No tip? CALL THE COPS!!!

Incredable!!

Couple arrested for not leaving a tip.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Time-In-Prison--70426052.html?yhp=1


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If you’re frustrated by poor service at a restaurant, think twice before you decide to not tip. You may be in for a bit more than just a dirty look from the waiter.

"Nobody, nobody wants to be forced to pay a tip or be arrested for terrible service," Leslie Pope said when her happy hour ended in handcuffs.

Pope and John Wagner were hauled away by police and charged with theft for not paying the mandatory 18 percent gratuity totaling $16 after eating at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pa. with six friends.

Pope claimed that they had to wait nearly an hour for their order and that she had to get napkins and silverware for the table herself

That's truly unbelievable Genenco.

A mandatory 18% tip is huge and with service like that, I don't blame them for not paying.

blue

OUTRAGEOUS...since when did it become a "mandatory" of 18% no less for service, let alone bad service!!!!?????

BOOIE

If the 18% was disclosed up front as required, then, they may not have a legal leg to stand on.  Business are allowed to require "add ons" for service.  Again, it all depends on how much was disclosed up front.

Hi Gene,

With a large group, gratuity usually is tacked on. Would someone be arrested for not paying the full price for an item they bought? Yes, they would, therefore the same rule should apply when the tip is included. Tips are their livelihood.

On the other hand, if its really poor service then why be forced to leave a tip. There is factors to be considered though. Was the poor service the fault of the wait staff? Was it the cooks fault or so busy that the restaurant could not keep up?

People that rely on tips to survive certainly deserved to be tipped. Way too often they are short changed for situations that aren't their fault. It should be up to management to compensate clientele for bad service.

Lips

A tip is just a way to say thanks to a waiter/waitress for their well done job! But if it's not so...I think there should be an opposite option! Why not to force waiters/waitresses to pay their customers for bad service!?! 

It wouldn't hold up in court - even though the argument may be the fact that somewhere the restaurant has it written that groups of 6 or more will  be subjected to pay 18% gratuity -if the word gratuity was used then it wouldn't be unlawful not to pay. Restaurant owners cannot impose or force anyone to pay gratuities or tip. although it is proper ettiquette to do so, it's not law. Had it been written 18% service charge/fees - different story..now the people choosing to sit with a group of 6 or more are subject to an additional service charge.

I think soda is probably right, due to the trivial nature of the "crime" the prosecutor may drop it. 

But, upon reviewing the video clip, the "bad service" they dining party received may not have been the fault of the waitstaff.  It could have been a management/kitchen issue.  So, to take it out on the waitstaff was not a favorable position either. 

I'll go ahead and put my flag in the sand on this one:  If you can't afford/unwilling  to add a good tip, don't go out to eat.

I always give 20% minimum, even if the service is bad.  Why?  Waitstaff works their tails off.  Its a tough job must of us would not want to do.  A lot of single moms, student, etc. are having to work long, hard and odd hours to make ends meet.  For good service I will do 40-50% plus.  To have a mail you are served, that you didn't have to fix is well worth a lavish tip.

To have a mail you are served, that you didn't have to fix is well worth a lavish tip.

I should have said "to have a MEAL you are served....."

I guess I was still grinding my ax about the inefficient Post Office.

I used to be a waitress, and yes we rely on our tips, with making $3.25 an hour the tips make up your hourly wage.Usually on the menus it is stated that parties of 6 or more, 18% graduity it added. Waiting on a table of that many, means you have less turn over on your tables, and require more "attention" to that party.Believe me, I have seen it all. I have waited on a party of 25 (senior citizens, not putting them down now) and request at the end of their lunch, then requested seperate checks,that too is put on menus no seperate checks, but I always did so. There are many hands that makes the dining experience work, from the chefs,line cooks,prep,dishwahers and bus boys etc. The waitress seems to always get the blunt of it. Being arrested is just crazy, believe me, the waitstaff talk among each other good tipper, bad tipper, which is sad because it does have effect......we do remember!

This is true my friend! That would bother me also, knowing that what they make, usually 15.00 and up an hour! granted some did deserve it but the "little" I made that i also has to share w/ the chefs. Granted my bussers knew who tipped out good and you would be surprised how clean your tables were and how fast most were reset for your next table...quick turn-over(which means more money for all!) I myself always was a good tipper, and still today I still am knowing the hard work that it takes, and yes it is HARD work!Thank goodness for the free drink afterwards...could hardly wait for my free martini (cosmo) at the end of a long day (lol)

Wow thats crazy, I would have just paid it if I was required to.

Wow alot of feelings about this. I once wento Seattle (Group regional meeting) and they had the mandatory tip of 15% well, the service was bad, but I spoke with the Manager and he cut the price by 25% which we accepted.

That waitress got hers, but if the manger penalized her later, that was up to him. I lived in Springfield MO and there was a resturant chain that would have you served in 12-15 min and ALWAYS was cheerful.

Yes they got 20-50% for tips as they were always a great place to go..

As an aside I used to hit a IHOP nearby. 2 bad experiences and I just quit going there..Bad, bad, bad!!

We tend to have the mythical notion that dining out is a RIGHT.  Dining out is a privledge and a luxury.  If the rules of the house are a 18% add on, then that is what it is!  Yeah, slapping cuffs on this couple may have been overboard.  But, they still come accross as self serving and cheap to me in some ways.

Mariann,

I'm with you all the way and feel conflicted as well. I have had poor service as far as waiting for the food to arrive at the table. I really try to figure out who is at fault before making a harsh decision not to tip the wait staff.

If the kitchen is backed up or the restaurant is short staffed that evening then i will take that into consideration and tip.

Its hard to walk away and leave nothing when its somebodies livelihood.

Lips

And now...

One time there was a guy who would hit the same resturant every Friday. He was served nicely but each and everytime he'd leave a 3 cent tip. >:(

After 5 months of this, the waitress had enough. As she got ready to take his order sje said to him:

"You know, I can Tell things about you from your tips"
\
"What would that be?" The man asked.

"The first penny means you are frugal and careful with your money, The second means you're a bachelor"

"Wow!" The man said. "You're so right! What's the third penny mean?"

"Your Father was a bachelor too"

I usually tip a minimum of $2 per person served at my table (table of 4 or 8 = $8 or $16) or 20% - whichever works out to be more is what i pay. if i sat down at a table and i was served, even if all i had was a toast and coffee and the bill came to $2.25 - I won't leave $2.70. $4.25 is what the waiter/waitress will find on the table. if service was exceptional i would give $3 to $5 per person or 30% to 50%. however i have given $100+ tips on a big winning night at the casino or to a caddy after playing a round golf while on vacation.

Soda....AMEN!  Nothing like generousity!