What is the tax in Minnesota? 8%???

Why not just raise the prices 4% instead of sticking it to you and then rubbing salt in the wound.
Deduct from the tip!

We got carry out from a local tavern we get burgers from once in a blue moon, they had a 4% “boxing” fee the other night for carry out. I’ll never go back, I equate it too the same thing as the wellness fee. Never have seen it before and refuse to pay it. I always tip well there even for carry out. Never again.

What would be the reasoning for the business to break this charge out separately? Is it some kind of tax thing?

“Hey, look at us! We care about our employees so much we’re telling you we’re going to charge you extra to pay for their benefits.”

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:
Is it some kind of tax thing?

To be more clear, because they break that 4% out separately and claim it's for the employees wages and benefits, do they get to write it off their taxes and leave it for the employee to claim? Which I guess they do for tips as well. I've never worked hospitality so I don't know how that works.

I've never seen anything like that in my life. I assume there was a sign at the entry door announcing their intentions to do that.

That definitely would have been part of the tip and after that I would never return.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
This is another reason why I just make all my food at home and skip restaurants. $55 will buy a lot more groceries than that restaurant bill. These people are insane with this shit.

Yup, lots of cooking being done here.
I wouldn't take this out on the server, they'd get the usual tip from me, but I'd never go back and the owner/management would be aware.

I don't know why, but my brain immediately went to the Somali situation going on in MSP.

The other point is that “the house” is getting 4% so are the wait staff getting all that or is the house keeping most of it?

I agree with the majority…

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:
I would deduct all of the tip.

Yup.

"*This is not a gratuity*"
Well, guess what assholes? It is part of it now.

If that is to provide them a living wage, then that is their tip. Congrats, your tip just went from 15 - 20% to the 4% you tacked onto my bill.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
So they list a set of prices, but, everything actually costs 4% more than what it's listed as?

I might be inclined to ask my appropriate state agency about the legality of listing one price and charging another.
<snip>

Help from a Minnesota state agency isn’t likely.

That food is expensive. Ya'll aint got The Waffle House up there?

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
Man I hate this; i’d rather you raise your prices than to tell me on your receipt that you were expecting me to help compensate your employees for their salary and their healthcare.

Sadly, it’s such a trend in the Minneapolis area that you can’t get away from it if you want to eat at a nice restaurant.

I would be deducting that 4% from my gratuity (and maybe another 4% for my OWN "health and wellness")! Screw that in every way possible, or never go to that establishment again!!!

You gotta tell us more about this $7 sticky bun! LoL Seriously though. It sounds like you went there knowing you were gonna pay higher than average prices. I agree the 4% mandatory fee is just nuts, but this place looks just overpriced regardless of that. Must be a good ol' country kitchen place where the waitress says " heyyy baaaby" and everyone knows your name.

I'm seeing that BS health and wellness add on, and also an extra fee for paying the restaurant bill with a credit card. It's just such poor customer relationship management. Simply raise your prices by that amount and few would notice. But to be nickel and dimed in a restaurant leaves a bad taste in my mouth. (See what I did there?)

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I run a small business. I would never do that. It shows me the stupidity of the owner.

Right? Figure out your overhead, figure out your margin, and set your prices. Don't tell me what's being "baked in." All this does is infuriate people.