Oh, this is not as cool as it seems.
I ask service staff whenever I eat out if they actually get the money from the service charge, staff in F&G have always told me they “cannot comment” and, when pressed, one of them admitted they did not. Since then, I never left a tip, apologising to staff and explaining why.
So, either the business realised that many customer’s had cottoned on, and they were losing out, OR someone had reported them to Trading Standards or something, so they decided the way they can get more money from customers without lying is to increase all the prices.
“Allegedly” – for legal reasons
Do better F&G!
I suspect we’re going to see more of this soon.
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill came into force on 1 July 2024. This legislation obliges employers to ensure that all tips and service charges are paid in full to workers. Previously there was no such obligation, so employers could and often did just pocket the service charge themselves.
This means that employers who previously paid themselves the service charge will now face a drop in income unless they either raise prices or introduce a non-gratuity charge such as the ‘payment convenience charge’ that I saw somewhere recently. Flour and Grape’s move is an unsubtle acknowledgment that they have been pocketing the service charge for years.
Service charges/tips should never be allowed to be added except by a customer. It should be illegal, the penalty being that you get your meal for free if it is done.
I’m not a fan of Flour & Grape but I LOVE this idea. It’s crazy that inclusive pricing is surprising now.
I really despise American tipping culture seeping their way to other countries like a really bad smell.
I went to a self service lunch buffet, took out the food I wanted myself, including my drinks, and the cashier lady sitting at the end turns the machine on me if I wanted to add a bloody tip.
For what, turning the screen my way? Might as well have rung myself up.
I went to a restaurant in Soho the other night called Grasso that had the same policy. Hope it catches on.
6 comments
Oh, this is not as cool as it seems.
I ask service staff whenever I eat out if they actually get the money from the service charge, staff in F&G have always told me they “cannot comment” and, when pressed, one of them admitted they did not. Since then, I never left a tip, apologising to staff and explaining why.
So, either the business realised that many customer’s had cottoned on, and they were losing out, OR someone had reported them to Trading Standards or something, so they decided the way they can get more money from customers without lying is to increase all the prices.
“Allegedly” – for legal reasons
Do better F&G!
I suspect we’re going to see more of this soon.
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill came into force on 1 July 2024. This legislation obliges employers to ensure that all tips and service charges are paid in full to workers. Previously there was no such obligation, so employers could and often did just pocket the service charge themselves.
This means that employers who previously paid themselves the service charge will now face a drop in income unless they either raise prices or introduce a non-gratuity charge such as the ‘payment convenience charge’ that I saw somewhere recently. Flour and Grape’s move is an unsubtle acknowledgment that they have been pocketing the service charge for years.
Service charges/tips should never be allowed to be added except by a customer. It should be illegal, the penalty being that you get your meal for free if it is done.
I’m not a fan of Flour & Grape but I LOVE this idea. It’s crazy that inclusive pricing is surprising now.
I really despise American tipping culture seeping their way to other countries like a really bad smell.
I went to a self service lunch buffet, took out the food I wanted myself, including my drinks, and the cashier lady sitting at the end turns the machine on me if I wanted to add a bloody tip.
For what, turning the screen my way? Might as well have rung myself up.
I went to a restaurant in Soho the other night called Grasso that had the same policy. Hope it catches on.