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Originally Posted by Koukouvagia  I would do as Chris says. I would inform each and every table I waited on that tips go to the OWNER, not to the servers so no tip is necessary. Many customers will work themselves up over this and probably do something about it whether it's talking to the manager, or secretely handing tips to the waitress - and even if the owner comes over to take that tip the customer will surely put up a fight. |
Personally, I think whether the customer puts up a fight or not is sort of irrelevant. I mean, yes, it might change the policy eventually, or there might be other fallout, who knows. But since almost every customer believes that their tips go to the servers, there's a sort of guilt thing: if I don't tip at least 15%, this lady is going to starve, etc. So you just make clear that that's not the policy at this restaurant, and let the customer decide.
I would love to see a restaurant that did it differently. I'd like to see every item on the menu be jacked 15% in advance. Then you state clearly that this restaurant includes all service fees in its charges, and no additional tips are necessary or expected. Of course if a grateful customer wishes to pay extra, it will be accepted with pleasure, but this is absolutely not necessary. Seems to me that's a kind of honesty: I look at the menu, I know what stuff costs, period, no messing around. And when it turns out that lots of places muck around with tips, share them, pool them, steal them, whatever, I'd rather not deal with it at all. Just put it on the menu and I don't have to worry about it: if I don't like the prices, I won't eat there.
Anyway, I'm just suggesting that if a restaurant has a radically different policy from most, the servers should explain it to the customers. What's wrong with that? Basic honesty.