gratuities?

[durangojo]

was at the vet's office today and just happened to hear the end of a cnn report...in hawaii a 15% automatic gratuity is added to parties that ...get this... do not speak ENGLISH!...what in the world is up with that? europeans apparently do not tip...they pay exactly what the bill states...how bout' them apples....any comments, chefs? fair, unfair? i, myself have actually at times,raised my prices just for those winter snowbirds/tourists who are cheap cheap, but to actually state on your menu, you will be charged because you don't speak english, seems a bit rude and counterproductive....not the way to welcome someone to your country..ain't america great!

joey

 

[chefbillyb]

Hey Joey, They are doing this because of the high number of Japanese tourists. It's cheaper for them to vacation in Hawaii than in Japan................

 

[chefross]

I can only hope that someday, somehow, some way the gratuity system will be abolished.

It's wrong and it's unfair.

Oh....and by the way....I DO tip, but only because it's the way things are.

Why should any employee be paid more for just simply doing their job?

I would be more inclined to pay a little more for a menu item knowing that the staff could be paid a living wage.

Ahhhhh....but that's America

 

[lentil]

Counterproductive and descriminitory!  Imagine if Americans were charged more in countries where they don't speak the language, which is most of them, BTW.  There'd be hell to pay!

 

[piratechefny]

they will have to start paying the service staff more than three bucks and hour then.... someway, somehow the guest will pay for it, wether it's by our traditional gratuity or worked in to the cost of the menu items.