How much should I leave for a tip and the new math...

[Conrad]

We went out to Longhorn Steak House for dinner last night with some friends. Good meal, good service, and good drinks.

The bill came and I look it over. Total for the two of us, including tax, is $77.72. Everything is right and I glance down at the bottom at the 'suggested' tip amounts. 

"Suggested tips amounts are based on total including any tax."

20% - $17.54
18% - $15.79
15% - $13.16

Say what?   

I left $15.

[gPink]

Other than the computer generated math error  , what the hell are they including the tax as a tippable charge for? I would have asked for the manager and the server to my table for an explanation and in turn explained to concept of 'theft by deception' to them. 

[VirginiaJim]

I don't include tax on the amount to tip on.  Never have, never will.  I start at around 20% and go down from there depending on the service.

[Conrad]

I don't include tax on the amount to tip on.  Never have, never will.  I start at around 20% and go down from there depending on the service.

Whip out your calculator and check those amounts above, Jim. Even if you, incorrectly, include the tax in your calculation those amounts are wrong.

I didn't want to raise a stink about this in front of my wife and friends while we were at the restaurant (I'm famous for doing this already) but you can be sure that I'll let Longhorn know about this via the survey they'd like me to take online.   

[VirginiaJim]

You didn't say anything about having to do math this early in the morning..

[gPink]

Did you keep a copy of the receipt?

[Conrad]

Did you keep a copy of the receipt?

Yep, I have it sitting right here in front of me.

[gPink]

I wonder if the Steak House has a facebook page that could be posted to. Not that I'd know how.

[stevewfl]

but for chain food steak, the joint is acceptable   

[B.D.F.]

Interesting. I agree with you Gary generally but in this case, it seems that more and more people are either 1) not leaving a tip or 2) leaving a totally inappropriate tip. So perhaps Longhorn is including that 'helpful' little crib note as a nudge to people who I guess have no idea of how things are supposed to work.

As far as the tip, sounds right to me Conrad. 20% is what I shoot for and it is easy enough to zone in on.

Brian

Other than the computer generated math error  , what the hell are they including the tax as a tippable charge for? I would have asked for the manager and the server to my table for an explanation and in turn explained to concept of 'theft by deception' to them.

[Rhino]

This has got to be deliberate. Those number are coming from a computer. I would not take it out on the waiter and would have left a 20% tip like you did (assuming the service was good) but would have mentioned it to the manager. What's up with your badly programmed point of sale system?

[Outback_Jon]

The bill came and I look it over. Total for the two of us, including tax, is $77.72. Everything is right and I glance down at the bottom at the 'suggested' tip amounts. 

"Suggested tips amounts are based on total including any tax."

20% - $17.54 = 22.56%
18% - $15.79 = 20.31%
15% - $13.16 = 16.93%

Correct math:
20% - $15.54
18% - $13.98
15% - $11.66

I'm going to have to check the math the next time I go somewhere that has those suggested tip amounts.

Here in the Hudson Valley, we had a Meet & Greet at a diner.  They provided us with separate checks.  They included the tip without any indication that they had done so on the receipts.  Now, granted, our group was big enough for them to include the tip - as per the note on their menus - but to do so without any indication?  The diner has since gone out of business, so I guess we weren't the only unhappy customers.

[MrPepsi]

Looks like they added $10 to the bill before calculating.
Percentages are based exactly on $87.72
That's just plain crooked.
I would call management, however I bet they know they are doing it.

[Mister Tee]

Just blast them on Yelp.  They will get the point that way.

[Rhino]

I like Longhorn Steakhouse and have one 1/2 mile from my apartment. Maybe I'll go there for dinner and see if they do it too.

[just gone]

Total for the two of us, including tax, is $77.72.

I left $15.

I was under the misguided opinion that I was a good tipper at roughly 20% (before tax!). I was somewhat incredulous at the last place I ate at when they had a 25% in the list of suggested tip percentages. I guess that wasn't as nearly so outrageous as purposely bad math. Generally I just move the decimal point over one place to get ten percent and then double it and round that number up or down to the closest whole dollar amount for addition ease. That works for me most of the time, I'd say roughly five percent of the time I get really bad service or exceptionally great service and I adjust it accordingly. I'm not sure of the tax rate (8.25%-9.0%?) in the Longhorn location you chose, but I probably would have only put out a $14 tip. 
If I have to start tipping at 25% I'll stay home and eat PB&J.

I'm actually sorry to hear this, as I like Longhorn Steakhouse. I eat there almost every time I travel to Chicago. Despite living in a major urban area of Texas, the closest Longhorn Steakhouse is almost 90 miles from my house.

[MrPepsi]

http://www.seethisordie.com/screenshots/longhorn-steakhouse-is-screwing-over-their-employees-by-docking-their-tips-not-sure-where-else-to-post-this-but-it-needs-to-be-seen-by-all/

[just gone]

http://www.seethisordie.com/screenshots/longhorn-steakhouse-is-screwing-over-their-employees-by-docking-their-tips-not-sure-where-else-to-post-this-but-it-needs-to-be-seen-by-all/

So if it's a 7% sales tax (GA?) the check would have been $20.17 and 20% would have been $4.034...yep that works, would have only got 4 bucks from me.

[MrPepsi]

I was just curious if it was happening in more than one location.
That link I posted isn't even a good example.

[B.D.F.]

I think perhaps some of you guys are not tipping correctly.... and by that I mean physically, mechanically correctly. Get yourselves a couple of rolls of one- dollar coins and a small tube of cyanoacrylate (Super Glue). Now leave the tip 'correctly' and leave the restaurant slowly, looking back at your table often. Hijinks and hilarity will ensue but keep moving.... always moving toward the door. And maybe not go back to that restaurant for a while.

Brian