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[t'Sade]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091119_College_students_arrested_for_not_paying_tip.html

Interesting little article, one that no doubt doesn't tell the full story. But, this side is about a group of college students that decided not to pay the 18% gratutity automatically added to a bill at a restaurant. Some places do this, normally "12% gratutity is automatically added for parties over 8" or something to that effect. I always wondered if I had to pay it. If you do, then it really isn't a gratutity, it's a service fee. If you don't, I figured it was just social pressure to include it.

But, what if you tip low because of bad service? Is bad service automatically get you 10, 15, 18% tip just because the size of your group? If that is true, there is no reason to actually do good service, you'll get your money anyways.

Just an interesting idea. I suspect that there is more to this story, mainly because they were arrested for only paying the bill, not the service, but I've never heard of any place that actually had someone arrested for not paying their tip.

[der Wandersmann]

If they have to go to court for this, and lose, I'd advise them to pay ... and then picket the place.

[Ludovico]

If they have to go to court for this, and lose, I'd advise them to pay ... and then picket the place.

This is a civil case, over a bill, not criminal. My guess is a judge will say so and kick it. Anyone can refuse to pay a bill for failure to deliver a sevice - and go to court. The bad publicity is not worth it for the restaurant.

I am a big tipper when the service is good - but make it very clear when it isn't. Especially during happy hours - when the prices are low, but waiters and waitresses work just as hard - or harder.

There must be more to the story!

Okay, I just went back to it and voted - 89% of the people voted that you do not pay the tip. Hope they win in court! 

[KK]

I'ven ever been to the US, so I only know the US concepts of tips from hear-say.

It doesn't exist in Germany.
When you go to a restaurant in Germany, you pay for whatever you eat/drink. Naturally waiters are happy about tips, but there is absolutely no way to force a guest to paying a tip or gratuity or service fee. Actually any clause stating that services will be more expensive if the group is larger will be null and void.

So, this story, even though I heard of how tips are handled in the USA, to me kinda sounds like a story from outer space.

I'm curious what becomes of it, though.

[t'Sade]

Economically, tipping is actually a way of not paying people minimum wage. In effect,you can say someone is "expected" to get 40% of their income from tips, so you only have to pay 60% of minimum wage which saves money in the long run. It is a form of commission business.

Now, Fluffy's job is purely commission. She is expected to make 100% of her income from sales, which really hurts us in the long run (but a job is a job).