What is the point of a separate service charge in restaurants? [closed]
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Where I've been traveling lately (Europe and Africa mostly), many restaurants add a service charge to the bill, somewhere between 5 and 10%. So if the price is quoted at 500 Rupees, I end up paying, say 575, where they add 25 for taxes and 50 for service.
Why is the service charge not included in the price? Unlike the tax, it is usually not disclosed ahead in the menu. It seems like a forced tip but the principle of a tip is that the customer decides how good or not the service was, and gives accordingly.
In the Seychelles most times a machine just adds a fixed percentage onto the printed bill. In Brazil last month, it was added by hand over the total printed by the machine.
Are these charges added for tourists only? Do locals pay them too? Can they be contested if service was not satisfactory?
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What is the point of a service charge?
A service charge is a fee collected to pay for services related to the primary product or service being purchased. The charge is usually added at the time of the transaction. Many industries collect service charges, including restaurants, banking, and travel and tourism.Should you tip if there is a service charge?
If you feel that service has been particularly bad, you can ask for the service charge to be deducted from your bill. If you have paid a service charge, then you should only tip if you think the service has been so outstanding that you wish to reward your service.What does it mean when a restaurant adds a service charge?
A service charge is an amount that is added to your bill in a restaurant to pay for the work of the person who comes and serves you. Most restaurants add a 10 percent service charge to the bill. 'service charge' 'service charge'Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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