The 10,000 Post Thread v2

[astronelson 339]

1531.

I've often wondered about why the tax isn't included in the price in the US myself.

[Larks2242 251]

1532.

Because it is tax, there is a item price then tax it is different in eatch state, lets use ebay for example, only if you buy a item from the state you are in do you have to pay tax on it. Also there are different rates, some are 7% some are 6% Some have tax on food some don't some tax clothes some don't ect. It is far more simple to not include it.

[Duke87 1,070]

(1533)

Most stores in the US do not include sales tax on the price tag because they know they can sell more stuff if they can make it look cheaper, and it is perfectly legal to do so. My understanding is that including sales tax/VAT in the price tag is required by law in most countries. Here it is not. Sales taxes are also a state thing, not a federal thing, and they vary. Delaware doesn't have one!

The argument is also made that it's better to have the tax added at checkout because if you just include the tax in the price, it becomes a hidden tax. When it's added at the cash register, and your receipt clearly says "subtotal" "tax" and then "total", the whole business is more transparent.

[astronelson 339]

1534.

My receipt just has total, since the tax on most goods and services (the GST - guess what it stands for) is 10% and is included in the price. Exceptions include fresh fruit and vegetables and goods bought online from overseas worth less than $1000.

An argument for including the tax in the price is that it makes it easier to be certain about how much you're spending while you're shopping.

[Frdm920 50]

1535

There's also a marking such as % or a * on the receipt with a little note saying "Items marked with [symbol] are taxable" over here

[Muck308 55]

1536

Originally posted by: Ilikeseattle

Well, expected tips depend on the amount of stars of the restaurant. 1-3 stars get 15% or less, 4 stars usually have an included 18% gratuity, and 5 stars expect at least 20%. quote>

I'm sorry but whoever told you that is grossly misinformed. Trust me when I say that tipping under 15% when a server does their job is the equivelant of a slap in the face and as I said, 20% has become the norm.

Sometimes people think their server doesn't deserve a tip because of other wait staff helping out. This is because tips are either pooled between all servers on the floor, or because the serving staff has a crew of bussers and food runners who get tipped out by all the servers. All a food runner does all night is take food to tables. That's it.

I find it crucial that all people study tipping etiquette. You'll only embarass yourself or bring sub-par service onto yourself if you return to an establishment where you under-tip.

When I had regular customers who I knew were under tippers, guess who got the short end of the stick during a busy shift? They brought it on themselves.

Now the worst is that "first date" couple that sits there all night. If you take up a table in my section for more than an hour and a half (and that's stretching it) you owe me double. Plain and simple. If you got your butts out of there when you should have I could have seated another table. That's a big one people don't think of, but it's a slap in the face nonetheless.

This is why everyone should work in a restaurant sooner or later... that is to say, if you can handle the pressure.

[nathanthemayor 1,262]

1537

I don't go to3 4 or5-star reastruants usually while on vacation, unless you count the Dickens reastruant in old Montreal

[Vahr 341]

1538

I'm surprised... the radio on our bus (still tuned to the same station) played something other than (modern) pop and the like... it actually played stuff that I can listen to.

[Larks2242 251]

1539.

I don't like pop.

[Muck308 55]

1540

I second that dislike.

[nathanthemayor 1,262]

1541

Neither do I

[Larks2242 251]

1542.

Nor do I oh wait i started it

[Muck308 55]

1543

It's snowing in Pittsburgh again.

[Chptrk 86]

1544.

Also not a fan of pop! But everyone probably knows that about me by now...Whoo Rock!

[Duke87 1,070]

(1545)

What exactly does "pop" entail these days, anyway? The first thing I always think of when I hear the term is Britney Spears, but that's obviously somewhat dated. Her first album came out 12 years (!) ago.

[astronelson 339]

1546.

I like some music that was classed as pop when it was released, and presumably still is pop.

[Frdm920 50]

1547

3 - 1, even for someone who's not a big fan of cricket, that's depressing

Edit: @ Duke vv England's score against Australia in the ashes. 3 tests to 1

[Duke87 1,070]

(1548)

Wait, what's 3 - 1?

[Muck308 55]

1549

Cricket?!? That's a dart game!

[Ocram's Razr 964]

1550

I have worked as a busboy before but non-existent service in dives do not deserve 15% tip. There are no tips on buffets even though there are cooks and busboys. I used to think that my Dad over-tipped (he has been known to tip over 40% at 3 star restaurants he frequents) but he is the first to get specials and people actually like it when he special orders (many places hate special ordering). I never tip fast food franchises.

Edit: My Dad has always worked in the service industry (waiter, bartender, bar manager, now general manager of a 4 star steakhouse that always includes an 18% gratuity but allows further tipping. Sometimes people are confused and tip and additional 18%. Here in King County, Washington, all people are paid minimum wage of about $10 dollars regardless of tips. Technically, tips should be taxed but tips paid in cash are rarely put on tax returns. Then again, I am a college student who does not work on school days I cannot afford to eat out at nice restaurants so the only places I pay for are franchises, foreign, and/or cupon givers. I always give at least 20% tip on nice restuarants I use cupons at.

[Larks2242 251]

1551.

@ Muck i thought it was an annoying thing that chirps

[Duke87 1,070]

(1552)

Well, it's also that.

[Muck308 55]

1553

Originally posted by: Ilikeseattle

I have worked as a busboy before but non-existent service in dives do not deserve 15% tip. There are no tips on buffets even though there are cooks and busboys. quote>

I think you're misinterpreting what I mean by "if a server does their job." If you get poor service, the server didn't do their job. Doing your job means doing it well in my opinion. Obviously, if you get bad service you should tip accordingly, but you should go further than that. Tell the manager and the server why you feel like your service was sub-par. Otherwise, nothing will change.

And going to a "dive" certainly shouldn't automatically merit a tip under 15%. Don't blame the server for the follies of the owner. The only thing that warrants a bad tip is bad service. Not bad food, bad owners, or bad managers... only bad service.

And buffet workers only deserve a tip in the following case: You serve yourself but a server takes your drink order, brings your drink, refills it throughout, and clears your plates... as is common practice at the buffets I frequent. That kind of service merits a 10% tip.

What lucky ducks you folks in King County are! $10.00/hour plus tips? Consider yourself lucky because that sort of pay is unheard of where I come from... excluding some very classy places of course.

[Vahr 341]

1554

Weekend is here! And we're getting our snow blanket back... yay!

[Larks2242 251]

1555.

Yay! Weekend, btw what is a snow blanket?

[nathanthemayor 1,262]

1556

Yay! Weekend, btw what is a snow blanket?quote>

Yeah, I wonder that....

[Vahr 341]

1557

Blanket of snow, if you prefer that. Meaning, we're getting our snow back, after it melted a few days back. Which means its snowing.

[Larks2242 251]

1558.

Oh ok, it makes sense now.

[Duke87 1,070]

(1559)

Yup, I'm home early on account of the snow.

My car is on the street. I attempted to make it up my driveway... then quickly realized that wasn't happening. So, tomorrow I shall have to dig my car out, seeing as the snow plow is inevitably going to bury it.

[hittwice99 618]

1560

It's been a while since I last posted. I'm currently in the Emirates lounge in Sydney International Airport, ready to depart on the A380 in 30 minutes.