www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I ate at a few restaurants and saw that they added 10% service charge. I asked the waiter if this was the tip. They said no. Am I expected to pay a tip after the service charge? This happened at JR Ribs and a place called Comida de Tipica or something like that. If I should leave a tip, how much should it be? I tipped 1000 colones.

Terminator,
Send a PM to Jmac. He'll straighten it all out for ya!

Seriously, I believe that most restaurants, bars, hotels, etc in CR add 10% to the bill. Call it service charge, or gratuity, or whatever. I always treated it as a "built-in" tip. Normally, for good service, I'll usually throw in another 10 percent. If the service was poor, the server might get an extra 2 - 5 percent. But regardless, they're always going to get the "automatic" 10% from the bill. Not quite sure how much of that 10% the hotel/restaurant gets, and how much the server gets.

MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

The waiter is full of shit, the 10% is for the service and is nothing more than an automatic tip. I will usually add 5 to 10 percent on top of that like Mucho Gusto stated. Also, (not that I've ever done it) but it is within your rights to cross out the 10% service charge on your bill and put a zero next to it if you so desire, assuming that the service is particularly bad.

When in Rome...

Ticos don't tip at all. I'll usually leave the coins, maybe a 1,000¢ bill if the bill is bigger than $30.

Most restaurants take the 10% and put it into a pool. All the employees, waiter, bartender, bus boy, cook, etc. share in the pool.

Sandino wrote:



I have never heard that you could scratch out the service charge and since it is listed on the menu, that a service charge of 10% is added on, you have been advised before you ordered so I think it would be difficult to win any argument that you have the right to cross out the service charge.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

If you want to see if a tip is expected by Ticos try this little experiment. Order something that costs exactly 1000 colones. Pay the bill with a 2, 5 or 10000 colones note. You most likely not get any coins in your change because they do not expect a tip. Try that in any US restaurant and can almost guarantee you will get some coins in your change.

Ticos do not expect a tip and look upon gringos who tip more than a few left over coins to be fools. They do not respect you for tipping but rather laugh how dumb you are.

But hey, it's your money spend it anyway you want not the way someone on this board tells you to.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID,

This was one of the things I read about in the tourist guides before I made my first trip to CR many years ago. As I understand it, the restaurants that add a service charge are required to post on the menu the cost with and without the charge added. Maybe this isn't done anymore, but I know that is the way it used to be.

I think you might have some confusion with the service charge and the tax. Restaurants are suppose to show the cost without tax and then with the tax. Not all restaurants comply with that law but many do.

Menu Example:

Hamburguesa con el queso 2000 colones 2260 colones IVI

The bill would read:

Hamburguesa con el queso 2000

Servico 200

Impuesta 260

Todo 2460

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

You're probably correct that I was thinking about the IVI instead of the service charge. But in your example, the service charge is shown as a separate line item on the bill, above and beyond what is listed as the cost for the hamburguesa on the menu. In your previous post, you stated that the service charge is usually included in the cost listed on the menu.

Ah hell, now I'm thoroughly confused!!!

Even in restaurants that do not show the price without the IVI it will be broken down on the bill as the price without the IVI and then the IVI. I believe it is an accounting tool so that the service charge and IVI can be easily identified when they do their books.

As to the service charge what I meant is that it is shown on the menu not in the price of the item but rather as a note that it would be added to the bill. Sorry I did not state it clearly sometimes it does not come out in the post as what you meant to convey but rather as a confusing statement

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID,

Okay, understood. Going back to my original point, it has always been my understanding that you can strike the service charge off of the bill if you don't believe it is warranted. And it appears that you are saying that it states on the menu that a service charge will be added to the bill, and therefore you are precluded from striking it. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has actually tried this before.

Anyway, thanks for the clarification.

If they think of us as suckers for tipping, what would they think of us for scratching out the service charge completely?

Also, for a culture that doesn't expect tips, there sure are a lot of TIP jars in all types of businesses. (I know it's usually in the gulch where many tipping gringos hang. I don't think you will see this outside of the gulch.)

I find it funny that MG jumps down my throat when I mention tipping in CR is not necessary, but when ID mentions it, he dissapears

Oh my

That's because ID is old and you're a young pup who can hold up to a whipping. You do have a point though.

Berk.....

He'll be back Monday morning and don't worry Jmac you'll always be our favorite whipping boy!

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Living well is the best revenge
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