Friday
07Aug2009
Goldbar Will Take Your 20% Tip
More from the automatic tip files. A Little Birdy writes "i noticed on my receipt at goldbar that i was charged 20 percent gratuity on a cash transaction from a waitress, which i didnt realize & tipped her on top of this. is goldbar the only place where they charge 20 percent gratuity even on cash transactions? and do they do this at the bar? the bartenders rarely give receipts, so i dont know, but always tip them." Bottle (or is it table) service usually comes with an automatic tip, if you are paying cash or credit. It pays to read your bill.
DBTH
Reader Comments (21)
Sloooowwwww dowwwwn, GB puts this on any tab over a certain amount (~$100), be it cash/credit or bar/waitress...it's a tba thing, and it's fairly clear as a line item on your bill.......and every bartender there will give you the receipt at check time if they've added this on your bill..... classy place, never slips, been going there religiously for years
Read your bill carefully - not that the auto 20 percent is hidden - but after you've had a few stiff ones...
Somehow the Box gets me every time! I add 20% to a tab already including 20%. They think I'm a highroller, but just really stupid drunk.
Southside does this too.....no fucking shame.
you're all wrong.
gratuity is only added if you order from a waitress regardless of cash/credit.
if you order from the bar gratuity is not added and it shows it on the receipts.
the computer the waitresses deal with automatically adds gratuity to all bills.
the computer the bartenders deal with does not.
it's a system that was setup for bottle service but is mirrored for drinks.
on another note goldbars new cocktail list is premiers tonight...
but back to the original post... the reason people don't notice this is if they're used to order drinks from the bar and paying a certain price... and then go to a table and order from a waitress and the gratuity is included... for the most part nightclubs that deal with bottle service automatically add the 20%, and this same auto-tip is done with drinks ordered from waitresses as well...
who pays for drinks anymore anyways?
Can i tip with an "I Owe You"?
I say leave the "automatic gratuity" crap for Miami.
It really irks me to see that sh*t on a bill...
Actually, James Goldman is wrong. I was at Goldbar on wed night and ordered from the bar directly from the bartender -- the 20% gratuity was automatically included and I did notice it.
That being said, you are crazy if you don't check your tab.
I ordered a two Grey Goose from the bar there last night. Amount = $28. "Included Gratuity" = $5.60. "Additional Tip" = $0.
Every night club adds gratuity on every transaction. For the idiots that have to pay, it sucks. Only in NYC do people pay to have their ego's validated by someone that can barely read at the door and after they are treated like dog shit... I don't understand why people put up with it... I am glad I don't have to
haha, you paid. but seriously, check your bill you idiot.
Is Chicago dude back?
This is a practice I've noticed for some time at a number of places around town and feel it's a little underhanded. Yes, everyone should look at their bill, but c'mon, we all know how that goes after a night of drinking, and it does feel a bit unfair and predatory. I mean to add a gratuity on 2 drinks at the bar?
And I like the GB people. But this doesn't sit right.
Southside, Tenjune (pretty certain) and Griffin all do this, it's gotten me a few too many times...
this is why i don't go out any more
Every bartender at Southside always points out to you that tip is included when they hand you your receipt. Most of the bartenders at Goldbar point this out to you as well. I don't think it is underhanded, caveat emptor.
Some bartenders do this with the hope of people not noticing, and tipping them additional. Especially when said patrons are shitfaced drunk.
Its always nice when you get short-changed a buck, you know its deliberate. They make money that way, the oldest trick in the book. Its like their own tip. Short change someone who is buzzed.
If you realize you have been charged a Gratuity on ANY check that has not been stated clearly in writing that a charge will be given(Re: 8 persons or more at a table) on the menu- IT IS ILLEGAL.
Ask for an ITEMIZED receipt- Keep the receipt, make a copy of it with your Credit Card Statement showing the charge(or cash receipt) and leave a verbal complaint along with a return receipt USPS mailed copy to
A) The Better Business Bureau at (212)533-6200 AND the SLA at (212) 961-8378.
The establishment will get a fine, a written warning, and could induce a visit from the IRS to go over the accounting and Tip procedure.
When they post the GoldBar drink menu- Let's figure out what they got from what supplier and ask for our cut or we blow the whistle on em. (yes I know the check went to the "marketing" company but certain peeps would still be interested to know what's what.)