Monday, May 9, 2011

Monday Manners: Rule #61 | Automatic Gratuity

Rule #61: Alert Customers to Automatic Gratuity

In a lot a restaurants, a sentence in small italics at the bottom of the page lets customers know that for parties of 6 or more, a gratuity of 18% will automatically be added to the check. For the most part, people are comfortable with this as long as the service is good.

However, when presenting the check, it is still your responsibility to let the party know that gratuity has been added. If you forget to tell the party, and they double tip, you need to let them know, before they leave the establishment, that a gratuity had already been added. If the double tip was intentional, it's your lucky day. If it wasn't, better to deal with getting it corrected now then in a few days when your manager may think you're someone who can't be trusted.

2 comments:

  1. The whole concept of tipping has been lost. It was intended as a reward for exceptional service but now is expected regardless of the quality of service.

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  2. I know a lot of people who will leave 15% only if the service is of poor quality, as they usually leave 20-30%. Doesn't TIP mean To Insure Promptness? And wasn't it given out beforehand not after?

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