I am severly annoyed by the whole concept of 'mandatory gratuity'. By definition there is no such thing as a mandatory gratuity because the definition of a gratuity is that it is something extra that is FREELY given, meaning that the customer gives what he or she feels is appropriate.
I think my reasons for disliking these types of policies are very reasonable. For instance, if the vendor already has their gratuity in hand then what incentive do they have to do a good job or to try harder? The answer is that they don't have any. Futher, if the service that the customer receives is bad, there is no recourse in expressing your displeasure by docking the vendor's tip.
i have told all of my vendor's who have the nerve and very bad manners to do this that I do not appreciate it and that if the service that I receive is not absolutely excellent then I will be back to see them after the wedding to reclaim my 'gratuity' that I feel was swindles from me in the first place.
Please don't misunderstand. I absolutely tip and tip well if I receive excellant service but I certainly do not feel that a gratuity is mandatory and I don't appreciate being told that it is. That's all I have to say
Rosalind_75
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I hear ya!!!
Im trying to think of which vendor has a mandatory gratuity. can you say brain fart
MrsCM
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Who said that gratuities are mandatory? Which vendors? I haven't run into that yet. Although I know gratuities are expected, I definitely scale them depending on level of service. I always over tip but you're right, if they have it upfront, they can just coast through the night. Hopefully they won't because you choose reputable vendors but I'm not giving out gratuities beforehand.
mokie74m
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ITA.
The only real problem I have with tipping is with the Maitre D gratuity. I can't believe how much we are expected to give them. However, I don't think they get it up front, I think they get it at the end of the night. My limo company was the only vendor that included a gratuity into my contract. But I didn't really mind. It gives me one less tip to give out ha-ha. Although we will prob tip them a little extra any way (depending on service of course)
SuzanneK
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None of my vendors have gratuity included. What vendors are requiring you pay the gratuity upfront?
leeserd
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Oh, that's another thing I have heard from other brides, that even when you pay these 20% grautuities up front, they felt like these people were looking for additional amounts the day of too!
MarjorieFrank
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The only vendor that I have come across with a mandatory gratuity is the RH. Which have you dealt with?
Rosalind_75
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Posted by MarjorieFrank
The only vendor that I have come across with a mandatory gratuity is the RH. Which have you dealt with?
RH?
I thought that was called a service fee at least thats what it says on my contract
Rosalind_75
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Posted by leeserd
Oh, that's another thing I have heard from other brides, that even when you pay these 20% grautuities up front, they felt like these people were looking for additional amounts the day of too!
which vendors?
MikesBride2B
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Posted by Rosalind_75
Posted by MarjorieFrank
The only vendor that I have come across with a mandatory gratuity is the RH. Which have you dealt with?
RH?
I thought that was called a service fee at least thats what it says on my contract
I can only think of the RH too...and the service fee is for the waiters and bartenders and stuff who won't otherwise normally be tipped.
nraboni
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UUUGGHHHHH...I HATE all of this tipping BS!!
For the RH...the only extra tip that is being given aside from the 'built-in' service charge will be the maitre'd tip
For the Limo....the price that I received was tax and gratuity included. They will not be getting any more from me.
For the flowers...I will tip the delivery person $20 because I am only having flowers delieverd to my dad's house. They wanted to charge me extra to have the bouts delivered to FH....I was like, no thanks, I'll have someone take them the 3 minutes away from my Dads to my house.
For the Photo....I am still debating this. The person that is doing the photo is an independent person that does this on the side, so all of the money is going to her anyway. I guess I'll decide when the time comes. If I do it's not going to be more than $50.
For the DJ....same situation as the photo.
For the Make-up artist....I will tip 20% of the total, not for each person that she is doing.
For the hair...my cousin is doing this for me free of charge so in return I am paying for her make-up.
I can't think of anyone else at the moment...but I am sure there are more!
cateydee
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Posted by MikesBride2B
Posted by Rosalind_75
Posted by MarjorieFrank
The only vendor that I have come across with a mandatory gratuity is the RH. Which have you dealt with?
RH?
I thought that was called a service fee at least thats what it says on my contract
I can only think of the RH too...and the service fee is for the waiters and bartenders and stuff who won't otherwise normally be tipped.
they call it a service fee so they can get around it. (tax reasons i beleive). however it basically is gratuity, since it goes towards tipping the servers bartenders, etc (except Maitre D)
marinai7
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Do vendors really do this also? I have only booked the RH so far, so not sure how the vendors do this.
SusiBtoM
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The only vendor who received their gratuity BEFORE the wedding was the florist, because I would not be available for the delivery. This also ensured that the floral designers would receive their share along with the delivery person and set up people. I had no problems with that.
Other than that, everyone else received their gratuity at the end of the evening. None of my vendors ever stated that gratuities were mandatory, rather gratuities are suggested. The gratuity for the maitre'd was a suggested amount, and both my husband and I found that our maitre'd performed above and beyond what we had initially expected. In other words, he worked hard for his gratuity.
Gratuities are a fact of life and have become to be expected for services rendered. I have never encountered 'mandatory gratuities'. If any vendor ever told me that, I'd walk away and find another.
Keep your gratuity envelopes unsealed, keep extra cash on hand in a variety of denominations should you decide to add to or reduce the amounts to be paid.
tgrlily339
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I have mandatory gratuity for my RH, matre'd fee is due when I drop off my last payment Which I am sure he/she will do a wonderful job BUT I also feel I shouldnt have to tip this until that night! What if he does nothing? @ a 'suggested rate' $2-3 pp thats a lot of money if they do a crappy job! Oh and I have to pay grat ahead of time on limos too.
leeserd
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Re: Gratuity Rant
Of course our RH has a mandatory gratuity and yes, I have heard of it disquised as a 'service charge' as well but its the same thing.
Our limo has it too
and now we are planning our RD and the restaurant has a contract and includes a mandatory 20% gratuity.
kris_gets_hitched
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Posted by leeserd
Of course our RH has a mandatory gratuity and yes, I have heard of it disquised as a 'service charge' as well but its the same thing.
Our limo has it too
and now we are planning our RD and the restaurant has a contract and includes a mandatory 20% gratuity.
Usually when you go to a restaurant, if your party is for 6 or more (sometimes 8 or more) people, the mandatory gratuity is instated. Says so on most menus.
jayepyt
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i think it all s.ucks sorry i have to take out at least 3k for tips and gratuity these mofo getting over like fat rats
tgrlily339
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I actually have to agree with the 20% added grat to restaurant bills for parties. I was in the restaurant industry for 9 yrs, and in all honestly MOST (not saying all and I am not here to start a war) but most don't know how to tip when it is in large groups. JMO though
msabla1
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YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT LADIES!!!!
Supposedly it's 'customary' to give them a little extra $$ at the end of the night. I had to but not much and I didn't care if they didn't look happy.
