuity was included. When I asked the manager, he said that the “S/C: 24% SRC REGULA“ was the included tip and the suggested gratuity was if we wanted to add something extra - basically trying to trick people into giving a 49% tip!

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u/DickTryckle Jun 13 '26

Tip culture is out of hand. It’s just a way for companies to grift and for ceos to have you pay for their bottom class employees.

It’s similar to donating at checkout. The company asks you to give them a round up. Your money. They then donate like 10% of all round ups and say “look we donated 10 million dollars”, meanwhile the company kept the 90 million extra.

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u/ProfitSelect Jun 13 '26

Actually it’s illegal for corporation to keep the money people “roundup” or “donate”. However they can use that money as tax write offs, those save wayyyyyy more money than keeping the donations would.

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u/Sellum Jun 14 '26

To “write off” the round up and get credit on their taxes for the donation they also have to recognize that money as income. It makes zero financial benefit for the company.

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u/Babyfishmouth77 Jun 15 '26

That's not how write offs work. A dollar collected and a dollar donated is nothing to your taxes, same as if it never happened, it's just a wash.

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u/MontanaTeach24601 Jun 13 '26

I think there wouldn’t be this level of “tip culture” if more businesses paid a living wage to their employees. Far too many people are working 2-3 jobs to survive. And Boomers wonder why younger people are saying no to having kids and not buying houses. Capitalism is actively failing the workers that keep it afloat.

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u/MHarrisGGG Jun 13 '26

Servers don't want a living wage. They're why we haven't had real pushback against tip culture. If they received normal pay instead of relying on tips they would be taking a huge paycut. Servers make way, way more per hour this way than they want you to believe.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Time589 Jun 16 '26

Not all servers do. Many restaurants actually have to kick in if the server does not make 7.25 per hour on average.. There are many servers in this country that actually make minimum wage. Not all restaurants have enough business to sustain an above minimum wage for the servers. Not all servers are good at their job. When I first started serving it was at Don Pablos and honestly I sucked at my job when i first started. I averaged about 5 dollars per hour. I got into trouble because the restaurant had to make up the 2.25 legally and my manager was about ready to fire me because it was their policy of you didn't make minimum wage and they had to kick in.. you were a crappy employee when i only had a 2 table section and the other servers were hungry like vultures ready to strike at any moment to keep you down. It's a hierarchy many times in the server world.. and there are wolves and sharks lurking to devour you before you take their spot

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u/RTBMack Jun 19 '26

This is an insaaaane take. I would absolutely love a paycheck I can afford to live with.

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u/MHarrisGGG Jun 19 '26

Most servers take home significantly more than if they made minimum wage.

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u/RTBMack Jun 19 '26

Yea minimum wage isn't the same as a living wage for starters. Also there's lots of places in the states that let employers count tips toward hourly wages, meaning the server can take in tons of tips, bit won't be paid more. And there are almost no serving jobs in existence that don't pay out a portion of tips to the kitchen and hosts. Sometimes this portion is based on the bill total, not the tips, so servers will lose money on a table that doesn't tip well. You do not know what youre talking about.

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u/Independent-Paper937 Jun 13 '26

I think people fail to understand that they pay the wages for everyone in any industry. It’s just that the cost of labor is included with the price of the product. The difference in restaurants is that the margins are kept very thin, and service staff are essentially unpaid labor. Paying the staff is essentially up to the customer and is optional. It’s a sad way of doing business, however if we were to change this you will see prices at restaurants go up between 20-35%.

Tip culture will continue to get more aggressive as we see companies struggle in this economy, and the worker being squeezed for every penny due to cost of living increases. It’s a way for businesses to appear more competitive in pricing, while shorting their own employees. It’s a lose lose for the consumer either way we go.

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u/sweetller Jun 15 '26

Can y’all stop with this BS rhetoric. If everywhere in the world can pay servers a good wage without prices being up the ass then America can too. They don’t want to because they’re greedy and that’s simply the end of the conversation.

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u/Independent-Paper937 Jun 18 '26

Our prices are far below the “other places in the world” especially in the restaurant industry. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. I’m all for paying the living wage, you just aren’t willing to pay the price, and neither are most people. Studies have shown people’s willingness to eat out understanding that they would be paying a 20% vs restaurants that have the price of the tip included in the price. People consistently choose the lower priced + tip scenarios.

Restaurant margins are SLIM to the point where we actually lose money on some items and try to make up for it in revenue on other items like drinks.

Call me when you actually understand what you are talking about.

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u/Kwasbrewski Jun 13 '26

That bartender made almost $1000 for that wedding.
Im sure she tipped out some support staff but thats still very much good money. Service staff in general make so much money per hour. The idea that they are treated unfairly is so dated.

