Faded ink on restaurant bill

Just came back from a restaurant where the final bill was illegible due to fading ink. Same thing happened a few days ago at the same place and I expressed my annoyance....this time I gave no tip because I think this is bordering on a "scam" to the extent it lets waiters play with the numbers.
I used to think this was an "accident" but after 10 or 15 such incidents around Mexico I now think this is an attempt to avoid accountability. After all, how much does it cost to run down to Office Depot or the local print shop and score some ink?

I don’t understand the issue. Were you overcharged?

I doubt that the waiters have anything to do with the purchasing of office supplies for the bill-producing equipment.

Individuals will make their own decisions about tipping, but typically a server gets only a portion of the tips for their tables. The server gets a portion and tips are pooled. The pooled amount is divided among the servers, the busing staff, the cooks, the kitchen helpers, the greeter, etc.

Stiffing a server stiffs all of the workers.

I don't know if I was overcharged...the faded bill makes that a difficult assessment. Next time I will demand he get a pen or pencil out and write it all out for me. Kind of a hassle but, sorry, I need something I can read.
And the same waiter that printed out the bill gave it to me.

Your faded bill statement reminded me of an instance that happened to me several years ago at La Barra De Potosi. I and a group of friends spent the afternoon there feasting and enjoying life in general including several coco locos. When we decided to leave, we just left. Inadvertently stiffing them on a fairly substantial bill. A year later we again showed up whereupon they brought the previous bill, all wrinkled and faded. They knew I would return and make it right and I had no need to check their math. After 20+ years going to Zihua I can count on one hand the number of times my bill was wrong and most were just honest mistakes.

This just doesn't seem like the kind of thing that's worth getting upset over. Even if you are overcharged, so what? This is Mexico and that meal was probably still less than half of what you'd pay up north.

Hope you tipped them the equivalent of a year's worth of credit card interest!

Most people with basic math skills already have an idea of what their bill should be within a 40-50 peso range. I hope you didn't pay a buck too much.

By the way, you "score" points, or if you're from that culture, you score drugs. Ink you buy or purchase.

Just came back from a restaurant where the final bill was illegible due to fading ink. Same thing happened a few days ago at the same place and I expressed my annoyance....this time I gave no tip because I think this is bordering on a "scam" to the extent it lets waiters play with the numbers.
I used to think this was an "accident" but after 10 or 15 such incidents around Mexico I now think this is an attempt to avoid accountability. After all, how much does it cost to run down to Office Depot or the local print shop and score some ink?

I hope YOU will do the right thing and go back to the restaurant and leave a nice tip along with an apology. Two wrongs don’t make a right. This is not the first time you’ve posted about a so-called incident where you were in the wrong, not the overworked service worker who isn’t on vacation.

Just came back from a restaurant where the final bill was illegible due to fading ink. Same thing happened a few days ago at the same place and I expressed my annoyance....this time I gave no tip because I think this is bordering on a "scam" to the extent it lets waiters play with the numbers.
I used to think this was an "accident" but after 10 or 15 such incidents around Mexico I now think this is an attempt to avoid accountability. After all, how much does it cost to run down to Office Depot or the local print shop and score some ink?

Since I’m pretty sure you won’t do the right thing, at least tell me the name of the restaurant and I’ll go pay the damn tip you should’ve left!

Just came back from a restaurant where the final bill was illegible due to fading ink. Same thing happened a few days ago at the same place and I expressed my annoyance....this time I gave no tip because I think this is bordering on a "scam" to the extent it lets waiters play with the numbers.
I used to think this was an "accident" but after 10 or 15 such incidents around Mexico I now think this is an attempt to avoid accountability. After all, how much does it cost to run down to Office Depot or the local print shop and score some ink?

You are an idiot! Ask for the menu back, add up the prices of everything you consumed and then compare to the bill. If it doesn't match then complain. Otherwise pay the bill and leave an honest tip you cheap bastard!

Name the place and the amount of your bill and I'll join Rob and leave the appropriate tip also. The waiter had nothing to do with printing the bill.

I don't know if I was overcharged...the faded bill makes that a difficult assessment. Next time I will demand he get a pen or pencil out and write it all out for me. Kind of a hassle but, sorry, I need something I can read.
And the same waiter that printed out the bill gave it to me.

I suggest that what you would do next time would have been appropriate for what you did last time.

In general, I find it easy to have an idea of what my bill will be, whether in Mexico, the USA, or Canada. It isn’t all that difficult for most people. I would make a particular point of that if I had had “10 or 15 incidents” and one just recently at the same restaurant.

If I don’t understand a charge, I ask for clarification and it is almost always given cheerfully.

From what you describe, it may be just as challenging for the server as for you to make out the numbers on the bill.

I appreciate that it might be in the server’s job to print the bill, but I doubt that it is the server’s job to order the fish, chicken, vegetables, plates, beer, cash register ink, or other supplies. This sounds to me like a complaint that ought to go to a manager or an owner, not a reason to stiff all of the employees of the (likely low-paid) manager or owner.

how much does it cost to run down to Office Depot or the local print shop

I think the nearest Office Depot is in Acapulco, so there would be considerable cost.

Zihuatanejo is not New York City. Some supplies are not readily available. Businesses have been hard-hit by the pandemic. Buying printer ink might not be the highest spending priority at this time.

I come down firmly on both sides. Stiffing the staff is just rude and accomplishes nothing but bruised feelings. There's an old adage that says you should never piss off those who handle your food, and with good reason. Still, a restaurant is obligated to present you with a legible bill, one way or another, printed or hand-written.

I come down firmly on both sides. Stiffing the staff is just rude and accomplishes nothing but bruised feelings. There's an old adage that says you should never piss off those who handle your food, and with good reason. Still, a restaurant is obligated to present you with a legible bill, one way or another, printed or hand-written.

In which case IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE ONE YOU POLITELY ASK. It would never occur to me to stiff the waiter because of faded ink on a printed bill at a restaurant. That is simply rude. Maybe my “edumacation” is different...

It was a corner restaurant/bar and the guy who printed the bill and gave it to me appeared to be head honcho.

La Kalle??? You need to identify the restaurant.

Heres a tip for you. If you had this happen before same restarant, you could have asked ahead or after your meal for a detailed bill.

--
☀️ Princess

It was a corner restaurant/bar and the guy who printed the bill and gave it to me appeared to be head honcho.

Un-friggin-believable!

https://youtu.be/j93BmfL_ZPk

Douche.

Nice spelling.

Looks good to me.

Looks good to me.

Ditto

Try and remember all of the times you have received a bill in Zihua and were not able to read the whole thing except the total! Then try and remember the number of times you made an issue of it! Like NONE?

A restaurant owner told me that in Zihua, many of the wait staff don't get paid, they just work for tips. To "stiff" the wait staff is not only rude, you may be depriving them of rent and food for their children. Ask politely to see a new bill.

I already said that this bartender was in charge of things for the night.
Mexico is not like Olive Garden sometimes.

Who in their right mind would eat at an Olive Garden? Yuck!

I already said that this bartender was in charge of things for the night.
Mexico is not like Olive Garden sometimes.

I had REALLY GOOD INK with a mistake yesterday. Who should I complain too?

The owner of the tattoo shop.