Woman Banned From Cafe For Tipping 20%

[btimbit]

People on the internet are quick to claim they don't want to tip, but in the real world, restaurants that ask for no tips then raise their prices to accommodate that tend to do quite poorly because to the average person they seem to be more expensive

The two restaurants in Calgary that I've been to in the last few years that offer no tipping, had awful service and overpriced menu items. Yeah it's a total anecdotal fallacy, but there's a reason restaurants even in the last 10 years that have done the same thing tend to fail

I firmly believe any change in this department needs to come from the Government, PLUS an education campaign on how this isn't the US and everyone here makes at least minimum wage.

But we already have a too long of a list of things under the category: "We aren't the US, stop acting like it" before we need to worry about tipping

but if a coffee place hands you a debit machine and the tip options start at 20%, and you feel too pressured to hit the "other" button, then that's on you being an idiot. Don't blame them for taking advantage of you being soft

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The increase in costs to operate restaurants (labour, rent, energy, food) are here to stay. That means prices are only going up. Many restaurants will fail. Fewer new ones will open. I expect we’ll see a shift in North America to European norms around restaurants and dining out, where it becomes an occasional treat rather than a routine habit.

For me the issue isn't really tipping, it's just that the whole expense for the value received is lacking lately. I ate at a "decent" restaurant a while ago and for the two of us it was a fair amount of money. But the thing is the overall meal and such was kind of underwhelming. You have a cocktail, appetizer (or dessert) and meal with a tip and it gets pricey. But then you leave and think "it was OK, but nothing amazing for that amount of money". Or at least that is what I think, but maybe I'm just getting cheaper.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Wait take out or delivery?

Take out is picking it up and delivery is Doordash or Skip.

I always do pick up, never Doordash or Skip.

I will tip on pick up, generally 10%, if the service is good, ie: they engage with me as soon as they can, order is ready, essentially is the experience is smooth and enjoyable

I know, but because I know they're also on Doordash and / or skip, I tip on takeout because I think they're probably getting hosed on about 90% of their other business. People who might otherwise have just done pickup now order through those services, including for pickup, because for example there's a 20% off deal going on through one of them and it's cheaper than doing pick up directly. Hell, I do it too - If Doordash is going to give me $10 off a $30 pick up order, I'm going to use it.

Yeah 10% is what I do also. On takeout the experience is basically never anything but smooth in my experience.

[TheIronMaiden]

I do 10% for anything that isn't full service, unless I am a regular, or I know the server.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I know, but because I know they're also on Doordash and / or skip, I tip on takeout because I think they're probably getting hosed on about 90% of their other business. People who might otherwise have just done pickup now order through those services, including for pickup, because for example there's a 20% off deal going on through one of them and it's cheaper than doing pick up directly. Hell, I do it too - If Doordash is going to give me $10 off a $30 pick up order, I'm going to use it.

Yeah 10% is what I do also. On takeout the experience is basically never anything but smooth in my experience.

Just curious, does that discount come from Doordhash(or whoever) or do they force the restaurants to eat it?

[activeStick]

Don't restaurants increase the price of their menu items when you order through one of the food delivery apps? For example, something that might cost you $12 if you order it in the restaurant might be marked up on the app to $13.50 or whatever. They do this because they'd otherwise be operating at a massive loss for each order once they pay the fees due to the delivery app service. I'm guessing the restaurants factor in the costs they are saving from hiring their own delivery driver and the additional costs for having the app service.

[jammies]

Can't the thread title be edited? Ok, you were fooled, but it doesn't need to be a permanent red flag for all the old guys bemoaning the tragedy of over-tipping tearing society apart.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Slava

For me the issue isn't really tipping, it's just that the whole expense for the value received is lacking lately. I ate at a "decent" restaurant a while ago and for the two of us it was a fair amount of money. But the thing is the overall meal and such was kind of underwhelming. You have a cocktail, appetizer (or dessert) and meal with a tip and it gets pricey. But then you leave and think "it was OK, but nothing amazing for that amount of money". Or at least that is what I think, but maybe I'm just getting cheaper.

We made an excellent dinner of ribeye steaks, pesto pasta salad, green beans, and apple pie yesterday. Total cost for a family of four was about $75. That’s pretty much the high end for what any meal we prepare at home will cost.

That will barely get us a fast food meal of fish tacos and poutine from Streats. A more comparable meal like dinner at the Keg would be well over $200. So even with grocery inflation, the value-add of the convenience and experience of a restaurant is questionable and getting worse.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Depending on the restaurant, I have no info on margins at a place like Canadian Brewhouse but they must be making good money on a $22 burger that is nothing more than grilled disappointment.