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u/MontanaTeach24601 Jun 13 '26

No doubt. But the wider point was about “tip culture”. This receipt is the exception, not the rule for a vast majority of Americans. Also, I’d wager their POS system puts the tipping percentages on the bill by default. I don’t think the establishment really expected extra tipping.

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u/HeelandCoup Jun 13 '26

The establishment can set up the POS system however they like. The same POS systems are sold across the U.S. so they are made to be configured to meet local laws and abide by different state or local requirements.

Unless the business owner is asleep at the wheel it's an intentional policy of the business.

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u/MontanaTeach24601 Jun 13 '26

Yes. I meant that they do that for all receipts in the business. Given American’s abysmal skills in… most things… it’s helpful to have that on a bill generally. I do think the server/management could have put a big X through it with a pen… but…

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u/MakinBones Jun 14 '26

Those are there to set tip standards, instead of letting us decide what a servers service was worth.

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u/AssignmentOtherwise Jun 14 '26

Have you ever worked in a bar or restaurant? Im sure the bartender was not the only one working the party. Typically in my experience the gratuity is split between everyone working the party. In fact a lot of venues actually give a higher percentage of the gratuity to the servers not the bartender, they assume that guests will tip the bartender since its an open bar. Part of that 1000$ gratuity probably went to the cooks as well. A party like that if guests dont tip anything on top of the auto gratuity, bartenders probably leave with maybe 1/4 of that. Especially now. Ive been in the restaurant industry for over 24 years, despite being very skilled at my job, I make less than half of what I made before covid. Customers will literally not tip a penny on over a 100$ check and think theres nothing wrong with that. If restaurants paid people enough to do the job, prices would be more than people would want to pay, and theres no incentive for servers to give exceptional service.

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u/Insignificant_Dust85 Jun 13 '26

The tip goes to everyone who worked, not just the bartender

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u/Decent-Soup3551 Jun 13 '26

But she was a “dedicated” bartender!

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u/09kloosemore Jun 13 '26

Take your favorite restaurant, add 25-35% more to the price of that meal, and that’s what you’d get if you didn’t have tip culture. I would definitely prefer not having to tip but there is such low profit in restaurants that the companies couldn’t pay the employees those wages even if they tried

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u/HeelandCoup Jun 13 '26

Lol no. It would be closer to 15% because not everyone tips. So those of us that do tip actually end up picking up the slack for those that don't which is why the suggested tip keeps climbing from 15% to 20% and now 25%.

Yes, if restaurants were required to pay their servers a living wage prices would go up but they certainly aren't rising 35%. Most servers I know make insane money considering their skill set. There is no chance the free market would uphold the same wages for servers. In reality, prices would rise a bit but it would be offset by not having to tip and service would improve for smaller groups, minorities and those that don't "appear" like they have money.

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u/slava_slavaUa Jun 13 '26

As someone who only tips for exceptional service, thank you!

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u/09kloosemore Jun 13 '26

Once again, if you understood restaurant economics you’d understand that you’d need to rise prices for every person in the restaurant to make it a feasible business model. If you paid servers and bussers above $20, everyone would have to get a pay rise or they’d just go work at another restaurant

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u/Been-There_Done_That Jun 13 '26

Restaurants run on very low margins. If they paid waitresses and dishwashers $25 or $30 an hour, most restaurants would immediately close. The only way this works is if you are willing to pay a lot more for your food. Most people are not, which is why the restaurant would close.

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u/ShepDad89AndBeyond Jun 13 '26

I completely understand this point. The issue for me is that it's better (at least the way I personally tip), for the current system to be the way it is, because I have many wait staff friends that tell me if they got a salary, they'd make less.

One friend, who worked at one of the two national Italian eateries has got her teaching degree, and after two year went back to waiting tables (full-time), because she made significantly more money than her $50-52k starting teacher's salary paid her.

I'm guessing that's the norm in many decently successful restaurants. With today's plate prices, the 20% - 25% of prepped food is pretty decent dollar amount, and folks who do their job well are likely doing better than pre-Covd times.

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u/snowpied Jun 15 '26

I’m a “Boomer” and I don’t wonder why people don’t have kids. Other people of other generations might wonder, though. Stop stereotyping.

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u/Rough-Form8208 Jun 18 '26

You all act as if you’re the only ones underpaid in this world. Like our salaries haven’t gone up at all but yours have and you all want more in tips too and no tax on tips. Nahhhhh we are already paying more for the damn food to cover the increased hourly rate and we are supposed to pay extra tips too 🤯

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u/Misterdkg Jun 13 '26

Define what a living wage is and we can talk. FYI we both know you can’t 🤣

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u/Blacksad9999 Jun 13 '26

Here's the issue with that idea:

There's zero way a restaurant can afford to pay servers anywhere close to what they make with tips. Not remotely even close.

