Red Robin Tipping Message Lost In Translation
Anyone who speaks multiple languages is used to rolling their eyes at bad and inadequate translations. There is probably a perfectly reasonable, non-bigoted explanation for the differing English and Spanish texts on this Red Robin receipt.
Chris happened to notice the variation on the receipts at a Red Robin in Arizona. He writes:
Turn your attention to the bottom of the receipt. In English, it says "Thanks for visiting RED ROBIN. Please Pay Your Server". Underneath that, in Spanish, it says "Please Pay Your Server. Tip is not included." I guess they're insinuating that Mexicans don't tip and have to be reminded to include a tip, whereas English speaking people are good tippers and are welcome at Red Robin any time. One might argue that perhaps tipping isn't common in Mexico. However, tipping is just as prevalent and expected in Mexico as it is here, so that isn't a valid argument.
Maybe the English message has been changed since the Spanish one was written, and the Spanish one just never changed. Or maybe I'm just grasping at reasonable, culturally-sensitive explanations for the disparity.
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Comments:
Perhaps they should consider adding:
"Service non-compris" for our European visitors.
Or....Please pay cashier before dining, for those in the Deep South (e.g., Denny's)
Perhaps English readers know there is no tip? And those unable to read English may not be aware of this? Eh eh?? I think thats a good cover.
@katieoh: right, Arizona has a large hispanic population, always has. Don't like it, don't go there.
In some European cultures, tipping is not normal, as the gratuity is often rolled into the cost of the meal. I don't know if this is common in Mexico or other Spanish-speaking countries too - does anyone know?
Well, as far as I can figure, if the person is not able to read the receipt in the English it is written in, they will NOT know that the tip is not included, as the Spanish word for total, according to Google Translation is :Total, but the other words on the receipt don't translate that easily.
I noticed this at Red Robin the other day. It's a good thing they put it there, I was totally going to dine-and-dash until I read it.
At what level are these messages programmed? Are we sure it wasn't just a server or server's buddy trying to get away with a tip nudge under the eye of an Anglophone manager?
Sorry, but $8.49 for a regular cheeseburger is retarded. Its not like their burgers are that great, either. And unlimited baskets of fries are great...if they basket contained more than 20 fries and was refilled more than twice. Red Robin sucks!
With the exception of the US and Canada, it's not always clear if tip is included. So, I actually don't see anything wrong with it. I can see how it might be viewed as insensitive, but I think that interpretation is too...well, sensitive.
This consumerist needs to stop $4 lemonade. Unless 'lemonade' is code for some alcoholic beverage, they paid way too much.
From Mexico.com:
Before you tip in restaurants, bars, and even snack bars in large hotels, check your tab and see if a service charge has already been added to the total. Service charges are quite common.
So, if it is common in Mexico for tipping to be included in the bill, then perhaps one should inform visiting Mexicans that a service charge HAS NOT been included.
Is it possible that tipping isn't a common practice in Mexico? I used to work as a sever at a restaurant in upstate New York that had quite a few Canadian customers that didn't tip well, if at all, because I guess it's not something that's done much in Canada.
@I Love New Jersey: You do realize that over half our country at one time was owned by non English speaking people Spain, Mexico, France, and Russia. It was unreasonable to believe that all those territories would have converted to English.
Also we don't have an official language, and on top of that, this is free market where if a business wants to put another language on their menu they can because it's free to do so.
@katieoh: Red Robin is a private business and can put (almost) whatever it wants on its bills. Unless you're a Native American, you weren't the first one here and have no place to talk.
If you are a Native American from Jersey, I would like to meet you (especially if you have a heavy accent).
Maybe the English receipt printer message has been change since the Spanish one was written, and the Spanish one just never changed.
My first thought was that the error is that they meant for the English version to also say "Tip is not included".
It's likely that that particular restaurant wanted a bilingual receipt but had no guidance from head office (or the franchise holder), and rather than paying a professional translation service they just asked a staffer. If this same staffer happened to be a server who had some tip-related grievance... You'd probably get this result. I doubt it's systemic racism on the part of the company.
Hey Chris, not all spanish-speaking people in the United States are Mexicans. In fact, MOST spanish-speaking people here aren't Mexicans. They are from a long list of many countries (including Mexico and the United States).
