Quote:
Originally Posted by Rissask
I think that often it likely IS just an honest error on the part of the restaurant, and it is likely often just error on the part of the tourist too, not understanding the tax thing...but it's also sometimes restaurant servers (unknown to the management sometimes, but sometimes with their full approval I bet) trying to take advantage of unaware and/or gullible tourists to try to make a bit of extra money for themselves too. Mexican hotel and restaurant owners/apologists notwithstanding. 
I know how to read a bill and ask if the 'propina es incluida', or not- or well enough to make myself clear- and we have still been the victims of an attempt to squeeze more pesos out of us than we owe on more than one occaision. Like I said, it's usually been when there is a larger group of us.
This is nothing unique to Mexico, it happens all over the world, and likely far more often in poorer countries, naturally.
Caveat emptor.  |
Hi! I am home!!!
Rain Rain go away take me back to Mexico......
Anyway this is the first thread I saw.....before this trip I would have had the same opinion...No big deal it happens anywhere....After this trip....No. The only negative experience of our trip (well besides an incident in Cozumel) was to do with bills at restaurants & beach clubs.
I do not buy the fact that there is a tax in Playa & that is what is being added to the bill. Maybe there is a tax but I don't think the extra $ is claimed or paid back to the gov't .....It is going in the servers pocket.
Some examples.
On one occasion we went to one of my fave (formerly) restaurants in Playa. My Mom was buying. We each ordered 1 drink each (40 pesos) & the kids & I had appetizers. My drink was wrong (although the waiter insisted it wasn't) no big deal I didn't make a scene Nick drank it. (It was tequila which makes me barf) & the food was mediocre. Fine could be an off night. Bill comes & my Mom grabs it & I overhear her say is 800 pesos enough? I say what? I look at the bill & add it up. In a big circle it says $687. Seems steep for what we ordered so I add it up twice & Nick does the same. We get $497. To make a long story short after we nicely ask the server about it he gets quite upset. He shoves a calculator at Nick which does indeed add up to what we thought. I pay. He gives me back the change. From $687. I say No and stand & wait. He says "What service not good?" Then he throws the change in my hand & slams the cash drawer shut. It still wasn't right & he got himself a $60 peso tip for being an arse but I was too intimidated to argue. If my Mom had paid he would have had a $320 tip. Nice.
Mothers Day I take Mom out. We order half order salads, kids order quesidillas, Nick has special. Bill comes it says $620 in a circle. Nothing added up. I say "excuse me but do you mind re-adding this". He says "$620". I say "No it is supossed to be $390. Only after I asked to see a menu & I added it up again he says "Sorry Sorry $390".
$230 is not a mistake.
Beach club: We get there & ask how much chairs are if we are buying food & having a couple drinks. "No problem it is free. No problem". Bill comes a the end. $120 for chairs. $100 a drink for my malibu & 7's. Said I ordered doubles. I did not order doubles. I was at the beach with my kids & Mom I was not ordering doubles. Beer was charged $10 over the menu. All of a sudden none of the 3 guys working could speak a word of English. I paid the bill. Overcharged about $200 (not counting the beach chairs) The rest of the time if we went there (only in the Evening) we ordered at the bar & paid drink by drink. The ladies there were very nice.
Another beach club. We were here a few times over our trip. The first time we ordered & paid drink by drink. Once we had that server a couple days we felt comfortable running a tab. He was very honest & we tipped him well! Our last day he was not working so we had a different server. Bill comes he says $420 & hands me a reciept that says $264. He says plus 2 pina colodas. This was our last day & I had been adding up on a notepad. I say it is supposed to be $324 & I only had 1 drink. He asks me what I have & says "Oh sorry $324".
Many times we noticed a scribble at the bottom of our bill with an amount written beside it. Usually 10%. We just asked if it was a "Propina". Yes it always was....which is fine no big deal. The issue is that I bet many people don't even notice. Essentially they are getting double tipped. One restaurant however told us it was to pay the kitchen staff.
These are examples of my experience. I love Playa. Getting hustled leaves a bad taste in my mouth though. I can't imagine how many times people are taken in a day & don't even realize it. Sure I am on vacation. I will wholeheartedly pay for what I order & tip well. I am not made of $ though & I can't afford to pay an extra $200 a meal. If that was the case I would order more booze.
I would like to mention a few places where the bill was spot on & tip was not included (or if it was it was CLEARLY marked as so):
Karma Bagel. (Ate here 4 times love it)
El Fogon.
HC
La Pesca
Carboncitos
Mamitas Beach Club (with the exception of one time)
Pizza Pazza (okay okay it is a pizza place hard to scam people but I love this place....be sure to put some $$ in their tip jar. We ate Pizza alot)
Paamul restaurant (Thanks for the reminder Susie!)
Luna Blue Bar
My advice is do not run a tab at a beach club. Write down everything you drink. Do not run a tab at the bar. Pay drink by drink at the bar. Ask if the Propina is included at restaurants. Have a rough idea of what your bill should be.
Many times this trip I overheard people say that "Mexico is getting more expensive"......This stuff is bad for business & I think it is in the restaurant & bar owners hands to make it right.
Melissa