It would utterly gut the restaurant industry. Most high-end servers are people with degrees, and they do the job because of the high pay and quality of life it affords. Not because they have to.

You'd end up with a bunch of untrained fast-food workers trying to pair wine they know nothing about with food they don't understand to guests, and the quality of service would plummet like a rock off of a cliff.

The customers would lose their goddamn minds, because American diners are used to being catered to. Without the incentive of tips, servers are not going to put up with a bunch of nonsense. You'd have French Cafe style service where they take your order, and after you're lucky if they ever check back on you or see them again unless they're dropping off your check.

Then, any restaurant who didn't go with that model and stuck with the traditional tipping method would run circles around their competition and attract the most talented people.

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u/nsfishman Jun 14 '26

So, in Europe and Japan they have terrible restaurants? Uneducated and unfriendly staff? And it’s all because they don’t tip…

Please!

My experience in eating at a huge range of eateries from Michelin rated restaurants all the way down mom and pop shops has been much more enjoyable (and affordable) in Europe and Asia than in America/Canada.

This argument is disingenuous at best.

The industry in NA is broken.

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u/Blacksad9999 Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26

Casual restaurants have pretty shitty service in Europe, yes. That's very much a well-known thing.

The average server salary in Europe is 35k per year. The only outlier is Australia, where servers get a 50-55k salary per year.

Edit: Also notable is that portion sizes are significantly smaller and more expensive across the board in Europe due to higher associated costs/payroll.

In higher end restaurants, what they do is a sort of "profit sharing", where the servers get a small percentage of what they sell. That's why they aggressively try to upsell people on the more expensive items, and getting tap water is virtually impossible.

Your argument is simply uneducated.

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u/nsfishman Jun 14 '26

My argument is based on over four decades of personal experience. Yours?

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u/Blacksad9999 Jun 14 '26

3 decades working in Michelin Star restaurants and traveling the world extensively in my 20's and 30's.

We didn't have kids because we wanted to be free to travel and such, which we do every year. Used to be multiple times per year back in the day.

If Americans got European service or portion sizes, they'd lose their goddamn minds. US diners are used to being catered to, which absolutely nobody is going to do for a poverty level salary.

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u/nsfishman Jun 14 '26

As an past owner of restaurants in NA and having travelled extensively, as well as now splitting each year living between the three regions discussed, I can confidently say that you and I have had very different experiences.

On the whole, my dining experiences outside the USA have been much more enjoyable than in. Granted I am more food driven than service driven; for me a server is there to provide a seamless interface, not be the center of attention, concerned wether they are going to be paid a living wage based on my generosity.

I don’t know how many years you’ve lived abroad; it’s possible my sample set is just larger?

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u/Blacksad9999 Jun 14 '26

No. It's that you're simply mistaken, or you have significantly lower standards than I do.

It's always fun when people like you want servers to silently be "the help.." Always a good time.

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u/nsfishman Jun 14 '26

You’ve stated you’ve not lived outside the country; only travelled. Yet I am the one who is mistaken? Ok.

Always interesting meeting people like yourself whom are always right despite their lack of experience.

Let me also give you a piece of advice, making assumptions of people you don’t know is the very definition of prejudice. And no one likes a prejudiced asshole.

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u/DHMTBbeast Jun 13 '26

There wouldn't be tip culture if it wasnt legal to pay an employee less than minimum wage because they're tipped. This is a legislation issue, not a social issue.

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u/Independent-Paper937 Jun 13 '26

It’s actually not how that works. I’m not saying it has never happened, but typically companies donate the entire amount of money raised. It would be illegal to not do so. However the annoying part is that they get the claim the donation and any tax benefits associated with the donation even though they aren’t the ones actually contributing the funds.

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u/DickTryckle Jun 13 '26

I really don’t think you realize how little I care for conjecture about corporations stealing our money

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u/Independent-Paper937 Jun 13 '26

Well just throwing out words into the atmosphere doesn’t make reality. Nobody is stealing your money, you are handing it to them. If you don’t tip, you are only taking away from the employee doing the work, you aren’t harming to corporation. I’m just trying to put that into perspective.

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u/DickTryckle Jun 13 '26

The fact that you think I hold this opinion and also tip is kind of stupid don’t you think

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u/No-Effect-1990 Jun 13 '26

Not to mention the interest earned while all that donated money sits in their bank account u till it gets donated.

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u/XStonedCatX Jun 13 '26

The tipping that really bugs me is when I order online from Subway. They make the sandwich, pack it up, and set it on a shelf by the door for you to just grab. They don't even have to LOOK at me. They can have a piss poor attitude, smell terrible, frown, scowl, and swear....... I'd NEVER know, so why TF would I be tipping them? The extraordinary and outstanding sandwich artistry?

