‘Out of control,’ rages Waffle House diner after spotting sign with 20% surcharge – customers slam it as ‘junk fee’

A FACEBOOK user highlighted a policy at Waffle House that has stirred significant debate among customers.

The policy forces a 20% service fee for to-go orders — and it has been in effect at the restaurant since 2018.

The photo posted by user Herbie Davis shows a sign in a Waffle House location stating: “A 20% fee is added to all 'to-go' orders.

"10% is paid to the server who prepares the order and 10% is a 'to-go' fee. Thank you, Waffle House.”

Davis wrote as a caption, "This is crazy… how in the hell Waffle House gonna tip a server on a to go order.. I’m not sitting down eating.."

The surcharge policy, which combines a service fee and a to-go fee, has quickly become a point of contention.

Many commenters expressed frustration and confusion over the policy, with one person even calling it a "junk fee."

Another user pointed out, “I tip 20% for dine-in. Tipping culture is so out of control."

A third commenter suggested, “This seems to be a sure fire way to get people to stop going to Waffle House."

BACK IN TIME

This new fee structure isn’t entirely unexpected, however.

In a 2018 tweet, Waffle House clarified that they charged a 10% service fee on all to-go orders and explained that most businesses in the industry either included such charges in their menu prices or used a separate menu for to-go orders.

"Waffle House does charge a 10% service charge on all to-go orders.

"Before implementing this policy, we found most other businesses in our industry either figure the charges into their everyday menu board prices or use a separate menu for to-go orders," the diner wrote at the time.

The addition of the 20% fee seems to build on this practice, with a portion designated explicitly for the server who prepares the order.

HIDDEN FEE BAN IN CALI

Hidden fees have been banned across California with the implementation of a new state law.

The "Honest Pricing Law," also known as Senate Bill 478, took effect on July 1, 2024.

This legislation prohibits businesses from advertising prices that are lower than the final cost, excluding taxes, with surcharges ranging from three to six percent.

Some restaurants have used these surcharges to manage rising expenses, such as wages and rent.

For instance, Rodolfo Salum, co-owner of Butcher's Cut Steakhouse in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, noted that their $3.75 surcharge has been a crucial part of their pricing strategy.

California’s Department of Justice has described the law as a measure for “transparency,” rather than a form of “price control,” according to Littler.

In other restaurant news, The U.S. Sun has extensively covered Red Lobsters closures across the US.

Plus, an Applebee's location is set to close its doors after over 10 years of service.