Service Charges in Manila Area

[confusedshoes 193]

10 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Sorry but a 200pho surcharge is quite a bit of money outside of the NCR. I spend almost all my time when I am in Pinas either in Davao or out in the provinces of Mindanao. There 200 pesos is actually quite a bit of money and can feed me and my wife for a night. 

 

I am not some cheap guy and have no problem spending money when I want to. I just hate how nobody questions anything in the Philippines and just submits to authority. If a place here in the USA has a surcharge to supplement the wages on top of a tip then no I won't be going back to that place. 

Here in San Francisco we have a few places who charge a service charge, and also have a spot for you to tip. Like you, I also tip around 18-20%. If there is a service charge, I will take into consideration what percentage that is and it will affect their tip. Also some places will automatically charge gratuity on parties larger than a certain amount here. To those, I usually leave it at what it is because I usually would have tipped more.

 

But yeah, 33% service charge is a lot (on that 200 SC on a P600 bill). That's a bit nuts. As I said, I've never had that happen as I usually encounter 10-15% SC

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 minute ago, confusedshoes said:

Here in San Francisco we have a few places who charge a service charge, and also have a spot for you to tip. Like you, I also tip around 18-20%. If there is a service charge, I will take into consideration what percentage that is and it will affect their tip. Also some places will automatically charge gratuity on parties larger than a certain amount here. To those, I usually leave it at what it is because I usually would have tipped more.

 

But yeah, 33% service charge is a lot (on that 200 SC on a P600 bill). That's a bit nuts. As I said, I've never had that happen as I usually encounter 10-15% SC

I totally understand the larger parties gratuity and to me it makes sense. I have never had the SC happen to me when I lived in Low Angeles.and you won't see it here in NC.

[Falcon Cara 378]

23 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Isn't the current exchange rate like 50 pesos to 1 US dollar. Who cares, I know when I'm in the Philippines I'm blowing money like T-Pain and Drake. I blow money like it's my job. I probably wouldn't notice an extra 10-20 percent. I will watch from now on though. I will be there in November. I haven't noticed it yet, but the bars and restaurants I frequent aren't in the mall that's for sure.

I was in Manila back in October and never noticed any Service Charges but didn't spend much time eating at restaurant, This trip I figured I would try out some places like Shabu Shabu places (which are quite good) and try to eat at a TGIF so I could get some US Food.

 

The Service Charge is nothing but a scam, It seems to only be in Manila area and the silly part is that it is hit and miss, as whether an establishment will charge it, and what amount they charge or at least try to charge. 

[confusedshoes 193]

2 hours ago, Falcon Cara said:

I was in Manila back in October and never noticed any Service Charges but didn't spend much time eating at restaurant, This trip I figured I would try out some places like Shabu Shabu places (which are quite good) and try to eat at a TGIF so I could get some US Food.

 

The Service Charge is nothing but a scam, It seems to only be in Manila area and the silly part is that it is hit and miss, as whether an establishment will charge it, and what amount they charge or at least try to charge. 

did you even try to read the link I posted? If you are that worried about service charge maybe go eat elsewhere. There is plenty of good restaurants that don't charge a service fee, you can at the very least ask or read as its usually plainly written on the menu. Also TGIF is as American as McDonalds, only slightly better quality, never really understand why so many people eat there.

 

 

[John & Rose 7,239]

11 hours ago, confusedshoes said:

Also TGIF is as American as McDonalds, only slightly better quality, never really understand why so many people eat there.

 

 

I don't get it either.  With all the amazing food in the Philippines why would anyone go for low end American chain food?  I do admit eating at Texas Roadhouse once but that was my Step-kid's decision.  They wanted to try a western steak.  I'll admit, it was better than I was expecting as I grew up on midwest corn fed beef.  

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

7 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

I don't get it either.  With all the amazing food in the Philippines why would anyone go for low end American chain food?  I do admit eating at Texas Roadhouse once but that was my Step-kid's decision.  They wanted to try a western steak.  I'll admit, it was better than I was expecting as I grew up on midwest corn fed beef.  

Texas Roadhouse steak is pretty good on average anyway, so you got lucky there. The only time I went to TGIF in the Philippines was to take some of my wife's family there for them to see what it's like. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

13 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Texas Roadhouse steak is pretty good on average anyway, so you got lucky there. The only time I went to TGIF in the Philippines was to take some of my wife's family there for them to see what it's like. 

I do admit going there to show the kids what a cheese stick is.  They didn't believe me!

 

[Falcon Cara 378]

10 hours ago, John & Rose said:

I don't get it either.  With all the amazing food in the Philippines why would anyone go for low end American chain food?  I do admit eating at Texas Roadhouse once but that was my Step-kid's decision.  They wanted to try a western steak.  I'll admit, it was better than I was expecting as I grew up on midwest corn fed beef.  

TGIF is headquartered in my city in USA, 

 

I wanted some US food and US meat, I tried the Hamburger and fries and it was good, plus they had mustard. I tried the steak also it was fairly good and they had mashed potatoes they had good flavor

 

I did see they are building a Texas Roadhouse in Robinson Mall, They have good steaks, but they are under construction.

 

Food that are lacking in Philippines are vegetables and assorted fruits, which are limited or maybe super expensive.