Mandatory 16% tip at new Earls 67 locations (Stephen Ave)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

What annoys me is how the new interac debit machines almost all have a tip option, regardless of what the business is. Even some fast food places have a tip option on their machines now. The tipping culture and the expectation of a tip is brutal

Actually, and I'll tell you, as a business owner this drives me crazy, those goddamned Point of Sale machines are ridiculous!

I hate being propositioned every other day for a new POS provider with lower rates and all their BS, but mostly, those goddamned POS machines are complicated!

I had a tip feature on mine because its default, it took me forever to figure out how to undo it.

Honestly, I do taxes for a living and here I am in my office with the manual to the stupid debit machine to try and figure out how to de-activate the tip function. And people think my job is incomprehensible.

The manual to a POS machine. Have you seen the size of that document? You could have the cure for cancer or the recipe for turning lead into gold in there and nobody would ever know. Granted my new one is very easy and much less complicated.

So dont always get too fussy when you see an option for the tip to come up, it could easily just be that this is how it was setup and nobody knows how to change it.

I actually should turn that function back on just to see the reactions.

But I wont. Because I hate it too.

[Calgary14]

Ha! I never really thought of the other side of it. I just assumed businesses were out to get every last dime they could possibly get.

I suggest turning the tip option back on, especially when someone owes big on their taxes. "You owe CRA $20k, and don't forget to tip me when you pick up the paperwork"

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Ha! I never really thought of the other side of it. I just assumed businesses were out to get every last dime they could possibly get.

I suggest turning the tip option back on, especially when someone owes big on their taxes. "You owe CRA $20k, and don't forget to tip me when you pick up the paperwork"

A common stigma against us poor business-folk.

[sa226]

Is there any law requiring the establishment to advertise their tipping policy?

7 of us went to a steakhouse in Banff over the weekend. Our server was terrible and kind of rude. We were debating just how much we would tip, until the bill came and had an automatic 18% gratuity.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sa226

Is there any law requiring the establishment to advertise their tipping policy?

7 of us went to a steakhouse in Banff over the weekend. Our server was terrible and kind of rude. We were debating just how much we would tip, until the bill came and had an automatic 18% gratuity.

Well...I think its printed on the menu normally that 18% is automatic for groups of 6 or more.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GGG

Depending on tip out 5% could be -1%.

Well I guess the house tip-out structure should look at changing with the $3 jump in minimum wage then.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Well I guess the house tip-out structure should look at changing with the $3 jump in minimum wage then.

I'd hope not cooks are underpaid significantly relative to servers.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GGG

I'd hope not cooks are underpaid significantly relative to servers.

So then tipping below the theoretical 8% closes that gap, and they're both around $17 an hour.

Back when I used to work in the significantly underpaid portion of the bar, minimum wage for the service industry was (IIRC) 20% less than the rest of the province's minimum wage. That gap was eliminated. Then wages went up. So over the course of 4 years in Alberta, min wage for servers/service staff went from $9.20 to $15. What is that, a 62% wage increase over 4 years?

The only reason I've tipped above 5-10% in the past was because I recall what it was like working for wages below the rest of the province's minimum. Since wages have skyrocketed for the industry, personally I'm not going to care if the server is losing 1% of tips to pay the kitchen out, because they haven't adapted the tip structure with wages. I have no idea why people would still be tipping over 10% with the spike in wages.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

So then tipping below the theoretical 8% closes that gap, and they're both around $17 an hour.

Back when I used to work in the significantly underpaid portion of the bar, minimum wage for the service industry was (IIRC) 20% less than the rest of the province's minimum wage. That gap was eliminated. Then wages went up. So over the course of 4 years in Alberta, min wage for servers/service staff went from $9.20 to $15. What is that, a 62% wage increase over 4 years?

The only reason I've tipped above 5-10% in the past was because I recall what it was like working for wages below the rest of the province's minimum. Since wages have skyrocketed for the industry, personally I'm not going to care if the server is losing 1% of tips to pay the

kitchen out, because they haven't adapted the tip structure with wages. I have no idea why people would still be tipping over 10% with the spike in wages.

IF you are going to tip below 6% you should find out what the tip out is at each restaurant you go to and boycott them. It's not fair to the server if they pay to serve you.

