Tipping culture in the United States has become quite the topic of heated debate. In one instance that blew up, a large group of people visiting a restaurant in Indiana tried to outsmart the business’ tipping policy and ended up pepper spraying two employees.
It’s not out of the ordinary for restaurants to add a gratuity for the check for larger parties. A group of 10 tried to outsmart the system at the Wild Crab in South Bend, Indiana, by sitting in two groups of five pretending to not know one another.
All over the restaurant, they advertised that an automatic 18 percent gratuity would be added to the bill for parties of six or more. From the door to the register to even being mentioned on the menu, it was obvious what the group was getting themselves into.
One of the managers said that the group of 10 came in acting like they weren’t sitting together by being placed in different sections and telling the host they were each a party of five. Before being served they were told an 18 percent gratuity would be added as the restaurant knew they were together.
The group asked to speak to a manager and he told them if they could not comply, they’d be asked to leave the restaurant. An altercation eventually broke out with crayons being thrown at the managers.
Someone in the group also thought it would be smart to pepper spray the two managers of the restaurant. Fortunately, South Bend Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to evaluate those who had been sprayed.
A police report was made for the pepper spray attack and the South Bend Police Department’s major crimes unit is investigating the situation further.