Michael's --- Newark, DE

Doris · #11 06-16-2008, 08:57 AM

Usually added gratuity is for parties of 8 or more,,, I haven't heard of 5. I would have argued that especially if service and food weren't up to par.

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Kid Lester · #12 06-16-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCRAPPY_737

I think I'd be more upset with the set 18% gratuity, for a party of 5... Including kids in that party of 5.. Kids don't eat that much..

IMO, 18% added gratuity is ridiculous...FOR A BUFFET!

You're serving yourself, for Gosh sake! Other than drinks and clearing plates!

BUT....

Servers do get taxed at 12% of their sales. Let's say you have a party of 10, and everyone gets the $20 buffet. That's $200.00. For argument sake, let's say beverages are included, so the check is $200 even.

18% is $36.00.

The server is assumed by the IRS to have made $24.00 on that table, and is taxed accordingly. It may even be higher than 12%...I'm only going on what I know from 10 years ago.

So the restaurant is trying to protect it's servers. I DO understand that.

Of course, when I was in the biz, we had discretion as to whether to add the gratuity or not.

If I thought I'd do better than 18% from your table, I wouldn't add it. I'd make sure whoever asked for the check understood that I didn't add it...subtly, or course.

It was a gamble. But I'm a pretty good judge of character. I rarely if ever lost money on the deal.

Also, you couldn't be from PA. Servers in PA actually made minimum wage. If I had a big table from PA, I'd add the grat because I figured they didn't know that I was making $2.28/hour and basically working for tips alone.

SCRAPPY · #13 06-16-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kid Lester

IMO, 18% added gratuity is ridiculous...FOR A BUFFET!

You're serving yourself, for Gosh sake! Other than drinks and clearing plates!

BUT....

Servers do get taxed at 12% of their sales. Let's say you have a party of 10, and everyone gets the $20 buffet. That's $200.00. For argument sake, let's say beverages are included, so the check is $200 even.

18% is $36.00.

The server is assumed by the IRS to have made $24.00 on that table, and is taxed accordingly. It may even be higher than 12%...I'm only going on what I know from 10 years ago.

So the restaurant is trying to protect it's servers. I DO understand that.

Of course, when I was in the biz, we had discretion as to whether to add the gratuity or not.

If I thought I'd do better than 18% from your table, I wouldn't add it. I'd make sure whoever asked for the check understood that I didn't add it...subtly, or course.

It was a gamble. But I'm a pretty good judge of character. I rarely if ever lost money on the deal.

Also, you couldn't be from PA. Servers in PA actually made minimum wage. If I had a big table from PA, I'd add the grat because I figured they didn't know that I was making $2.28/hour and basically working for tips alone.

I did not know this.. Good insight!!
I always tip well.. If and when deserved...

Doris · #14 06-16-2008, 11:11 AM

I've always heard that servers in PA. make below minumum wage..That could have changed, I'm not really up on that

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kid Lester

IMO, 18% added gratuity is ridiculous...FOR A BUFFET!

You're serving yourself, for Gosh sake! Other than drinks and clearing plates!

BUT....

Servers do get taxed at 12% of their sales. Let's say you have a party of 10, and everyone gets the $20 buffet. That's $200.00. For argument sake, let's say beverages are included, so the check is $200 even.

18% is $36.00.

The server is assumed by the IRS to have made $24.00 on that table, and is taxed accordingly. It may even be higher than 12%...I'm only going on what I know from 10 years ago.

So the restaurant is trying to protect it's servers. I DO understand that.

Of course, when I was in the biz, we had discretion as to whether to add the gratuity or not.

If I thought I'd do better than 18% from your table, I wouldn't add it. I'd make sure whoever asked for the check understood that I didn't add it...subtly, or course.

It was a gamble. But I'm a pretty good judge of character. I rarely if ever lost money on the deal.

Also, you couldn't be from PA. Servers in PA actually made minimum wage. If I had a big table from PA, I'd add the grat because I figured they didn't know that I was making $2.28/hour and basically working for tips alone.

witchofthedogs · #15 06-16-2008, 11:13 AM

We took my mother to The Melting Pot for Mother's Day this year and there were five of us in attendance.

18% gratuity was added in for each and every check that day regardless of the party size and that was made clearly known by the restaurant that day (and in the ads they were sending out for the Mother's Day dinners).

I figured it was a holiday and I don't mind paying 18% (and generally pay more if it's not automatically added in).

HEDDY · #16 06-16-2008, 11:15 AM

I absolutely hate Michaels, we stopped eating there completely with work. A few people have gotten sick after eating there and I personally think there food sucks.

Spyder08 · #17 06-16-2008, 11:42 AM

I had my rehearsal dinner there. It was ok. I wasn't all that impressed. That was 4 years ago and I haven't gone back since.

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Doris · #18 06-16-2008, 11:57 AM

I usually tip 20-25%, but that does depend on service. Most of the time wherever I go I do not have any problems. When I do have problems I say something but I do not punish the waitress/waiter. Thats why I speake to someone so the issue I have is heard by the correct person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by boundchaos

We took my mother to The Melting Pot for Mother's Day this year and there were five of us in attendance.

18% gratuity was added in for each and every check that day regardless of the party size and that was made clearly known by the restaurant that day (and in the ads they were sending out for the Mother's Day dinners).

I figured it was a holiday and I don't mind paying 18% (and generally pay more if it's not automatically added in).

Cr123 · #19 06-16-2008, 12:16 PM

I was on my way to work last night and when I drove by Michaels it was packed, I thought to myself if Michaels is busy I know we are cause Michaels is always empty.

The 18% for 5 people is crazy, 5 people is the normal size of a family. I know where I'm at it's 18% for 8 or more and it's optional at my place so you don't have to pay it. It may be like this everywhere. I just know ours says "an optional 18% gratuity will be added for 8 or more."

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