This is Capitalism 101 my friend. Don’t go to those places. They’ll kill themselves off or adjust. As an exercise to the student, explain why you have to give such cretinous establishments your money.
As to voluntary tips, funny thing, you only see consumers complaining, never the wait staff. Worked at a payroll firm that serviced several local restaurants and brother, some of those people make bank.
You know what’s way, way more effective than the invisible hand of the “free” market? Regulation. Hidden fees at restaurants are almost non-existent here in Australia, and if you ever encounter one, because it’s illegal, you can just not pay it, what are they gonna do? And so the business either quickly stops doing it, or they end up with a fine from the ACCC 🤗
Also, as a former cafe employee, let me tell ya, I was much happier being paid a guaranteed wage than relying on tips. Which for morality’s sake, is practically another hidden fee.
It’s called a hidden fee for a reason, it’s hidden from you. So, yeah, it’s a non-option for first time patrons.
Why are you defending these business? Inb4 you say, I’m not, but the free market will correct this! The “free” market clearly isn’t, because we’re talking about it right now lol, hidden fees are common place in many places in the US.
And regulation (in Australia, for this issue), clearly IS working, because this is practically unheard of here.
