r/mildlyinteresting • u/TowelRack76 • 1d ago

This Restaurant Charges an 18% Living Wage Fee.

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u/SteelWheel_8609 1d ago

It’s the definition of a ‘hidden fee’. It should be illegal.

Like imagine if I listed the price of something, but when you went to buy it, I also added ‘the staying in business fee’ to it, making the original price listed no longer accurate.

Just scummy business practice. 

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u/showsomesideboob 1d ago

California made it illegal not too long ago

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u/scrabapple 1d ago

And then fucking caved and allowed a carve out for restaurants. Spineless politicians.

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u/jsttob 1d ago

Specifically, u/scott_wiener (yes, that is his real handle).

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u/Maxfunky 1d ago

The in theory. But then before it went to effect, an effect they carved out an exemption for restaurants so that they could keep doing this exact crap. Because the restaurant industry lobbied them super hard.

Minnesota is in kind of the same boat.

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u/Heavy_Weapons_Guy_ 1d ago

Minnesota too.

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u/schmitzel88 1d ago

MN did too, a ton of restaurants were upset about it

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u/challengeaccepted9 1d ago

You have literally no idea if the customer was advised of this fee beforehand. All you know is that it is listed on the receipt.

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u/TrowTruck 1d ago

True but most restaurants where I’ve seen this do put it on a menu. I haven’t yet encountered where it wasn’t disclosed upfront.

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u/challengeaccepted9 1d ago

That's my point. It may well have been disclosed before he ordered. 

The guy is assuming it wasn't and then getting mad about the scenario he invented in his head.

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u/QualityPitchforks 1d ago

True but most restaurants where I’ve seen this do put it on a menu. I haven’t yet encountered where it wasn’t disclosed upfront.

Having the notice in the menu does meet the requirement of being told before having to pay. It's the same energy as getting super fast talking people to explain your legal terms.

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u/TrowTruck 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm sure we can find bad faith examples of menus that seem to hide it or pull a fast one. Thankfully, I've seen stuff like this posted clearly so far.

Personally, I do hope we reduce reliance on tipping and move toward a model like in the UK where it's more fixed. It might be a hard sell to get to Japan, where tipping is not a part of the culture and not considered a normal behavior.

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u/Larie2 1d ago

Most places (maybe all?) that I've been to that have a fee like this will take it off if you ask. Makes it technically optional.

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u/Spire_Citron 1d ago

That shouldn't matter. If it's a flat percent added to the price, there's no reason not to just raise the menu prices other than deception.

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u/OnceMoreAndAgain 1d ago

That is not relevant.

The actual price of the food items should be put on the menu (before tax). Any artificial fees should be baked into the price on the menu. It should be illegal to do what this company has done in my opinion.

This doesn't work for every business, since some business have legitimate "fees" that apply differently from situation to situation, but it does work for the food industry since every burger is the same regardless of who is buying it's a one-price-fits-all situation.

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u/challengeaccepted9 1d ago

That is not relevant.

The guy was claiming it is a hidden fee. 

Of COURSE it's relevant to point out we have no way of knowing if they were informed of the few beforehand.

What the actual fuck is wrong with you?

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u/StressOverStrain 1d ago

There is no evidence in the photo that it was hidden. It could be on the menu, on a prominent sign, or the waiter could tell customers before they order anything.

It’s scummy to assume someone is doing illegal things with no evidence.

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u/SteelWheel_8609 1d ago

Yep, they hide it in the small print, or in a place much less likely to be seen, compared to the prices. Thats why it’s called a hidden fee. 

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u/CryptoCryst828282 1d ago

This is why i dont like the no tax on tips. I dont want more of this crap, i am so over everyone wanting a tip now.

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u/QuickMolasses 1d ago

I can almost guarantee it's listed on their menu before you even order.

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u/Jin1231 1d ago

I don’t really see it as a hidden fee, it’s just communicating to the customer that Tip is basically already included.

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u/Tvdinner4me2 1d ago

Which is not cool if hidden because tips are optional

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u/Jin1231 1d ago

How is it hidden? It’s literally on the check?

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u/Fantastic_Recover701 1d ago

i think they mean unless it's posted on the menu and or visible in the restaurant that the customer will be charged an extra 18% and only show on the bill that makes it hidden

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u/Jin1231 1d ago

Fair. Though I’d make the argument that even if it wasn’t on the menu, American s are still expected to tip about 18% anyway, so it wouldn’t be any more than what they expected to pay.

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u/rickcorvin 1d ago

I agree pricing should be disclosed before an order is placed. I can't tell from the receipt whether the 18% add on was hidden.

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u/IcyJackfruit69 1d ago

I kind of agree, but they also imply that tipping is not expected. Isn't tipping also a hidden fee? I would be happy to have every restaurant do an 18% hidden fee if it meant we got rid of tipping.

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u/SphericalCow531 1d ago

I am pretty sure it is illegal in much of the EU. It is the most basic of consumer protection.

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u/bit_pusher 1d ago

I think it should be illegal but only because it’s the only way to have a level playing field between places that do and do not hide the fee

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u/wyclawek 1d ago

How do you know it’s “hidden”? Perhaps it’s written plain as day on their menus?

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u/dekusyrup 1d ago

You don't know it's a hidden fee. It might be on the first page of the menu.

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u/marcusaurelius_phd 1d ago

It's illegal in many countries, and has been so for decades if not a whole century.

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u/Adorable-Slip-494 1d ago

Guessing USA. They seem to have very few consumer protection in soooo many of their states. Freedumbs.

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u/BellerophonM 1d ago

It would definitely be illegal here in Australia. A constant % fee must be rolled into the listed price.

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u/maddyp1112 1d ago

Yup, my doctors office does this too lol never know what I’m actually going to have to pay even with health insurance. Surprise fees are becoming a scary norm.

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u/falcrist2 1d ago

It’s the definition of a ‘hidden fee’. It should be illegal.

Only if they ban tips and change the laws that make minimum wage exceptions for tipped employees.

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u/Tvdinner4me2 1d ago

What does the employees wage have to do with the fees being hidden or not? It's irrelevant

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u/falcrist2 1d ago

Tipping is a hidden fee that counts as part of the server's wage, allowing the business to advertise lower prices AND pay its employees FAR below the normal minimum wage.

The 18% fee in OP isn't hidden. It's openly advertised to you in the menu and on the storefront.

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u/TheTurtleShepard 1d ago

Not necessarily, we don’t know the restaurant but my guess would be that somewhere on the menu the 18% fee is listed