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And some terminology is so fun when they are essentially messing over you. Mandatory gratuity, hmm why not just call if service-charge? Or just directly include it in price and not even mention it?

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Or, in SF, you'll get an item near the bottom of your receipt labeled "SF Mandate". What's the mandate? Employers have to pay for employee health care. Why isn't it rolled in to the prices? Partly passive aggressive sniping at city hall, partly to keep the menu prices low. The "SF Mandate" portion is taxable, though, so it really is just them adding a hidden fee.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurants/article/Explainer-Wh...

It's guilt tax. If you price your coffee honestly, at 8 usd, but your competitor at 5 usd with gotcha fees, guess where customers will flock to.

I realize it may just have been a placeholder. But LOL at the implication that 5 USD is dishonest for a cup of mostly warm water in most places of the universe

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