Couple arrested for not leaving tip

[go rila]

When Leslie Pope and John Wagner decided to drop by happy hour at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pa. with six friends, they had no idea that their visit would end with them handcuffed, in the back of a police car.

The couple and their friends amassed a $73 bill that they had no problem paying, but the service was so poor that they refused to cough up the mandatory 18% tip. They say they waited almost an hour for chicken fingers and fries and Pope had to go to the bar to get napkins, silverware and refills on her soda because the server was missing in action. After explaining the service shortcomings to the bartender in charge, and offering payment for food, beverage and tax, Pope claims that the bartender took their money and called the police.

When the law arrived, the couple was handcuffed, placed in the back of a police car and later charged with theft. Bethlehem’s Police Commissioner, Stuart Bedics, stated that the police would prefer to have not been involved, but the couple was arrested for theft because the gratuity was deemed a part of the bill. He does not think the charges will hold up in court.

The question remains: Will the court ruling set precedent in the service industry that restaurants can arbitrarily make tipping mandatory? As it stands, parties of six or more are often times mandated to pay gratuity of anywhere from 15% to 20%. If the charges against Pope and Wagner stand and not tipping becomes an enforceable offence, will servers relax service on tables with a tip mandate to attend to those smaller parties that can stiff them at will?

We will not know until Pope and Wagner appear in court next month. But until then, if you feel burned by bad service at a restaurant, think again before you choose not to tip. You may be in for more than a hard look from the server!
http://www.examiner.com/x-29433-DC-R...ot-leaving-tip

If your service is shitty, you're NOT SUPPOSED to tip

I hope whoever made the decision to call the cops dies a painful, horrible death...sounds like something daewoo or karl would do

for the record rila tips...he tips well

[ndg]

the tip was mandatory so the servers didnt care about good service. The court will drop it probably. Its bullshit.

[go rila]

Originally Posted by ndg

the tip was mandatory so the servers didnt care about good service. The court will drop it probably. Its bullshit.

thats bullshit...shitty service = no tip

[treehugger]

[Kewish]

What's whit the stories tongih?

[tx51210]

Do I smell smoke? Wonder how long that resturant will remain standing?

[Skelz]

Originally Posted by treehugger

Do you know what this is? It's the world's smallest violin, playing just for the waitresses.





I don't tip because society says I gotta. I tip when somebody deserves a tip. When somebody really puts forth an effort, they deserve a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, that shit's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doin their job.

[Ace Bigalow]

Skelz for president.....

[tx51210]

Union mentality, thinking your are entitled to something, even when you don't earn anything.

http://www.mcall.com/news/all-a8_5sc...,6238384.story

An Eagle Scout Candidate volunteered several hundred hours to clear a hiking path in a city park. In return the SEIU threatens to file a grievance against the city!!!

As unions go, the SEIU is the scummiest in the country. But this displays the entitlement mentality- they were "entitled" to the work, and that Boy Scout was obviously evil for taking the work from them, and the town was obviously evil for allowing him to do it.


Nick Balzano, president of the local Service Employees International Union, told Allentown City Council Tuesday that the union is considering filing a grievance against the city for allowing Anderson to clear a 1,000-foot walking and biking path at Kimmets Lock Park.

"We'll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails," Balzano told the council.

Balzano said Saturday he isn't targeting Boy Scouts. But given the city's decision in July to lay off 39 SEIU members, Balzano said "there's to be no volunteers." No one except union members may pick up a hoe or shovel, plant a flower or clear a walking path.

[treehugger]

So in a pub/bar in the US is it really customary to automatically tip the bartender a dollar everytime you get a round at the bar?

I heard this recently, but never noticed any "you cheap bastard" looks when I was buying rounds over there and not tipping a dollar each time.

Maybe it's just a myth spread by bartenders.
Maybe they figured me and my mate were Scottish and so they'd be making plenty as it was.
Or maybe I unwittingly enjoyed my beers and JD's with a slightly higher saliva content than usual.

[bill110]

Some people tip only once. Some places when you tip the server they have to split it with the bartender.
Also when people get tips they do not have to be paid minimum wage as the tips are considered part of their wages.

[treehugger]

Originally Posted by bill110

Some people tip only once. Some places when you tip the server they have to split it with the bartender.

Yeah if someones waiting your table then tip them, that's fair enough. Not every round but certainly by the end of the night, assuming they haven't been a complete disaster.
I just meant if you're sitting at the bar, or going up to the bar to get the round in yourself. You're supposed to leave a dollar for the bartender, is what I'd recently heard.

Originally Posted by bill110

Also when people get tips they do not have to be paid minimum wage as the tips are considered part of their wages.

Aye that's just f*cked up.
As is taxing tips. Not sure if that's a widespread thing, I'm going by what I've heard in Reservoir Dogs on that

[Ace Bigalow]

The only place where I know it is common practice to tip a waitress on a per drink basis is at a casino, and that is mainly because people tend to move around from place to place a lot and may not have the same waitress all night. If I am at a poker table and have the same waitress, I tell her i will take care of her before I leave and if I have had a good night at the tables, she might get a $50-$100 tip depending on friendliness, service, etc.... Damn, been about 3 years since I have been to a casino, I need to get to one next year dammit.

It is also good etiquette and believed to be good luck to tip the dealer when playing card games if you win a sizable pot.

[go rila]

Originally Posted by treehugger

So in a pub/bar in the US is it really customary to automatically tip the bartender a dollar everytime you get a round at the bar?

I heard this recently, but never noticed any "you cheap bastard" looks when I was buying rounds over there and not tipping a dollar each time.

Maybe it's just a myth spread by bartenders.
Maybe they figured me and my mate were Scottish and so they'd be making plenty as it was.
Or maybe I unwittingly enjoyed my beers and JD's with a slightly higher saliva content than usual.

usualy you tip every drink here, older heads tend to do it all at once at the end

at a bar i used to hang out at if you didnt tip for the first drink they wouldnt serve you again, they'd pretend you werent there