In some region of the world, the tip, or "service fee" is usually included in the bill, sometimes included in the price of the food, or sometimes a fixed % of the food price is added to the bill. I know it is true in many Asian countries including China, Japan and Taiwan. I heard some Europe countries are like this too. Dunno about Mexico, tho.
@craigkay: I was trying to think of another restaurant that does that and all I can think of is Ryans.
$3.99 for lemonade?
The Red Robin in Tucson, AZ is just over an hour from the Mexican border. It's not unthinkable Mexican citizens would be dining there.
However, Mexican culture is VERY tip based (Source: [www.mexperience.com]), so it's MORE likely someone from Mexico would leave a tip.
This isn't the only place where this gets lost. Ever read a box of quaker oats. In english they say use water to make oatmeal, in spanish they say use milk, interesting they know about cultural differences.
This is an outrage!!
I can't believe it. I am so very offended.
There are no words. I mean.. my god!
There is no 'y' in "incluida" !!!!!
Jesus.
@Bob Lu: There's a restaurant near my job that includes the gratuity in the bill. It surprised me because I'd only ever seen the automatic gratuity thing happen with to go orders.
@CreativeLinks: This makes sense to me.
I wonder how many people are going to ignore it and keep on posting.
@wcnghj: Thank you for crying out against the insane greed of many chain restaurants. There are far too many $2-$4 nonalcoholic beverages on menus these days. You think they'd know that this sort of money-grabbing annoys their customers, but they don't seem to care.
@pdj79: So, you went off-topic, I'm just following... You are wrong, and have clearly not had their cheeseburger topped with a fried egg.
@CreativeLinks: Mexico.com is written by the travel industry for tourists. Their suggestions would apply to tourist traps/major hotels and the people who frequent them. For those who live, work and dine outside the resorts, tipping is customary.
@sassenach: My kids get that lemonade - it's awesome, and they give refills. And kids always get refills.
Wish they'd do that for the mai tai's.
@wcnghj: The lemonade does include fresh fruit. And they have bottomless refills, and will even give you another one to go when you're done eating.
As someone who is very thirsty during a meal, I see no problem with paying what amounts to $1 per glass for this very tasty berry-filled lemonade.
It's a shame Red Robin doesn't have a message in Old Grumpy Redneck Guy saying, "Since you're at a restaurant and not your trailer, tip, you cheap bast*rd!"
...Unsure of how the translation would work out, but I'd suspect it'd have fewer commas and the expletive probably wouldn't be deleted.
@CreativeLinks: To validate this: during the DaimlerChrysler days, my brother worked at a nice restaurant that was a par 5 away from DC HQ in Auburn Hills. They would also put in German, Spanish and English "Gratuity not included" to cover this scenario. So yeppers: it's just a heads up to non-American guests that they have to pony up the 20%.
@veg-o-matic: Both the grammar and the syntax on the translation are terrible. It was obviously not proofread by a native speaker with any degree of education. I would bet it was written by a waiter or waitress with some high-school Spanish and a prejudice against his or her hispanic clients. In many places there's a prejudice about african-americans not being good tippers. It wouldn't surprise me if that extends to hispanics as well.
@I Love New Jersey:
4 million Puerto Ricans speak Spanish as their native language and are US citizens just like you.
@MakinSense...ForOnce_GitEmSteveDave:This.
Having just taken a vacation to Quebec, I can assure you that lines like "Subtotal" and "Tax" vary greatly from country to country and the translations are not always obvious. A non-English speaker could very easily confuse the "Tax" line for a service charge.
@veg-o-matic: I'm outrages they have "Complete Subtotal" and "Subtotal" on the same receipted. Is there ever any need for an incomplete subtotal, or even making the distinction if they're the same? And if they're different, then it's not really a subtotal (complete or otherwise), is it?
Anyone ever go to Target, the word used Elevator is Elevador, um, that's NOT the word for Elevator unless you're speaking Spanglish.
Unfortunately, spanish-speaking people do NOT tip as well as English speakers and most don't tip at all. I am just speaking from my experience only. Now, as far as receipts are concerned there should be no reference to tipping at all in any language, just a line labeled tip on the credit card receipt.
@I Love New Jersey: oh no, not this bullshit.