Can someone pls explain ''service charge'' to me?

[whitby_2773]

Date: 1/18/2010 1:40:42 PM
Author: Allison D.

Date: 1/16/2010 2:29:19 PM

Author: whitby_2773


It was made very clear to me that a tip would be expected on top of the service charge.

I guess I''d have felt compelled to be equally clear that I didn''t intend to tip in instances where a 20% service charge already applies.

hi allison

i went to argue the point...and decided that the most unequivocal response was to cancel the appointment. i''m pretty sure they ''got my message'' - as i cancelled my massage, my facial...then the reflexology appt i''d made for a friend of mine...then the afternoon tea booking i''d made for the 2 of us after that! all up, about $700 worth of services. i think she heard me; she had one of those (very flat) "oh." responses....like (as lilykat said) "this sure isn''t going how we thought it would..."

 

[Italiahaircolor]

It''s entirely possible that this Spa operates on booth rental...meaning that, against what you "believe", staff isn''t "paid" per hour but rather about 10% of the commission...and the service charge goes to cover product.

 

[Cehrabehra]

a 1 hour massage is the same $14 - I have yet to try it though, I''ll let you know

 

[gardengloves]

Hi Whitby,

So glad you canceled. I would have too.

I tip well for massage, facial, etc and don''t need a service charge as a prompt for personal services like this.

It seems to me its one or the other, either bill a service charge and say that covers the tip, but expecting both seems excessive.

 

[Gleam]

Date: 1/18/2010 9:05:45 PM
Author: gardengloves
Hi Whitby,


So glad you canceled. I would have too.


I tip well for massage, facial, etc and don''t need a service charge as a prompt for personal services like this.


It seems to me its one or the other, either bill a service charge and say that covers the tip, but expecting both seems excessive.

Agree completely.

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 1/18/2010 5:50:11 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor
It's entirely possible that this Spa operates on booth rental...meaning that, against what you 'believe', staff isn't 'paid' per hour but rather about 10% of the commission...and the service charge goes to cover product.

hi italia

not quite getting the tone here - re the 'what i 'believe'' - but i can only tell you what she told me. i asked. i was shocked, so i asked. i'm pretty thorough with this kind of thing. and i can tell you that she told me the staff were permanent, on salary, and the service charge was split 16%/4% for provider vs other staff.

this was not a short conversation and we went over it a NUMBER of times. mainly because i found it to be a jaw dropper.

 

[gardengloves]

Another thing Whitby,

A tip is a personal expression of thanks to the service provider. I''d feel weird and creepy if the service charge covered it, and I left giving nothing personally.

On the other hand I''d feel ripped off with a service charge and giving a personal thanks with a tip.

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 1/18/2010 9:33:00 PM
Author: gardengloves
Another thing Whitby,


A tip is a personal expression of thanks to the service provider. I''d feel weird and creepy if the service charge covered it, and I left giving nothing personally.


On the other hand I''d feel ripped off with a service charge and giving a personal thanks with a tip.

right! i like thanking ''cause i wanna, not cause i hafta.'' (a lesson my mother drummed into me!)

 

[Diamond*Dana]

This sounds completely ridiculous to me, I am so happy that you canceled your appointment!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I don''t like unexpected charges. I usually don''t complain because in my experience a business with that type of management does not care. The complainers are not "their" type of people anyway. I would not go back.