Looks like this greedy pho restaurant in Cupertino is testing this out to see

[theking]

..how it goes  :

San Jose Vietnamese restaurant's 'automatic 18% service charge’ for solo diner goes viral

Reddit user u/TRTL2k shared a picture of their receipt from Vietnamese restaurant Pho Ha Noi in Cuptertino, California, on the subreddit r/mildlyinfuriating on Sept. 13. The post has received over 24,000 upvotes and more than 4,900 comments since it was first shared.

What happened: The picture shows that the Reddit user was automatically billed an 18% service charge, which is presumably the establishment’s policy, as can be read on the bottom of the receipt: “18% Service Charge Included. For parties of one or larger, a(sic) 18% gratuity is applied automatically. If you have any questions, please speak with a manager.”

How much they paid: The total amount u/TRTL2k paid for their meal was only $49.50, but because of the sales tax, which is listed at 9.125% ($4.52) and the 18% service charge ($8.91), the Reddit user had to cough up a total of $62.93, which was $13.43 more than their meal.

Surprised by the receipt: In the post, u/TRTL2k noted that they have “seen restaurants include gratuity when it’s a large party but never for parties of one.”

How people reacted: Many Reddit users criticized the establishment for its automatic billing of a service fee, with the top comment, which has received over 9,500 upvotes, reading, “For parties of 1 or larger? What a convoluted way of saying everybody is charged 18%.”

[Hung_Low]

..how it goes  :

San Jose Vietnamese restaurant's 'automatic 18% service charge’ for solo diner goes viral

Reddit user u/TRTL2k shared a picture of their receipt from Vietnamese restaurant Pho Ha Noi in Cuptertino, California, on the subreddit r/mildlyinfuriating on Sept. 13. The post has received over 24,000 upvotes and more than 4,900 comments since it was first shared.

What happened: The picture shows that the Reddit user was automatically billed an 18% service charge, which is presumably the establishment’s policy, as can be read on the bottom of the receipt: “18% Service Charge Included. For parties of one or larger, a(sic) 18% gratuity is applied automatically. If you have any questions, please speak with a manager.”

How much they paid: The total amount u/TRTL2k paid for their meal was only $49.50, but because of the sales tax, which is listed at 9.125% ($4.52) and the 18% service charge ($8.91), the Reddit user had to cough up a total of $62.93, which was $13.43 more than their meal.

Surprised by the receipt: In the post, u/TRTL2k noted that they have “seen restaurants include gratuity when it’s a large party but never for parties of one.”

How people reacted: Many Reddit users criticized the establishment for its automatic billing of a service fee, with the top comment, which has received over 9,500 upvotes, reading, “For parties of 1 or larger? What a convoluted way of saying everybody is charged 18%.”

Seen some of these happening... when I see this, I don't leave a tip at all.

[Cali Guy]

Haven’t ate at this one but its other restaurant at Little Saigon is the same. It’s posted and was %16 this previous Mother’s Day. Most pho places shouldn’t be expecting tips as there isn’t much service. You expecting tips, waitresses need to be on their toes. Most of the times, you wave them over and they’ll give a face. Three times recently they forgot an order at different pho places. Slacking off big time. Two restored the missing items but third one, I tried to wave a waitress over and she told me to hold on but never returned. After we shared and finished my order, I walked up to cashier and she proceeded to charge me for the missing meal, I pointed out that we never received it. She was very apologetic but that places lost me as a customer.