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Devoted October 2019

18% Gratuity for food delivered, not served? Catering customers or experience input please??!?!?!

Missy B, on June 1, 2017 at 2:28 PM Posted in Planning 0 8

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We are having our wedding at a venue that allows you to bring in food from a licensed business / caterer. The venue does require their staff do the serving, presentation, clean up and such...they charge an $18 food corkage fee per person. (Food at venue would be $75 pp, we save $25 pp bringing food in). Therefore, my issue is for the food we are ordering from a local restaurant, they are charging an 18% gratuity on the bill, $100 delivery charge & $100 service fee. (Again, they are only dropping off...not keeping it warm, presenting or serving. No staff. The venue will be transferring food to serving pieces, serving & using their dishes & utensils, cleaning up & such.) I agree with the delivery charge & service fee for the disposable tins and delivery, but the 18% gratuity seems questionable. Is it normal for a business to charge a gratuity of this amount, in addition to a delivery fee & service charge… on drop off only food?

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8 Comments

Latest activity by Mrs. Fall Bride, on June 1, 2017 at 3:34 PM

Master July 1867
OGJessieJV · on June 1, 2017 at 2:43 PM
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For how many people? If it's over 25, yes, you will have to pay for all of that. Just because they aren't serving doesn't mean that: a) there won't be a fully staffed kitchen working; b) people that have to pack up and expedite to deliver to keep fresh and hot.

Seriously, think about it.
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Master October 2019
Jaimee · on June 1, 2017 at 2:45 PM
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When we go out to eat at restaurants, some of them mention that at 18% gratuity is automatically applied if the party is larger than 6 or 7 persons total. I'm going to assume that's also what's going on here.

I think for the best answer, you could just call and politely inquire about the charge.
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VIP October 2018
Svetlana · on June 1, 2017 at 2:51 PM
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The caterer at our venue also does full menu delivery for several other venues in our area. The food is to temperature when leaving and the food trucks have warmers to keep it hot on delivery. The caterer automatically adds an additional 10% more food to the final count. The final bill indicates the automatic 10% in food amt. Delivery fee if greater than 5 miles is $100.00 and the service fee is $150.00. If servers are requested an additional charge of 20% is added to the bill.
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Super September 2017
Jenny · on June 1, 2017 at 2:57 PM
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I'm also not sure what the gratuity is for. Seems like they should have a separate delivery fee, but the cost of having a kitchen staffed etc should be built into the food. Typically, a gratiuty is for servers isn't it?
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Super June 2017
Sarah · on June 1, 2017 at 2:58 PM
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I would think it would be fees or gratuity not both especially if they are literally just dropping food off. But agree with @jay that you should just call the restaurant and ask
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Master July 1867
OGJessieJV · on June 1, 2017 at 3:05 PM
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@Jenny-Typically the kitchen gets a portion of whatever the waitstaff is tipped, usually 10-15% of their tips. At least that's how it was in all the kitchens and restaurants I worked at.
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Master October 2017
karen · on June 1, 2017 at 3:11 PM
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I think gratuity on delivered food at 18% is highly unusual. Have you signed contract yet? If not, all you can do is compare total prices.
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