Your first mistake was going to a place like Canadian Brewhouse.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

We made an excellent dinner of ribeye steaks, pesto pasta salad, green beans, and apple pie yesterday. Total cost for a family of four was about $75. That’s pretty much the high end for what any meal we prepare at home will cost.

That will barely get us a fast food meal of fish tacos and poutine from Streats. A more comparable meal like dinner at the Keg would be well over $200. So even with grocery inflation, the value-add of the convenience and experience of a restaurant is questionable and getting worse.

When I go out to eat, I always order something I can't / wont make at home. That way it is a treat, and worth the extra cost. Likewise it saves me from doing the dishes.

[AltaGuy]

Every restaurant and bar that I know is still struggling with Covid-related issues. A huge amount of staff were let go, and aren't coming back, especially long-term staff. People aren't going out like they did pre-Covid. Many have large lines of credit to service. Meal delivery services are expensive. Staffing is near impossible because of the weird labour market and also very irregular customer traffic. Input costs are crazy.

Covid changed everything about the industry, and it'll be at least five years (imo) before the market settles again into something predictable.

Some restaurants and bars will have one or two staff working, and then get slammed because they can't predict when it will be busy. Others will have a boatload of staff working, and then have no traffic. It's going to be a rough few years for nearly everyone.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Torture

Your first mistake was going to a place like Canadian Brewhouse.

If they were after lousy, overpriced food, it wasn't a mistake....

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by jammies

Can't the thread title be edited? Ok, you were fooled, but it doesn't need to be a permanent red flag for all the old guys bemoaning the tragedy of over-tipping tearing society apart.

I can. I just left it as is so people can poke fun at me for falling for a satire article

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Do you guys tip at places where you don't sit down? Like when buying a coffee?

Already paying $6 for a drink at some cafes and the like, paying tip on top of that when I'm just grabbing it to leave seems ridiculous.

I've pretty much stopped eating out at any place that requires tipping and I think it should be eradicated from our restaurant culture much like how it functions in Europe and Japan. Sticker price should be the sticker price. Any tips should be voluntary and you shouldn't be shamed or frowned upon or feel guilty for not tipping. If a business is not economically viable without tipping, then it should be out of business.

I agree it's kind of ridiculous but I try not to worry about it. If I'm tipping 15% on a latte that's 90 cents. If I decide "I'm only tipping 10% on takeout" that's 60 cents.
Ooooh I saved 30 cents, look at me sticking it to tipping culture!


That said, in my line of work we do a lot of acquisitions and I've seen automotive businesses with the tip option turned on. WTF?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Just curious, does that discount come from Doordhash(or whoever) or do they force the restaurants to eat it?

Not sure, but even if Doordash is covering all of it (which I doubt), and the restaurant is getting the normal price, once Doordash takes its cut of that normal price they're basically offering the same discount, because the size of the cut those apps take is egregiously large.

[81MC]

Originally Posted by Slava

For me the issue isn't really tipping, it's just that the whole expense for the value received is lacking lately. I ate at a "decent" restaurant a while ago and for the two of us it was a fair amount of money. But the thing is the overall meal and such was kind of underwhelming. You have a cocktail, appetizer (or dessert) and meal with a tip and it gets pricey. But then you leave and think "it was OK, but nothing amazing for that amount of money". Or at least that is what I think, but maybe I'm just getting cheaper.

Totally.

Going out is for the experience, not just because I want to fill my belly. And it’s increasingly less and less pleasant. Questionable greetings, half dirty tables, 15 minutes before your drink shows up, empty glass for half your meal, poorly maintained facilities, staff that either are lovely but overworked or miserable and seemingly upset your there at all…that’ll be $180, remember 18% means you hate us all!

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Torture

Your first mistake was going to a place like Canadian Brewhouse.

I'd never go by my own choice, but some family members have simpler tastes in food

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I'd never go by my own choice, but some family members have simpler ####ter tastes in food

fixed

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

This server honestly deserved no tip but you can't do that of course!

You can’t? Machines I’ve seen allow you to set your own tip of whatever amount.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by jammies

Can't the thread title be edited? Ok, you were fooled, but it doesn't need to be a permanent red flag for all the old guys bemoaning the tragedy of over-tipping tearing society apart.

I'm sorry.. once it's written on the internet, it's real!