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A Chili’s customer called out inaccurate tip percentage calculations at the bottom of his receipt. He’s claiming it’s a “deceptive practice” to get higher tips.
In a video with over 12,000 views, TikToker Jorden (@jorden_manufacturing) sits in his car, saying fast-casual restaurant chain Chili’s “has some explaining to do.”
He says he took his wife to dinner at Chili’s in Tampa, Fla. Their final bill was $27.07.
The receipt shows several suggested gratuity percentages, ranging from 18% to 25% of the total bill. However, he noticed something off about the calculations.
Were Chili’s Tip Calculations Inaccurate?
The receipt says that 18% of the total bill is $6.28. However, the actual calculation shows that 18% of $27.07 is $4.87. It lists a 25% tip as $8.73, which should be $6.77.
Jorden covers up half of the receipt with his personal information, also blocking the itemized list.
“This is not only a deceptive practice but illegal as crap. So, please, Chili’s, tell me. What is going on?” he says at the end of the clip.
The caption reads, “Can you please explain this? Are you aware of the deceptive practices being used at your establishment? Anyone else have this issue?”
Despite Jorden’s frustration, some commenters insist that he must be covering up a discount on the itemized receipt.
“You must’ve had a discount. Show us the itemized one,” one wrote.
“Show the rest of the receipt. Looks like you are hiding something,” another asked.
In a short follow-up video, Jorden shows a receipt that does not include an itemized list of what he ordered. He clarifies in a comment that he ordered “chips and salsa with queso and the triple dipper, a Diet Coke, and a water.”
Viewers continued to speculate that Jorden either cashed in on his rewards to get free chips and queso, paid for a portion of the order with a gift card, or used another coupon of some sort.
“You must have got chips and salsa and used your rewards. It goes off total before discount,” one viewer said.
“Your appetizer was free. They still want you to tip on the free appetizer, which is ridiculous,” another suggested.
“You can’t get a triple dipper, chips and salsa, queso and Diet Coke for 27.07 sir. So you got 6.99 taken off the bill,” another commenter claimed.
Those suggested tip amounts on Jorden’s receipt are based off $34.92 as the total, rather than the $27.07 that Jorden ended up paying. So, according to these critical commenters, that means he got around $8 knocked off the bill, and the receipt suggests tips based on pre-discount tabs rather than the final amount a customer pays. We looked into the cost of all of the items Jorden said he ordered—chips and queso with a side of salsa, a Triple Dipper, and a Diet Coke—in the Tampa area, and it came out to $33.75 pre-tax.
However, Jorden maintains he didn’t get a discount of any kind.
“The amount of people that believe that I’m trying to be deceptive and standing up for Chili’s instead of actually looking at the receipt. What part of this receipt shows that I’m hiding anything about a discount or anything like that?” he questions. “You can clearly see that they’re trying to charge more and suggest more than what the percentage is actually worth.”
He also clarifies that $27.07 was the post-tax total.
“What else could it be? Anybody else have an idea? Please let me know down in the comments. And Chili’s, I would love to hear what you have to say in regards to this,” he adds.
Have Other Diners Experienced Incorrect Tip Suggestions?
While many commenters were initially skeptical of Jorden’s claim, others said they’ve experienced the same thing. Some gave insight into the discrepancy between the total and the suggested tips.
“They’re hoping that most people don’t do the math and just pay it and move on,” a commenter wrote.
“Adding the tax to the tip???” another asked.
Jorden isn’t the only Chili’s customer to notice the suggested tip inaccuracy.
One Redditor said that they were “nearly duped” before they saw the amounts were wrong when paying on a Chili’s kiosk in 2016. Another customer saw their 20% tip jump to 73%, according to a Newsweek report.
Chili’s workers suggested that Jorden speak up about the reported miscalculation.
“As a server for Chili’s in Florida. Please bring this to corporate. As servers, we know, but we cannot change it,” one wrote. “You would not believe the amount of people who won’t tip me at all because ‘I’m a scammer.’ I would never!! I can’t control this part of my job.”
BroBible reached out to Jorden and Chili’s for further comment.
Content shared from brobible.com.