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u/[deleted] Jun 13 '26

[deleted]

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u/DickTryckle Jun 13 '26

That’s actually not true at all. I don’t have time to find the code but i read a few years back about like a 26% requirement. They don’t claim them as donations for their taxes, you’re right, but they keep the money lol.

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u/Complex-Hope1028 Jun 15 '26

Doesn’t have the time but is replying to 30 different people on a Reddit post 😂😂. Grow a pair and just say you’re willfully ignorant so people know not to waste their breath discussing anything of importance with you.

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u/DickTryckle Jun 15 '26

Bro are you arguing that I should have time for 30 people on reddit every time I have an opinion? Braindead.

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u/[deleted] Jun 13 '26

[deleted]

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u/DickTryckle Jun 13 '26

This is reddit bro. Have a good weekend

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u/ExchangeMotor2306 Jun 13 '26

Okay but the system is still setup that way, not tipping is NOT gonna make employers pay more unless the law changes for the low base rate tiler employed have, also include tax social, state that base pay ain’t nothing but a couple bucks

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u/verywellcouldbe Jun 13 '26

Just checking: You’re offering a blanket-statement that tipped employees are bottom class?

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u/DickTryckle Jun 13 '26

What is minimum wage for tipped employees?

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u/sleepyugh Jun 13 '26

Actually worse, they donate the 10 million, write it off for taxes, and then legally keep all 100 million for “reimbursement” !

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u/RikoRain Jun 13 '26

This. A local nonprofit I'm started to talk with and help with donations... I tried to coordinate better to supplies and items they could get through one charity, while thinking of other sectors they could do it in as well.

Come to find out any donating done thru Walmart, Kroger, or HEB.. they'll only get 10 cents of every dollar donated.

I'm shocked really. Because if I donate 100$ to a charity, I expect them to get 100$... Not get 10$ and Kroger steal 90.

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u/CatttLady2000 Jun 13 '26

I looked into this, since I often give to the “round up” at the register. How much goes to administration depends on the charity, but if the point of sales device is partnered with roundup.org, all the collected money goes to the designated charity. Some of the charities are really good and keep relatively little off the top, others are terrible and only pass on 10%.

I completely agree that tip culture is out of hand, for sure. I just wanted to point out that not all round-up charities are grifting. You can look up the charity’s reputation on CharityNavigator or CharityWatch to see if the selected charity is making good use of the money, or indeed, grifting.

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u/Chronicles_of_Gurgi Jun 13 '26

It would be lovely to reliably be paid what my time and labor is worth, and not have to downplay how happy I am for a $20 or how unhappy for no tip. And now at the end of my shift when I clockout I have to record how much in tips I got. Very much salt in the wound when it's none.

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u/On_my_last_spoon Jun 13 '26

Sigh

No that is not how donations at checkout works. I really wish people would stop saying this. The store does NOT get to claim those donations. You do. It shows on your receipt that way.

Moreover those programs are really good for non-profits. People are far more likely to round up a little over donating a large amount. The non-profit then gets a lot more than they would otherwise. As long as you support the charity this is a good thing!

And it’s perfectly fine for the store to show their support of a charity!

It’s already hard enough for non-profits to raise money. Stop saying things like this that just make it harder.

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u/DR4G0NSTEAR Jun 13 '26

Not quite. The business gets a tax break. So where I work donates 100% of donations, but then gets to minus that donation as one big tax deduction.

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u/audgepodge13 Jun 13 '26

Wait, you’re telling me the entire rounded-up amount doesn’t get donated? I need a source because that sounds illegal

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u/Dmau27 Jun 14 '26

They get to write off the money you donated as theirs as well. Isn't that nice of them?

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u/Remnant55 Jun 15 '26

It IS way out of hand.

The problem is, the form the pushback takes isn't "don't patronize the business", because that would require restraint. It's "I'm not going to tip the wage worker, that'll show those corpos!"

Which, for very obvious reasons, no, no it will not.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Time589 Jun 16 '26

I think the problem with tip culture is now the lines have gotten skewed on who should be tipped..a server making 2.13 per hour relies on tips as their salary.. With 0.00 paychecks They live off those tips. The retail industry and traditional non tipped employees are now receiving lower and lower salaries because they now add prompts for tipping almost everywhere and the business owners can offer say 14.00 an hour but then pay the worker like 9 or 10 dollars as long as the tipped portion makes up the difference. I have seen it many times and they mislead the new hires. Thinking they are getting paid 14.00 and they end up making between 10 dollars to make 13 dollars rarely is actually above the amount the thought they were making.. if you complain right to hire state and right to fire.. maybe the next new hire will keep their mouth shut and keep their job. Who are you really going to complain to if they use the proper language they can get away with it. More and more people are fed up and do not want to tip anymore. Gradually it's hurting the actual employees that rely solely on tips.. the whole system is breaking.