[ASP#26525]

Personally, I prefer the European philosophy. Hourly wages are much, much higher and a tip is something you give only when service is exemplary--it is typically not expected. I know it doesn't fly here because of North America's demand for quick service, but when you eat out there, it's more like a 2-3 hour event (and costs a lot more) so people don't do it as often (relatively speaking).

Just my personal preference having lived in both places.

[Mister Yamoto]

Minimum wage in Alberta is $12.20. $15 is still 19 months away. People are snobbing on servers for a small raise that they haven't even gotten yet.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by ASP#26525

Personally, I prefer the European philosophy. Hourly wages are much, much higher and a tip is something you give only when service is exemplary--it is typically not expected. I know it doesn't fly here because of North America's demand for quick service, but when you eat out there, it's more like a 2-3 hour event (and costs a lot more) so people don't do it as often (relatively speaking).

Just my personal preference having lived in both places.

Even better is the Australian or Kiwi way. Thanking them for wonderful service is the tip and you'll get a big smile and thank you back.

Seriously, good servers in bars/nightclubs make a fortune, $20-30 an hour tax free tips and $12 and hour on the books. A good hard working server can make $80-90k a year and pay $5-6 grand in taxes.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Even better is the Australian or Kiwi way. Thanking them for wonderful service is the tip and you'll get a big smile and thank you back.

Seriously, good servers in bars/nightclubs make a fortune, $20-30 an hour tax free tips and $12 and hour on the books. A good hard working server can make $80-90k a year and pay $5-6 grand in taxes.

don't even have to be a good hard worker. just good looking, if you're female.

plus if you work in a bar, all the extra you make by short pouring, adding drinks to tabs of drunk people, getting drinks bought for you and just taking the money, etc.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Even better is the Australian or Kiwi way. Thanking them for wonderful service is the tip and you'll get a big smile and thank you back.

Seriously, good servers in bars/nightclubs make a fortune, $20-30 an hour tax free tips and $12 and hour on the books. A good hard working server can make $80-90k a year and pay $5-6 grand in taxes.

I remember eating in Banff one night and having a horrible Australian server. She must have thought she was doing a good job though because she was so up beat. The bill was like whatever, 80 bucks or something, I think I tipped her 5 or 6 bucks and she was SO happy and grateful. I just wanted to shake her and say no, this is an insult and a reflection of your poor service!!

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

I agree, at that level Canadian beef wins. But in Canada there's really no point in going for a really high-end steak because of the consistency. In the U.S. it's a lot more worth it to go to a high-end steakhouse because you're guaranteed it will be of outstanding quality.

In Canada, I've never found any sort of difference between mid-level and high-end steak to the point where I've stopped going out for steak in Canada. It's just not worth it.

May I direct you to the steakhouse in Longview, AB

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Even better is the Australian or Kiwi way. Thanking them for wonderful service is the tip and you'll get a big smile and thank you back.

Yep I absolutely love not having to tip. The only negative is with the high minimum wage and servers being paid by the establishments and not customers is less servers are hired resulting in many pubs and cafes not having table service. That is a small price to pay (pun intended) however.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

May I direct you to the steakhouse in Longview, AB

Oh yes....

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Locke

Actually, and I'll tell you, as a business owner this drives me crazy, those goddamned Point of Sale machines are ridiculous!

I hate being propositioned every other day for a new POS provider with lower rates and all their BS, but mostly, those goddamned POS machines are complicated!

I had a tip feature on mine because its default, it took me forever to figure out how to undo it.

Honestly, I do taxes for a living and here I am in my office with the manual to the stupid debit machine to try and figure out how to de-activate the tip function. And people think my job is incomprehensible.

The manual to a POS machine. Have you seen the size of that document? You could have the cure for cancer or the recipe for turning lead into gold in there and nobody would ever know. Granted my new one is very easy and much less complicated.

So dont always get too fussy when you see an option for the tip to come up, it could easily just be that this is how it was setup and nobody knows how to change it.

I actually should turn that function back on just to see the reactions.

But I wont. Because I hate it too.

That would be awesome for fun. "Uhh Mr. Smith, I can't help but notice you skipped the 20% tip option on this $2000 bill for your business taxes".

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

May I direct you to the steakhouse in Longview, AB

I was intrigued by your comment/suggestion and I tried finding this place online. I have driven down to Longview a few times and had some lunch/drinks at the hotel/ bar there but couldn't find this place until I read this thread.

I can't find a website for this place to actually check out the menu. Any recommendations ? The pictures I found online look impressive.