Bar Customer Outraged by 'Late-Night' 20% Gratuity Fee at 10 p.m.
A Virginia bar's policy of adding a 20% auto-gratuity after 10 p.m. sparked a debate online after a customer was charged the fee for ordering drinks shortly after the cutoff time.
A patron at The Corner Pocket in Williamsburg, Virginia, voiced his dissatisfaction on Reddit after being charged a 20% "late night auto gratuity" for ordering drinks shortly after 10 p.m. The customer, who stated he and his wife were only staying for one drink, found the fee unexpected and questioned its application, especially since they were unaware of the policy beforehand.
The customer posted a copy of his receipt, which showed two Guinness beers totaling $17.00, with an additional $1.87 in tax and a $3.40 "late night auto gratuity." A footnote on the receipt stated that the auto-gratuity is added for groups of six or more and after 10 p.m. The customer noted that their beers were served in plastic cups, adding to his dissatisfaction.
He expressed frustration on Reddit, stating, "I looked around, and there’s literally nothing that says this before the fact. If there was, we would have gone somewhere else." Other users on the platform largely echoed his sentiments, with some calling the fee "theft" and others suggesting that challenging such charges could lead to their removal.
The owner of The Corner Pocket responded to the online complaint, acknowledging the customer's experience and stating that the auto-gratuity policy is posted on signs, menus, and online. "We work to communicate it clearly, but we understand it can be missed," the owner wrote, inviting the customer to discuss the matter further via email.
This incident highlights a broader, ongoing debate surrounding tipping culture in the United States. William Michael Lynn, a professor emeritus at Cornell University who has studied tipping for over 40 years, noted a growing dislike for tipping among consumers. His research indicates a significant increase in the percentage of people who wish to see tipping abolished, rising from 32% in 2016 to 52% by 2022.
Lynn advises that consumers are within their rights to ask servers for clarification regarding included tips or service charges. He stated, "It’s perfectly acceptable to say, ‘Is a tip included? Is a service charge included?’ And if it is, then if you feel like giving $1 or two more, that’s completely up to you."