One customer says, “Applebee’s is out to get you” after looking at the tip amount on the Ziosk as they tried to pay.
“Since when is 20% of $47 $13?” questions Karl Utz (@utzfactor) in a viral TikTok. “Applebee’s is out to get you. Look at—that’s crazy.”
Indeed, 20% of $47.72, the total bill amount, is $9.54, not $13.14 as the machine says.
‘You used a coupon’
In the comments section, viewers tried to explain the discrepancy. Many pointed to the language on the Ziosk that said, “Tip is calculated after tax and before discounts.”
“It says tip calculated before discount. probably used some type of coupon or promo,” one viewer said.
A second wrote, “You probably had a discount applied. Tip is calculated before discount.”
“My guess is that there’s some sort of discount on your bill and the tip percentage is before the discount not after,” a third said.
@utzfactor Applebees is getting us on the tip! since when is 20% of $47 over $13 what? wow!#taxing #applebees #Omg #fypシ #fyp #Viral #viralpost #Food #Latenight ♬ original sound – Karl Utz @ Bridgeton Automall
This isn’t the first time this has happened
As Newsweek reported, one Chili’s customer noticed that the supposed 20% tip the machine suggested was actually a 72.6% tip. When he clicked the 20% option, his bill went from $19 to $32.80. Rather than the $13.80 suggested, an actual 20% tip would have been $3.80.
The diner assumed there was a glitch with the machine.
Additionally, The Mary Sue previously reported on a customer who noticed the suggested gratuity amount was actually $3.23 more than it was supposed to be. Viewers suggested it was because the point-of-sale machine was using the after-tax total to calculate the suggested amounts, which they claimed was illegal.
It is not illegal for restaurants to calculate suggested tip amounts on post-tax totals, however. Still, etiquette only requires diners to tip on pre-tax totals.
The Mary Sue contacted Karl Utz via TikTok comment and direct message. It contacted Applebee’s via press email.
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