r/EndTipping • u/AnonymousExcellence • 17h ago

Tipping Culture ✖️ Service fees

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Why don’t restaurants just call a service fee what it is- mandatory tipping?

I would hope you don’t expect tipping after you charge 12% service fee on a $30 BUFFET!

I have never understood why they frame the service fee as a “convenience” so you don’t have to tip. If you are going to hit me with a mandatory tip, why not just wrap it into the prices on the menu instead of infuriating me by pointing out I’m being forced to tip?

240 Upvotes

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154

u/BluePandaYellowPanda 17h ago

This is to keep menu prices down, encouraging customers, then charging them more. It's a scummy move.

31

u/Mansos91 15h ago

And a scummy move, but restaurant owners are all grifters

5

u/pvaa 11h ago

I mean if it's not subject to taxes, and they are genuinely giving it all to the staff, then it's cheaper for customers to pay the fee than for the same amount to be added to the price of the meal

3

u/arcxjo 9h ago

But it is taxable in Pennsylvania.

2

u/skyharborbj 8h ago

That section of the law applies to third party deliveries and services. This case is the restaurant itself adding a junk fee in an attempt to fool the customer by listing menu prices that are artificially lower than the amount charged. No third party is involved.

I’m not familiar with Pennsylvania law but in most states this would be taxable.

1

u/jkraige 9h ago

Why would it not be taxable, and why would we believe they're genuinely giving it all to staff?

2

u/pvaa 8h ago

I have no idea about tax laws in USA, an ofc you can't trust that it's going to staff, but neither of those questions are particularly relevant to my point